The RSCC has recently released information on their 2011 Open Dates, they are as follows: "2011 Open Dates HALF TERM - 19th February 2011 until the 27th February 2011 EASTER - 9th April 2011 until the 2nd May 2011 HALF TERM - 28th May 2011 until 5th June 2011 SUMMER - 1st July 2011 until 4th September 2011 Member Only Days and Evening Events, and Updated Animal Lists will be posted on the website soon. 2011 Prices: Adult - £9.00 Child - £7.50 [All Children Except Babies up to the Age of 11 Years]" The RSCC has also recently posted this on their Facebook Page: "RSCC indoor area currently under renovation, areas being rebuilt for Jaguarundi, Tayra, Lesser Grison, Sand Cat and more Rusty Spotted Cats! Once rockwork sculptors have finished it should be ready in time for Easter opening." Thanks
From fb page: New species at Rscc for Easter, Marbled Polecat, Ring Tailed Mongoose, Narrow Striped Mongoose, Tayra, Lesser Grison and a few others, most of these species seldom seen in the UK. We should also have at least a few of our Giant Flying Squirrels on show by then with any luck!
Why would you intricately sculptor an indoor enclosure when you're not open to the public? I like the way their curators' mind works though
I'm planning on going on the 4th or 5th June (luckily they are the first two days of a Kent holiday anyway, in which I'll be doing the Aspinalls at some point). Should the ring-tailed mongoose be on show on that date, as that is one of the species I would be most interested in seeing. I will likely be going anyway providing nothing changes
Well, I'd like to think that the owner had a rethink after being open a couple of years, and realised that such a small site cannot (a) accommodate large species like bears, tapirs, gibbons or snow leopards, and (b) be a serious breeding centre for the small carnivores he's obviously interested in specialising in if there is a lot of human traffic running through the site on a daily basis. Of course I could be wrong. However, I see nothing wrong with wanting to create decent exhibits when you are only open to the public some of the time. The owner has other businesses which may prop up the centre and I would imagine it to be a far preferable situation if the running costs of the RSCC were not entirely dependent on gate revenue/additional spend. I think smaller endangered mammal species and occasional open days are a far better use for this site than the previous arrangement. I imagine the RSCC is still very much also a quarantine centre, and I do wonder if part of its agenda is to bring unusual species from range countries into the ex situ european zoo community, which might go some way to explaining why they often only make a passing appearance at the RSCC itself. If indeed this is the case, I am sure their motives are ones based on conservation, regardless of what personal views I might hold on some of its acquisitions.
I am becoming more and more convinced to get to RSCC at some point soon. I mean, ring-tailed mongooses, red-and-white giant flying squirrels, tayra, lesser grison, all in the same place? How could a self-respecting lover of the smaller and less-known possibly resist?
I planned on visiting during the February Open Dates, although after being informed that they will not be on show during the February Open Dates, I decided to put my visit back to a later date. Hoping to Visit during Easter/Summer. Red and White Giant Flying Squirrels, Ring Tailed Mongoose? Hoe can I resist? Also, from the Facebook Page: The Sri Lankan Giant Squirrels are now at Exmoor Zoo!
*starts gibbering* *gibbers more* Think I might have to make the effort! EDIT: Probably have to wait 'til summer though - Easter's looking complicated enough already...
If anybody is going on the 5th June (I think that's the day I'd most likely be able to do - nothing definate yet) then if I am going I would be happy to meet up I will state a definate day for me when I know, but so far looking like 5/6/11
The RSCC has recently posted on their Facebook Page: FEBRUARY OPENING NOTICE !!! We will not be opening as previously advertised in February half term, due to ongoing renovation delays. We can assure you that we will be re opening as specified on our website in April and throughout the summer period. ...We are sorry to disappoint but we want to ensure that the visitor experience is as full as possible and that is why we have had to take this decision!See More
Jaguarundis and sand cats - I'm on my way! Plus they have a gibbon and a pygmy slow loris, I'll be back in a week
If you are looking at the website it is out of date I think. If I'm correct, RSCC moved their Pileated gibbons out (to Colchester?) since the park is focusing now in different areas (I think small carnivores and prosimians?) Other things moved include the sun bears, smooth-coated otters and hornbills (Colchester), as well as their aardwolves and North Luzon cloud rats (Edinburgh). I'm not 100% sure with this info, so if any of it is wrong then please correct me
Colchester didn't get all of the Smooth-coated Otters that RSCC had so these may still be there; I'm not sure. Edinburgh's East African Aardwolves did come from the RSCC but RSCC still keep them as well - see post here: http://www.zoochat.com/1030/18-08-09-aardwolf-194644/#post399055
Ahhh cool, thanks Maguari Thought it sounded odd since they fitted in with the small carnivores part. Good to know that these may still be there when I go
Zootierliste does not show RSCC having Smooth-coated Otters any more , if this is the case some have moved elsewhere . ISIS only shows 1.1 Aardwolf , again if this is correct , then a few more have probably moved on - has Hamerton had any more , I know they had one ?
Thanks Bele, just had a quick look on Zootierliste to see that along with Colchester, the only other European collection with Smooth-coated otters are Belfast - since RSCC's were the only ones outside of Cambodia then I assume these are the RSCC ones that Colchester didn't get
RSCC's otters were never the only ones outside of Cambodia -for a start the species is found wild across much of southern Asia: Smooth-coated Otter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Plus, Belfast's are not the RSCC's - they arrived while RSCC still had the full group. http://www.zoochat.com/38/belfasts-mystery-new-mammal-arrives-nexy-110018/index10.html
