Rtas' main collection

The Schleich figure is currently on my wish list for a husband of the CollectA model, and the parent of the Yowies UK and Science & Nature figures.

Probably the first time where all the models of your photo matches exactly with the ones in my collection: I also have the same devil and marsupial wolf. Tough I didn't ordered them online, but bought directly at the same toy shop. They're some quite serious competitors from others brands that matches very well with them, but I think that CollectA's have the finest example of each species despite having very close rivals.
ColectA convinced you by a single figure to start having this brand. But for me, CollectA convinced me to... have a collection!!!! The incredible atonishing realism of the African Wild Ass, that was my first CollectA figure alongside the leopard seal, made me wish more and more
Like you, I also have the tiger quill from Southlands in my wishlist since eons. For buy some year.
I have seen tasmanian devils at 3 different zoos. None of them is Beauval, a place that I didn't visited yet. There are many wonderful places that I want to visit or revisit, and Beauval is not my priority one but it have the undoubtely best bird show of any zoo in the world and it makes me want to visit only by this.
I also have seen museum specimens of marsupial wolf in a variety of museums.
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I'm suprised to see that the Schleich wombat is not as bad as it looked in the promo picture. The claws are not so hooflike as I expected. If only the eyes were a bit smaller, it would be even better than the CollectA one that is what I have in my collection.
I have seen koalas at several places, I never saw quokkas (there are none outside of Australia I think...), and I saw, first, a wombat exhibit with the wombat (a pregnant female) absolutely absent from visible area (inside the burrow) despite I waited and passed by the exhibit a lot of times. And second, in a another zoo, finally a wombat, but was just an inform sleeping mass of fur inside the burrow that have glass pannel viewing. No possibility of any decent photo, but at least I was able to tick it from my lifelist.
Currently I don't have none koala in my collection but slowly and recently I added the Southlands one to my wishlist.

Next time I visit the zoo I'm taking as many photos as I possibly can, and creating albums and spread sheets of what I have seen. When I was 10 I used to always note down what species I saw and how many, then I forgot to bring paper and I totally forgot altogether. If I can I'll see if I can find these old notes and share them.

I have no much rules regarding marsupials, my collection shows a special preference for this kind of animals.
Australian fauna was a few years ago poorly represented in all brands, Schleich reacted just recently with the wombat and kuokka. Science and Nature was our main source if we wanted some unusual species.
I agree CollectA Tasmanian devil is excellent, it is very detailed, I have the Southlands and it is also a serious competitor. Here a good species to be introduced in Papo range. I am sure they could do it well as Schleich does also beautiful koalas. I have CollectA, Southlands and Safari's wombats, it is possible that I get eventually the Schleich figure but it is the least interesting for me. CollectA's is special as it has a baby in her pouch, often these details are not much appreciated but I think it is brave when a brand show something different.
The same for CollectA's thylacine, Mojö's and Southlands', all in my collection, are equally very good but the baby thing turns it distinct.
Schleich kuokka was a big surprise, the only I owned was the S&N version and I was not expecting it at all, figure is nice, but the slightly comic style we also see in Schleich wombat was not needed. They're all cute creatures, they don't need an extra touch. Next year, if brands are able to keep their business, I suspect we will have lots of Australian animals.
I wished I could remember my first CollectA but it was already a long time ago.

I expected marsupials to meet success here. I also enjoy marsupial figures very much but this is probably because I was deprived of them for quite a long time since I was only a Schleich collector at first.

Pardofelis wrote:

The incredible atonishing realism of the African Wild Ass, that was my first CollectA figure alongside the leopard seal, made me wish more and more

Oh, I am also in love with the CollectA African wild ass, you will see it in a few weeks with its friend, the Przewalski horse. It is also a very elegant species in real. The leopard seal was part of my third purchase I think, it is also a great figure, better sized than its Papo counterpart in my opinion.

Pardofelis wrote:

There are many wonderful places that I want to visit or revisit, and Beauval is not my priority one but it have the undoubtely best bird show of any zoo in the world and it makes me want to visit only by this.

