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

24-06-2009

Hmmm interesting reading! I'm a regular at the RSCC despite the 4 hour drive there and the 4 hour drive back! I've met the owner a couple of times and he (Todd I believe) is always happy to talk to people, give information on the animals, explain future plans, etc.

I think what a lot of people miss is the work that has gone in to getting this zoo up and running, the plants are area specific, the fencing and enclosures have all been put together by the dedicated staff. Even down to the carvings decorating the hut on the walkway ... carved in Cambodia.

The zoo is a charity, so money IS an issue unfortunately. If the ground around the zoo does belong to the RSCC, it is going to take a lot of money and resources to bring it in to some kind of working state. Rome wasn't built in a day.

The RSCC in my eyes is one of the best zoos I've been to in the UK, and it's the personal touch that makes it that extra bit special.

25-06-2009

Has more work gone into setting up this zoo that others? It''s not their fault then, because it's all pretty hard work and they're trying?

It's easy to feel as if the keepers are working round the clock to make things the best they can, but I look at photos of those stark and very stylised cages and see very little keeper freedom in how the exhibits are presented. The plants may be specific, but the English climate is not. You won't create a forest out of tropical palms outdoors and, if they are such a cash-strapped charity, why would they try?

It kind of proves my point when someone mentions carvings from Cambodia, as if we should applaud the effort for authenticity. I find that kind of lazy ethnic nod a bit crass in some of the bigger immersion exhibits you get particularly in some US zoos, but when it's next to rather cramped cage-style exhibits, it looks like theming has been prioritised over enclosures.

25-06-2009

You cannot compare the RSCC to the US zoos! The main difference being the financial issue!

This zoo begun as a one man 'project' just 3 years ago, and it still is pretty much a one man project. Alot of thought has gone in to the 'style' of the zoo, why would you have a cornish carving on top of a Cambodian hut - hardly very authentic is it? I don't think there is anything lazy about attention to detail.

They're not trying to create a forest of tropical palms, there are a few selected trees and plants yes, but why would you put oak trees in the middle of a Madagascan theme? I'm sure if all the plants were typical British plants and trees you'd complain about that too!!

25-06-2009

Cornish?

My point was, autheticity costs, particularly if you ship it from halfway across the world, and particularly, as everyone keeps pointing out, if you're a charity on a budget. I do resent being told to put my money where my mouth is to help this struggling nascent collection get on its feet while in the same breath being told that you can't just have any old plants/theming when only the best will do!

At this point it would be useful to compare this zoo to Drusillas, although a little more spacious, basically very cramped and compact a zoo as you will find, with around 50% cages due to the small size. Their 'finish' does not strive for authenticity, but the internal spaces are rich and diverse environments with superb enrichment for the species they exhibit.

The palms - yes I have realised they are not trying to create a forest, and as far as I'm aware, clouded leopards do not in forests dominated by palms and bamboo, nor do lemurs. The plants they are using, apart from being expensive, are fairly useless to climb, nest or hide in for arboreal mammals. They are ornamental suggestions of tropical climates. I would argue that a native tree would be far more useful and stimulating to a lemur group that a few tropical hardy shrubs.

25-06-2009

Lol, Cornish was just a point really! I have visions of an authentic Cornish Piskie on top of the Cambodian hut (in order to save money)!

The Cambodian carvings - having spoken to him about this previously, he was in Cambodia at the time (conservation not a holiday) so had the carving done and brought it back, you know ... putting some money in to the local people's pockets.

Conservation isn't just about the animals you know! With the disappearing environments it's not just the animals that are in danger. Poor Todd has tried to create something here that isn't a 'regular' thing at the zoos. To me walking around the RSCC is so much more enjoyable than wandering around some huge impersonal zoo.

I also remember having a conversation with Todd about the shipping costs of the recycled wood, bamboo etc and in actual fact it was cheaper to import a container from source than to source the materials in the UK, he said UK prices were ridiculous. He even offered to sell us some for our enclosures too.

I've not been to Druisillas admitedly but they're not Todd, I get the impression that the presentation is just as important as the actual 'taste' (probably comes from being a trained chef).

I don't understand why having authentic trees and plants is such a problem for you? He has tried to create a whole new experience for the zoo goers, to encourage more visitors and to encourage people to come back! I know we're always quite keen to get down there to see what has changed! Ever heard the phrase 'speculate to accumulate'? And I know eveyone we've sent down there have all come back absolutely in love with the place.

The palms etc are not in huge adundance, the animals do have other climbing things and resting places!

25-06-2009

Exactly! The effects have been created for people, not animals!

25-06-2009

You don't seem to understand that if people find the place attractive and a pleasure to visit they will return! Returning trade is money ... money is spent on the animals (and conservation once the animals are looked after)!! Without new and returning trade the animals would suffer (though I'm pretty damn sure todd would not allow that) - so you could argue it's for the good of the animals! A zoo cannot run on goodwill and fresh air it NEEDS money - hence prettiness!

Jees - you're going to get me in to trouble - I really need to do some work now!

26-06-2009

You need to take responsibility for your own workload

17-07-2009

RSCC's website now states that the Aardwolf is on display. I have no idea where, possibly in the cage the fishing cats were in as their new exhibit was being built.
If anyone goes can they get some pics please?

17-07-2009

But the "effects" are very tacky and poorly done--so it really begs the question "what's the point?"

17-07-2009

You haven't even seen them as there's no pictures of them in the gallery!

17-07-2009

The impala ( I think) skull on a pole?

17-07-2009

Ah that is there But that looks good..? I just think that redukari and several other members are being very unfair.

17-07-2009

I've got to side with RedUakari on this one. The skull on a pole is pretty tacky and didn't the photo discussion say it is located in the asian section? If so it's a pretty random placement which does nothing for the "ambience" (forgive the poor choice of word) of the site.

17-07-2009

Yeah at the start of it. I liked it, the foreign names made you read it, not that there was a massive lot of educational material on there though. And if I remember rightly most of the signs and that were on the same sort of wood, it looked really nice.