We are so excited about our appearance on the Fox News Morning Show today! The show is going to feature reptiles that are found in North America. Not only do we have new reptiles featured ALL morning long from 6:00-8:00am we also have a HUGE surprise! If you're in the Boise area you can catch it on Channel 12 OR you can watch it worldwide at http://corbinmaxey.com/http://www.ktrv.com/Global/category.asp?C=73639&nav=menu439_1
Take a look at this happy grin from Soni our American Alligator. I wanted to share with you what I see most mornings when I open up his exhibit. He usually plots himself right in front of the door blocking my entry! Most of this is just bluff. At over 5 feet now, Soni is starting to lose his yellow strips and turn more of a dark grayish color. He is becoming more and more protective of his territory and for good reason: In the wild male alligators would be doing the same thing, establishing territories and looking for lady gators. I often get asked how long we will keep Soni...the answer is FOREVER! Although he hardly ever participates in our outreach programs anymore due to his size he still will always have a home and be apart of my Animal Ambassador Team!
You just have to love those caring eyes our Savannah Monitor named Savannah. She joined our Animal Ambassador Team in late January of this year. Since joining she has met thousands of people and even appeared on television. There is just only one problem...She is extremely overweight and HATES to exercise! Savannah was rescued from a local pet store that overfed her so much that she could barely turn around in her small aquarium. Since she came to live at the reserve we have tried our hardest to put her on a lean protein diet and a daily exercise program.
Judging by the picture I just took this morning I do not think that our program has helped Savannah nearly as much as I thought it would. Anyone have Jenny Craig’s number? Wonder if they ever helped an overweight lizard...hmm...
I dug this picture up while cleaning my office yesterday and had to share it with all of you. This was taken back in 2002 when I was only 13 years old. As you can see I was wrestling with a young tiger. I can remember it like it was yesterday...Running down this huge glassy hill having this small but surprisingly powerful cat tackle me. I really felt like I was the prey in this situation. The power that this young tiger exerted is so hard to explain until you’re in that situation...I can only imagine what it would be like to be tackled by an adult.
It should come to most at no surprise that Zoo Boise makes my "Top Ten Places You Should Visit This Summer" at #1! I have literally grown up at this zoo and enjoy visiting this place every chance I get. Another reason why I placed it at #1 is that there are so many new animals and exhibits to enjoy this summer.
These are some of the new faces you can expect while visiting Zoo Boise this summer! This is Joseph and Julius. These two male giraffes call the zoo's "African Planes" exhibit home. This multi-species exhibit is also home to a pride of lions, hornbills, and Striped Hyenas.
Please ignore the water spot! This picture was taken back-in-the-day! Some of my favorite feathered friends call the zoo home. These are Magellanic Penguins. The zoo offers underwater viewing of these magnificent birds and has penguin talks daily. Some of my favorite memories include scrubbing this pool every Tuesday!!!!
When I said I "grew up" at this zoo I wasn't kidding. Way before touring nationally, appearing on television, and hosting a TV show I was at Zoo Boise performing in "Reptile Rampage." This show which I wrote/produced was performed weekly and attracted thousands of zoo visitors. It was all about promoting responsible pet ownership which is a message I still talk about to this day.
"Reptile Rampage" featured ALL sorts of reptiles including this baby alligator I am holding...his name is "Soni!" Can you believe how tiny he was at the time? Now at over 5 feet he seems monstrous compared to how little he was back then.
Ok. I promise I will retire this picture after this blog...I just can't help but love this picture with me holding the zoo's baby gibbon named Lia Bo. What a sweetheart! You can now visit her swinging through her HUGE outdoor exhibit with her mom and dad.
If you want more information on how you can visit Zoo Boise please visit their site at www.zooboise.com