RSCC, The rare species conservation centre & zoological garden, Sandwich, Kent » Rare Species Conservation Centre

02-12-2007

This collection is looking amazing, glad to see Sun Bears will be housed in more than just 1 UK Zoo.

03-02-2008

ISIS are showing that there is a pair of Malayan sun bear now at RSCC

11-03-2008

The Rare Species Conservation Centre was set up by a bit of a maverick business entrepeneur in London, Todd Dalton. He runs an online business selling crocodile curry, reindeer pate, and many invertebrate foodstuffs for human consumption:
Edible
He is also known as the 'Leopard man of Peckham', having taken southark council to court for the right to house clouded leopards and lemurs in the back garden of his home. The RSCC may have come out of the difficulty he experienced with the local authority in London. He was on good terms with Howletts and Port Lypmne, recieving clouded leopards and many other species including the two Howlett's Malayan tapirs, while loaning them the giant anteaters currently at Howletts, but press reports have suggested he is now suing them too, for holding onto the anteaters and some clouded leopards which he wants back.
Despite all the salacious gossip, it seems he is serious about creating a really good conservation-focused facility, but with the relationship with Damian Aspinall turned sour, the centre does need to be successful in breeding many of the species it has acquired, else such an incredible collection may be difficult to assemble in future if animals die out without breeding and the zoo gets known for a one-way flow of rare species in this respect. However, early signs are promising. I really hope to visit later this year, do any zoobeat members have the same plans?


Gibbon enclosure, with flamingo pool and madagascan area in background held White-cheeked gibbon, now pileated gibbons.


King vulture flight

Strangely, though, the centre claims to have 'Brazilian' ocelots, but their ocelots originate from howletts and Amazon zoo world which, like all UK ocelot stock, are 'generic' animals and not of clear subspecies.

12-03-2008

I guess that's the end of any more exchanges between them then...

12-03-2008

I do hope to get over there in the next couple of weeks to catch up with the place. I was last there in December (closed to the public during the week at that time of year) and they were in the process of constructing raised walk ways over a couple of soon-to-be cassowary paddocks.

12-03-2008

Did you see the sun bears? What is their enclosure like?

12-03-2008

The Sun Bears hadn't arrived when I last went. A lot of money has been spent on making the enclosures look nice. There is a lot of artificial rockwork with viewing windows set into it. But in my opinion, the two enclosures are a little on the small side. I know that size is not the be all and end all of enclosure design but we all know what Sun Bears are like in captivity.

12-03-2008

this is a bit random, but is it sort of like the old bear enclosures at colchester? Like kindo of modern and acceptable/naturalistic looking, but still a bit too small for bears?

13-03-2008

What do you mean by that? Are they like Polar bears are (quite prone to stereotype behavior)? Only ever seen them in Belfast and Berlin, and they were either sleeping or really inactive.

13-03-2008

I suppose that the enclosures are like more modern versions of Colchester's. Thats a pretty accurate description. The visitors can also see into the dens as well.

As bears go, they are very active, difficult to contain and need a lot of stimulation.

14-03-2008

If only I had checked here and read this before making the 170mile trip just to see the closed sign on the door

The place seemed really small, how long do you think it would take to explore the place fully?

Will head back there after 21st March when they are open through the week.

17-03-2008

So you all know a bit more about RSCC and it's animals. Primarily it was set up as a showcase of lesser known species, seldom represented in zoo, we obviously have other species but our main focus is the more obscure. We also are involved in a great deal of in situ conservation work for these species often overlooked. We work with a lot of rescue centres in SE Asia and we recently received 1.1 unrelated Cambodian Sun Bear orphans. They have a new style of enclosure no bear pit, but open electric fenced area. They have settled in amazingly well and are highly active. We will soon be receiving Pileated Gibbon, Smooth Coated Otter and Golden Cat amongst other things.

Please all do come and visit it is only a 2 acre facility but is a smart and interesting little place compared to many of its small UK counterparts.

18-03-2008

Any chance of some photos of the bears in their exhibit?

18-03-2008

Neofelis,

Where will you source the pileated gibbons from? Are these also confiscated individuals? It would be great if the EEP would get some unrelated new founders in.

18-03-2008

Sounds amazing. 2 acres doesnt sound a lot, can the zoo grow in the future. Cant wait to give the place a visit.