26/09: RARE SPECIES CONSERVATION CENTRE - KENT

This afternoon we visited a rare species conservation centre that I didn't know existed - yet its only 40 mins drive from where we live.  It isn't well publicised.  Its a small centre, just 2 acres of land, but beautifully laid out and maintained.  The grounds are landscaped using plants from Australia and Africa and there are tree house viewing points, rope suspended bridges etc., and everything is clean and 'inviting'.   Its a privately owned centre/zoo and according to the Head Gardener (who proudly showed us around and pointed out his favourite plants) the owner lives in London and doesn't have a garden there - so likes this place to be kept pristine for his own enjoyment when he's in Kent (!!)

Unfortunately, from end September the centre will not be open to the public on a daily basis.  They plan to specialise in wildcat conservation.  So some of the animals had been moved out in readiness and we couldn't see bears or gibbons.  But the animals we did see were in great surroundings, looked healthy and happy and were keen to pose for the camera!   I'll be keeping an eye on their website to see what they do after September.  The plan is to offer 'special' days for photographers and artists, and corporate days etc.

Here's one of their Fishing Cats.  He looked rather like a domestic moggy, rubbing up against the fence - till he saw my camera and lashed out hissing and spitting .... served as a timely reminder that these animals are not pets!!  This was taken through glass so is a bit hazy

The sign on the cage warned that though these little guys are attention seekers, they will bite.  So being careful not to get fingers close to the bars I aimed my camera.   I forgot about my camera strap which was blowing in the breeze close to the fence.  It got grabbed by one of the monkeys who thrust his whole head and neck through the wire.  If you look at the second photo you'll see the link size is pretty big compared to the head size of the monkey.   We had a stand off for a few minutes until he relaxed his jaw and I could retrieve the strap.  For a while I had visions of pulling the little guy through the fence and taking him home with me :o)

And these Fennec Foxes are just too cute for words - they are tiny

I already have lots of photos of snow leopards from my visit to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation (Big Cat Conservation Centre) but I can never get enough of these gorgeous beasties:

Today, for me the stars of the show were the Asian smooth coated otters.    The adult pair was rescued by this centre in 2008 and had to be de-programmed as where they previously lived in Cambodia they had to 'perform' in order to be fed.  Now they are happy enough in their new environment to have produced 3 babies - the first captive birth of this species in Europe for 30 years.  One of the youngsters had to be hand-reared and lives separately from the rest as he was rejected by Mum.  These otters need to burrow and their 'enclosure' had lots of holes ... and lots of mud which they frequently wallowed in (making their swimming pool incredibly brown and grotty).   They were so fast ... most of my pictures had missing heads or tails as I struggled to keep up with them.  Here are a few (I'm still wading through the rest)

Here's one of the youngsters emerging from his burrow.   When their coats are dry they look quite cute and almost fluffy (but just check out the teeth .. I know I've got a few shots where the fangs are clearly in evidence and they are pretty awesome)

Look at the hands here ... I find this really spooky.  Although they are webbed, he has perfect fingers and finger nails 

The never stand still .... photographing them was a case of aim and click and see what you manage to get .. they are so fast

and I got several shots of the otters doing Meerkat impressions (!!)  It drove me to check on Google to see whether there could possibly be a relationship between Meerkats and Otters.  I think the answer is No, although this similarity has been commented on many times, particularly this habit of standing up and surveying the territory.

I have lots more photos and I guess some of them will be far better, but I need to sort through them all first.  Back to the drawing board tomorrow though.

oh... nearly forgot the best bit :o)

It doesn't seem to be geared up so much for childrens visits as many zoos/wildlife parks are .. and I loved this sign: