I was recently made aware of a small private collection that seems to focus on small carnivores. Some of the more noteworthy species include: - Eastern Aardwolfs (Hamerton aren't the only holders it seems?!) - Asian Palm Civets - Bobcats - Jungle Cats - Zorilla There are also many other interesting small cats and carnivores. Here is a link to the website for those of you that are interested - Park Cottage Conservation
I'd like to know more about the 'conservation' aspect of this collection. If there is an old thread discussing the merits of private collections to conservation, could someone link to it please
From looking at their Facebook page - they've had great success breeding some species - as to what has happened with the produced young - I am unaware.
I'll admit my ignorance in this, but how does a private breeder get their offspring into public collections? "Our aim is to keep and breed many of the rarer species that zoos find difficult"
Looks like they got a tattoo artist to design their website though! Anyone know where they are based ?
I'm sure someone posted a link to their website recently, the species list and website looks familiar. Have they changed their name? Edit Park Exotics I think? The photos on that website are identical
Isn't this the place that was once called Park Exotics? I seem to remember a thread about this place from a few years back, but can't seem to find it now.
It is indeed. Sold to other collections and private keepers, by and large - Hoo Farm has had a lot of stock from them over the years.
Not open to the public, and don't have open days according to a contact request. Address not displayed either. Shame as they have some nice species.
I don't think there was a specific thread, but it was mentioned in a thread about hyaenas: UK hyenas and viverrids
Been mentioned intermittently elsewhere, too. And now you reminded me about that thread, I reckon I shall update the information I posted within - a lot has changed in the last 5 years.
Park Exotics has more recently become Park Cottage Conservation, which is strictly a private collection with no public access based in Suffolk. They keep small to medium-sized, and some unusual, carnivores, with small cats featuring strongly, they have had a great deal of success in breeding some of them. In the past they took all the remaining lynx from Riber Castle during the auction when it closed down and as a result they now keep the oldest specimens of lynx in the UK. I know the owners and whilst they do occasionally publish some news of births etc.. they are careful about the information they give out, as a private facility, and I feel we must respect that.