For an international "zootrotter" like you, Beauval is of little interest. It is (by very very VERY far) the largest zoo in France with the most spectacular species but I have no doubt you have already seen everything it has to offer. It is the only one keeping koalas, giant pandas, tree kangaroos (for a long time but I recently saw on the managerie website that our beloved 18th century zoo now has Goodfellow's tree-kangaroos) but that's no match for you. Recently, the Tasmanian devils and harpy eagles made me want to visit that place again. However it is not a zoo I like particularly. I don't like its philosophy. In my opinion it is only business, business and business again. It is always trying to add new spectacular species in wonderful new enclosures while some old ones are still too small for the species they host. Moreover, you are certainly used to huge international zoos and that's what Beauval is, but I prefer small parks who care more about species presentation and animal welfare than the number of species. I like to take my time in zoos, watch animals live and interact with each other for long moments, take pictures. Beauval is too big, you don't have time for that and you are forced to run all day long in order to see everything. Moreover there are two many people.  Indeed, their bird show is impressive (though I did not see the secretary birds which were my main, and to be honest only interest in this show), I have to admit it though. But I would rather recommend you, along with the wonderful menagerie you have already visited, those two smaller but much more charming zoos :
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The first one is the French champion as far as recreating animals' habitats in enclosures is concerned. It has the largest aviary in Europe, dedicated to South America, and an African rainforest with okapis, Diana and Hamlyn's monkeys and lots of African birds.
The second one is my favourite zoo ever. Most of its animals are free to wander in the park and it's also a beautiful botanical garden. I don't know any other zoo where you can approach the animals so close.

Pardofelis wrote:

I'm suprised to see that the Schleich wombat is not as bad as it looked in the promo picture. The claws are not so hooflike as I expected. If only the eyes were a bit smaller, it would be even better than the CollectA one that is what I have in my collection.

I agree. The eyes ruin everything. If they were smaller, the Schleich model would be the ultimate wombat figure !

Pardofelis wrote:

No possibility of any decent photo, but at least I was able to tick it from my lifelist.

I would not be satisfied by such a poor observation and would try to go back to those places in order to see them better. Anyway, it reminds me of my aardvark's sightings in London zoo. As it is a nocturnal animal, I never managed to see it active, although I distinctly saw its head and trunk contrary to you and your wombat.

Roger wrote:

Schleich kuokka was a big surprise, the only I owned was the S&N version and I was not expecting it at all, figure is nice, but the slightly comic style we also see in Schleich wombat was not needed. They're all cute creatures, they don't need an extra touch.

I agree as far as the wombat is concerned but not the quokka. It is known as the most smiling animal on earth, this feature had to be represented on the figure and Schleich's one does not look more cartoonish than a real one actually ! It was also a big surprise for me. As I told you, I discovered quokkas in an obscure Australian book and was convinced no one knew that species and would dare to make a figure of it. Then, I learnt that it had become a meme on the internet and understood better Schleich's choice.

Roger wrote:

Next year, if brands are able to keep their business, I suspect we will have lots of Australian animals. bounce

Unfortunately Roger, I am afraid we will get the same well-known species already made by other big brands (I don't expect Schleich to release a quoll for example, but rather a Tasmanian devil or a platypus rather than an echidna).

The comparison of the Schleich toucan and CollectA ivory billed woodpecker won't come until this afternoon as my camera's battery is dead

For next year brands in my opinion are going to be quite boring. CollectA are probably going to make new and improved giant pandas, African elephants and a dromedary camel. Schleich will probably make a few sharks, an African buffalo and maybe a wallaby. For other major brands and lesser known ones I am unsure.

V Mammals

C) Bats

Species : Unidentified bat, grey-headed flying fox
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Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- Schleich 14719 Fruit Bat (2014-2017)
- Schleich 14194 Bat Spread Wings (2002-2004)

Fun facts :
- The 14194 species remains unidentified on TAI so I am using it as an oversized European bat (like a pipistrelle for example).
- I have pipistrelle babies in my flat every year in june. They fall from the attic right into my bathroom. I usually entrust them to one of my former colleagues who is part of a conservation society, as taking care of them is a huge and difficult job I cannot fulfil when I am working.
- I have the unidentified bat from my childhood and found the flying fox in a local shop.
- I have seen flying foxes in zoos but not the grey-headed one (mainly Egyptian fruit bats, Lyle's flying foxes and Rodrigues flying foxes).

