Out of Africa

You know I love it when you send me your photos of animals. If they are good enough you can even expect me to post them on my blog! These pictures were sent to me from Robert who was visiting Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde, Arizona. Pictured above is an African Lioness. These powerful predators are the largest of the African Cats. A fun fact is that lions sleep nearly 18-20 hours a day!

Check out this big male lion! Notice how big and beautiful his mane is. Most people don't realize that not all male lions have large manes like this. Some don't have manes at all! It depends on the region where the lions are found in Africa.

At Out of Africa there is a good chance that you will be able to get a close-up encounter with some of Africa's most famous residents including giraffes!

Out of Africa is not just home to African Wildlife...It also is home to tigers, bears, and other species found outside of the "safari continent." One of park's number one attractions includes the "Big Cat Feeding." This gives guests the opportunity to watch the park's large felines indulge!

This is a Southern White Rhino. Unfortunately these species out in the wild are disappearing due to habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Check out those horns! Rhino horns are made out of Keratin (small little compressed hairs). Keratin is also what makes up our fingernails!

My little lawn mower!

Check out my little "lawn mower!" I took this picture of Tank our male Sulcata Tortoise yesterday in the tortoise yard. I couldn't help but watch him for nearly an hour as he seriously munched away on some grass. What I found to be so funny is that he would stay in one place eat away the grass to nearly the dirt then leave behind him a perfectly trimmed grass line (similar to a golfer's green)!

Check out his trail! I can always tell where he has been in the yard at any given day!

This is a completely normal behavior for Sulcata Tortoises. In the wild these animals will graze in the early morning, head back to a burrow or shelter to beat the extreme heat of the afternoon, then return to grazing on various grasses, shrubs, and flowers near the evening.

Retics

Some of my ALL-TIME favorite reptiles to work with are the big snakes. Ever since I was a little kid I always had a fascination with large boas and pythons. Matter of fact one of my very first snakes I rescued was a 13-foot Burmese Python! Unfortunately a lot of people buy large boas and pythons when they are babies and do not realize how large their pet snake will soon get. Above I am holding Aeriana a 17-foot Reticulated Python that was featured on "LIVE with The Reptile Guy." It took three people to just handle her. It's amazing to think that Aeriana started out as a 31 inch baby and soon would grow up to be the longest snake species in the world!

Reticulated Pythons also are known to have testy personalities. The same snake that I am hold above is the same one that is pictured ready to strike! You never know what's going to happen when you work with Reticulated Pythons or any wild animal for that matter. Make sure that you leave keeping Reticulated Pythons up to experienced hobbyists.

Thanks Drew for the great pic!

Look what's in our backyard!

School's out and spring is here! That means it's time to start searching for reptiles that are native to Idaho. These pictures were taken last Sunday on the Idaho Herpetological Society's annual trip to Fossil Butte, Idaho. I work very closely with animals found all over the world...so sometimes I forget about what's in my own backyard. Idaho has an amazing collection of reptiles and amphibians including this Great Basin Rattlesnake pictured above.

Look at this cute little horned lizard also known as the "horny toad." These small lizards can be found in Southern Idaho in a variety of different habitats including parries, grasslands, and deserts.

This is a Mojave Black-collared Lizard. Collards are one of the largest lizards in Idaho reaching lengths of up to 13 inches. Their diet mainly includes insects and other lizards. They also eat flowers and leaves.

This is a Great Basin Rattlesnake, a subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake. Unfortunately many people confuse these snakes with the harmless Gopher Snake. If you encounter a rattlesnake out in the wild LEAVE IT ALONE! They are more scared of you than you are of them.

Thanks Nancy for sharing all of your great pictures!

What is this?

I love receiving your e-mails, feedback, and questions! This was sent to me by Christina who wrote: "Found this guy in my front yard and made the mistake of picking him up and carrying him to the field without knowing what he was. Corbin, can you name this snake?"      Easy...It's a Gopher Snake! You can tell the difference between a harmless Gopher Snake and a venomous rattlesnake by their head shape. Gophers have slender more pointed head and lack rattles.

Thanks Christina for the picture!