A little British gem. » Rare Species Conservation Centre

A little British gem.
20-02-2010

Am sure many of you the will be wondering why I am calling RSCC a “little British gem.”

Well let me tell you the place is small no doubt about it, I was surprised at the overall size of the place. Second it has such a wonderfully collection and would be surprised if anyone going there for the first time would not be able to come away saying “I have seen this species for the first time!”

Here’s a few of my opinions.

The tropical house (Is that what it called??? Had 3 kids in toe so you can imagine didn’t exactly read every sign in the place), was a very strange way to start off the centre but pleasant none the less. It seemed to be having a lot of work done in there so I’ll excuse it for not looking its best!

Goeldi’s Monkey enclosure was basic but then probably suits the need for such small mammals. On entering the main park you can see just how small the place is, straight in front of you is the Fosa enclosure. Could do with some more planting for my likes but perfectly fine enclosure.

The Cuban Flamingo pool was exactly what I expected basic and frozen over which surprised me that they had not been placed within a house with a frozen pool? Considering the size of the group it was fine for them, however as many people know flamingo do better in larger groups so will be interesting to see what happens to the group.

Next the Pileated Gibbon enclosure, which I thought was not bad at all and is on par with many other UK Gibbon enclosures. The lack in height is made up by the bigger footprint which you sometimes don’t get in the typical UK long wire mesh enclosure.

Sun bears, where to start I loved this species so active even on a very cold day. It is also suitable for them plenty of climbing opportunities for them, even if it does lack the footprint it certainly makes up in height. I say lack of footprint it’s not small by any stretch of the imaginations but due the viewing seems smaller.

Now Puma/Clouded leopard lets just say the pictures are misleading while it does lack planting which would make it a lot better it’s definitely not as small as the photos suggest.

Tapir paddock (well it is….:P) I agree needs planting but considering the half-ton animal that occupy is I don’t see how you will. Other than planting the outside around it to grow up and over you will not be able to do much else with it.

Personal I loved this little gem tucked away in the corner of Britain and certainly does not deserve the criticism that it has got on the photos of the place. I can only recommend you go for yourself because you will only be blow away with how wrong you are about the place.

The RSCC will certainly get future business from me.

21-02-2010

Do you happen to know if it's an easy place to get to by public transport? It sounds very interesting but being car-less limits my travelling a bit.

21-02-2010

very interesting post there taun. Certainly at odds with what many members are saying about the place based on the photos in the gallery (I can't remember if I've posted comments in there, so I may have to eat my words ). If I ever get back to England this is one place I would have liked to visit anyway, simply on the basis of the species they keep.

21-02-2010

I agree entirely; it is a small in area, but most of the criticism posted in the gallery is unjustified. I have been several times and always enjoyed my visits.

There are some interesting species including jaguarundi, rusty-spotted cat, sand cat, fossa, Owston’s palm civet, aardwolf, smooth-coated otter......

I visited again today. I was disappointed that the Philippine chevrotain Tragulus nigricans are not yet on display, but will certainly return to see them in due course.

I think you would need to go by train to Sandwich and then get a taxi.

21-02-2010

Do they have a website?

21-02-2010

Rare Species Conservation Centre - Home screen

21-02-2010

Thank you, An interesting place

21-02-2010

I don't think much of their website to tell the truth. The Conservation pages are interesting, but overall it seems very slap-dash, and there are quite a number of (usually mild) factual errors - eg, it says Fijian banded iguanas are the smallest iguanids, that crowned pigeons' closest relatives are dodos, and that fruit bats are the only mammals with wings: and those are just from the Australasian section (which also includes the Bali starlings for some reason)

21-02-2010

Good review of the place Tuan. I'd say I agree with most of that, although stuff has been added/changed since I visited, I guess I'll have to go back