Advicot wrote:

The comparison of the Schleich toucan and CollectA ivory billed woodpecker won't come until this afternoon as my camera's battery is dead

For next year brands in my opinion are going to be quite boring. CollectA are probably going to make new and improved giant pandas, African elephants and a dromedary camel. Schleich will probably make a few sharks, an African buffalo and maybe a wallaby. For other major brands and lesser known ones I am unsure.

I don't see how a new African elephant from CollectA could be boring ! If it is as realistic and well-made as their last hippo and rhino, it will be magnificent !

RtasVadumee wrote:

I don't see how a new African elephant from CollectA could be boring ! If it is as realistic and well-made as their last hippo and rhino, it will be magnificent !

I agree, even better if it's somehow bigger than the current competitors.

I have these two bats, actually I like a lot the Schleich flying fox, I love the translucent effect on it.
Though, I have also the stupendous Papo long-eared bat as well as a few smaller from Play Visions, etc. To be fair, if lack of room was not one of my problems, my favorite figures would surely be the Safari large lifesized figures, it is somewhat useless to care with sizes regarding these animals, most are very small in real.

V Mammals

D) Insectivorans

Species : European hedgehog, four-toed hedgehog
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Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- Schleich 14713 Hedgehog (2014-2018)
- Schleich 14337 Hedgehog (2005-2014)
- Schleich 14623 Hedgehog Pups (2010-2014)
- Schleich 14676 Four-toed Hedgehog (2012-2014)

Fun facts :
- The last Schleich common hedgehog is better sized than the previous one and I got it first but I could not resist the 14337 model when I saw it in a garden centre. So, now, I use the most recent one as a teenager.
- The four-toed hedgehog is the embodiment of Schleich cuteness. I think it is one of the most ridiculous Schleich figures.
- My grandparents had a hedgehog in their garden when I was a child, his name was "Toothbrush".
- The last common hedgehog is a gift from my grandmother. She bought it for me in a toy shop on the way to a zoo we visited together. I bought the previous model in a garden centre during one of my figure hunts. I bought the hedgehog pups to a collector from my region (I got a lot of new figures that day and those hedgehog pups were the least remarkable of them) and found the four-toed one in an independant toy shop, far from home, during one of my most profitable figure hunts (but it was, again, the least remarkable figure I got that day).
- I have seen European hedgehogs in the wild but I have never seen four-toed hedgehogs.

Update :
- Papo 50265 Mole (2020-still in production) was added to the collection. For further information, please check the addition topics.
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Toothbrush? What a cool name. My common hedgehog is the 2nd version from CollectA, the finest replica of the species I know.
I have a few others however. Although being quite tolerant with bases, I never wanted the pygmy hedgehog from Schleich, more interesting as an eventual rare collectible than as a figure. So, I don't have this species yet in my collection. I also don't know if the Papo rendition is interesting enough, something to study later. The only representative of a different species from htese I know is the Naturally Adorkable long-eared hedgehog maybe too much adorkable and surely huge for your collecting taste.

Roger wrote:

My common hedgehog is the 2nd version from CollectA, the finest replica of the species I know.

I was so impressed when I saw it, sooooo beautiful. It was a Susanne's walkaround that drew my attention, but when I saw it in real it was impossible to resist. One of my favorite for sure.

I just checked CollectA's hedgehog and don't you find it a bit strange that it is standing ?

When you hold it in your hand it seems pretty normal. :p
Actually, I never thought about it.. can they stand like this? But it's so cute that I don't really mind.

I look for new and interesting species Ben, but if they come out with it looking amazing I will be sure to pick it up. They may release a forest elephant which will interest me more and I'll get it no matter what.

My only bat is the flying fox you have but soon I'll be getting the OpenToys Giant golden-crowned flying fox and a Wenno moose from Roger. I'm ever so excited I'm really considering the Papo figure but I can't find it at my usual Papo shop, so I'll have to wait and see.

My collection of hedgehogs includes the same two species that you have. The figures are Papo and Schleich's four toed, and Schleich 14337, 14623, Bullyland's family of them and the old CollectA model.

I look for new and interesting species Ben, but if they come out with it looking amazing I will be sure to pick it up. They may release a forest elephant which will interest me more and I'll get it no matter what.

My only bat is the flying fox you have but soon I'll be getting the OpenToys Giant golden-crowned flying fox and a Wenno moose from Roger. I'm ever so excited I'm really considering the Papo figure but I can't find it at my usual Papo shop, so I'll have to wait and see.

My collection of hedgehogs includes the same two species that you have. The figures are Papo and Schleich's four toed, and Schleich 14337, 14623, Bullyland's family of them and the old CollectA model.

Sorry for the two posts, flood control was on and I pressed send twice

You can delete one by clicking on the cross in the upper right hand corner.

I have no Przewalski's horse yet, but I plan to do. I prefair the running CollectA one than the standing Safari's one, the latter have a too "squarish" face, more likely a robot-horse than a true Przewalski's. The CollectA's is in my wishslist.

You're right, all species you mention from Beauval are species that I already saw and photographed in other zoos, including harpy eagle, koalas, giant pandas and two species of tree kangaroos. However it have many species that I'm interested in: African firefinch (only zoo in Europe), Argentine black and white tegu, Asian glossy starling, Augur buzzard, Bank mynah, Bay snook, Bicolor cleaner wrasse, Big longnose butterflyfish, Black-bellied seedcracker (only zoo in Europe), Black-necked stilt, Blue-throated agama, Blue-winged goose, BORNEO EARLESS MONITOR!!!! , Brahminy kite, Brahminy starling, Chestnut-tailed starling (only zoo in Europe), Common box turtle, CUBAN TROGON!!!!! (only zoo in Europe! (what happened with the Santillana zoo ones??)), Emerald skink!, Emperor flat lizard!!, Giant forest dragon (only zoo in Europe),Greater white-fronted goose, Green crested lizard, Grey-backed thrush, Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko, Himalayan griffon vulture, Hottentot teal, Indochinese box turtle, Lace monitor, Lake Patzcuaro salamander, LESSER GREEN BROADBILL!! , Long-legged buzzard, Long-tailed glossy starling, MANDARIN RATSNAKE!!!!!!!!!!!! , Moustached guenon, Pastel-green wrasse, Pied crow, Pied tamarin, Porcupine river stingray!, RED RAIN FROOOOOOGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! , Red-taield laughingtrush, Ringed wall gecko, Sharpnose wrasse, Silvery marmoset!!, Spot-billed duck, Springbok, Vinaceous amazon, West Indian iguana!!!!!! , Western spindalis (only zoo in Europe), WHITE-BELLIED SEA EAGLE!!!!!!!!! (only zoo in Europe), White-shouldered starling, Wolf cichlid and Yellow-shouldered amazon!!!!
So, definitely a place that I would like to visit. But there are thousands of places like that
For me, the secretarybird action is only just one more little spice in the grand whole thing of this atonishing breathtaking bird show. The combination of my most superfavourite music in the world (seriously, looks like they copied my favourite list from Youtube!!!), presentation, surroundings and zillion species of magnific and rare birds flying around you at same time (and not one by one as in usual in bird shows), make this unbelievable

I don't visit only big international zoos, but also small zoos. It depends mainly on the species shown. One of my favourite recently visited zoos is Best zoo, in the Netherlands. It's small, familiar, remote, with a very modest, hidden entry, and very few visitors. But it have spotted skunks, yellow-throated martens, common kingfishers, Allen's gallinules, white.striped forest wallabies...!!!! So I don't mind the size of the zoo as far as I can get a decent number of interesting new species for my photo collection I also don't mind at all if the enclosures are naturalistic or not. But if you like naturalistic enclosures then I recommend you to visit Sijean :)
I dislike a lot "largest aviares". When I'm in one, I KNOW that there are this or that very rare and exciting species of bird and that I will never be able to find it in the foliage or wait to appear in somewhere. Believe me, I worked in a huge private aviary, and despite not being too much densely planted, there are birds that I dind't saw until third week or staying here every day!!

I had better luck with aardvarks than with wombats. Aardvarks are common in nocturnal houses and hence easy to see active. But I not only saw them active in some nocturnal houses but once also in an enclosure hit by daylight, so I was able to took a photo that is not perfect but enough decent.

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Currently, the only bat in my collection is the Safari LTD's Good Luck Minis bat. It's the only enough small for fit into my collection. I've repainted it into a Pied Bat.

I don't have none hedhehog in my collection but plan to have the Safari LTD's Good Luck Minis new for 2020 one. I'm really surprised that you never saw a four-toed, theyre with overhelming difference the most common hedgehog in captivity, if not almost the only one, and while not so common in zoos, they're often seen in pet shops.

If CollectA's release an enough realistic and decent-sized forest elephant I will buy it for sure

V Mammals

E) Lagomorphs

Species : Mountain hare, European rabbit, tan rabbit
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Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- Schleich 14692 White Hare (2013-2016)
- Schleich 14631 Wild Rabbit (2010-2017)
- Schleich 13137 Rabbit Black and Brown (2000-2011)

Fun facts :
- I bought the white hare as an Arctic hare and just found out recently that it was marketed as a mountain hare. I still think it looks like more an Arctic hare.
- I may add the Papo European hare to this family picture if I don't find the Schleich 14339 model which I prefer.
- I have had a lop rabbit for 10 years, his name was Caramel. Actually he was more my father's rabbit than mine. So, I give my father a lop rabbit figure as a gift everytime I find one. For now, he has two.
- I have the tan rabbit from my childhood, found the wild one in a garden centre and the white hare in a toy shop quite far from home during one of my figure hunts.
- I have obviously seen European rabbits in the wild but I have never seen a mountain hare (nor an Arctic one).

Bonus pic : my father's lop rabbits
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Figures on this picture (from left to right) :
- Schleich 13697 Dwarf Lop, lying (2011-2014)
- Schleich 14415 Dwarf Lop Rabbit (2006-2016)

Update : Were added to the collection
- Schleich 14339 Hare (2005-2011)
- Papo 50226 Arctic Hare (2017-still in production)
For further information, please check the addition topics.
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Pardo, I don't know all the species you mentionned but there is no way I have seen white bellied sea-eagles and Borneo earless monitors in Beauval, they must have arrived after my last visit

I was very interested in the secretary action because I have never seen this species.

Pardofelis wrote:

I dislike a lot "largest aviares". When I'm in one, I KNOW that there are this or that very rare and exciting species of bird and that I will never be able to find it in the foliage or wait to appear in somewhere. Believe me, I worked in a huge private aviary, and despite not being too much densely planted, there are birds that I dind't saw until third week or staying here every day!!

Well, that's the game my dear Pardo ! If you don't like aviaries, you should not like the wild as it is even more difficult to see the bird you want in it ! Actually, I do not photograph in zoos anymore because what I like about wildlife photography is hunting and I can't find those feelings in zoos.

Pardofelis wrote:

I had better luck with aardvarks than with wombats. Aardvarks are common in nocturnal houses and hence easy to see active. But I not only saw them active in some nocturnal houses but once also in an enclosure hit by daylight, so I was able to took a photo that is not perfect but enough decent.

Aardvarks are a British speciality, there aren't any in France and the only foreign zoo I have been to is London zoo (only twice).

Pardofelis wrote:

I'm really surprised that you never saw a four-toed, theyre with overhelming difference the most common hedgehog in captivity, if not almost the only one, and while not so common in zoos, they're often seen in pet shops.

I don't think I have ever seen a hedgehog (from any species) in a zoo

I have the Schleich 2006 European hare, 2010 European rabbit and Mountain hare. Safari black-tailed jackrabbit and the Papo Arctic hare is probably the next although I find the Safari version a little better. Eikoh Amami rabbit is also a good option for a future acquisition, I love a few Kaiyodo but I am not big fan of figures with assemblable parts. I may have a few more.
Schleich is really good with this kind of figures, I find the European hare and rabbit very competent models.

Advicot wrote:

My only bat is the flying fox you have but soon I'll be getting the OpenToys Giant golden-crowned flying fox and a Wenno moose from Roger. I'm ever so excited I'm really considering the Papo figure but I can't find it at my usual Papo shop, so I'll have to wait and see.

Yes, Adam, they are here to be sent to you. Just be patient, confinement will be long here and I cannot risk a little. As soon as things are back to the normal, I will take care of it.

I have the Schleich mountain hare on my wish list, but I'm worried the place I'm going to acquire it from is going to go out of stock before I get it.

I love the anami rabbit by Eikoh but as I've mentioned many times before I really struggle to find Japanese brands! It's really aggravating!