Mountain Lion Mania

Mountain Lions (Puma concolor)

at Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo 

Mountain lions go by many names, cougars, pumas, red tigers, deer tigers, etc. They hold the Guinness Book of World Records title for having the most common names of any animal.  Called Puma concolor by scientists, the mountain lion is one of my favorite big cats. A top predator, males of this species can reach 8-feet long from nose to tail and weigh over 200 lbs. These regal cats hunt elk, deer, grouse, virtually anything they can overpower.

The majestic mountain lion. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia).

Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo (AWSFZ) is home to three precious cubs (please see Expedition: Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo for a brief introduction).  Angel and Sarah are sisters; Edward is a young male unrelated to the other two.  All three of them were born at a zoo in Arkansas and were taken in by AWSFZ to serve as ambassadors of their species, helping in educational programs and conservation efforts. They were hand-raised by Jarrod and his family and, despite having the size and power of America's top cat, are very gentle when dealing with humans.

 They love playing; jumping, chewing, and pawing at things.  This behavior is thought to help them develop their reflexes and muscles used in hunting.

Angel, one of our cougar cubs, playfully chewing on my shirt.

Sarah, Angel's sister, tries to give me a kiss.

Croc Wrangling 101

Croc Wrangling at the Zoo

Taking learning to a whole new level!

When working with large reptiles, there comes a time when you might need to restrain the animal for inspection purposes, whether for medical reasons or transportation to a new enclosure. I learned from the best croc wranglers in the US, Jarrod and Bart, and had the opportunity to help restrain a 6.5-foot Nile crocodile.

Prepared to safely transport a 6.5-foot Nile crocodile!

After jumping on the croc, the first order of business is to secure the jaws with electric tape. Once that's accomplished, the tough part begins. (Notice that in many of the photos, the large 12' saltwater crocodile in the enclosure right next to me has her mouth open!)

The croc is so powerful I have to use my entire body weight to control it

"I think I got it."

With a simple turn of its neck, the croc easily escapes my grip.  Thank goodness for the tape.

To regain some semblance of control, I gently cover the croc's eyes to keep it calm.

Taking a quick rest as Bart keeps a watchful eye in the background.

The tail of crocodiles, caimans, and alligators is solid muscle.  They use this muscular appendage to power themselves, capable of reaching 11 miles per hour on land and up to 30 miles per hour in water!  The tail also provides tremendous torque when the animal twists around to free itself.  I almost lost control!

The massive tail whips around, ripping the croc out of my grip!

BAM!!! I have no choice but to pin the croc with my body. Notice the giant saltwater croc in the enclosure behind me. She's 12-feet long and could easily rip off my leg with her jaws. Luckily for the fence, that didn't happen.

Here's some footage of the struggle. Check it out!

(The squawking in the background are macaws and cockatoos.)

I try again, knowing the full power of this "small" croc.

I make sure to control the tail with my feet and cover the eyes with my hand.

I gently secure the neck and head, while keeping control with my feet.

Up we go!

Almost there!

YES! After struggling to secure the animal, we're ready for transport!

At the end of the day, the safety and health of the animal is our top priority.  Even though the handling may seem invasive, it's a standard practice for securing large reptiles. Jarrod, Bart, and I take the handling of the zoo's animals very seriously and go to great lengths to ensure the safety and well-being of each animal.

I love crocs!

Crocs Alive!

Enter the Croc Pond

at Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo

One of Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo's (AWSFZ) specialties is crocodilians (please see Expedition: Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo page for a brief introduction). The zoo cares for one of the most diverse collections of crocodiles in the country. It is amazing to work with such a wide range of species in such close proximity. From the caiman, the smallest crocodile species in the world, to the giant saltwater and Nile crocs, the two largest reptile species in the world, AWSFZ has them all. Check out some of the beauties:

A cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)

Sam, the zoo's 13-foot American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

A gator coming out of the Croc Pond to check us out

A west African Nile croc basking in the sun

A beautiful east African Nile croc (blond in the center)

Every Sunday during the summer, Jarrod and the AWSFZ team feed the crocs by hand in a show for the public.  The weekly "Croc Feeding" is a huge attraction.  Check out what I mean:

Jarrod taking a break to educate the public about this gorgeous east African Nile crocodile

Despite having an injured left hand, Jarrod continues the show with a smile on his face. What a trooper!

Jarrod and Sam, the alpha male gator. Look at those jaws!

Jarrod and one of the medium-sized gators. Check out the size of that reptile!

Even with his left hand out of commission, Jarrod still gives the crowd an amazing show

Jarrod and Bart are the only people allowed in the Croc Pond during feeding sessions. With over 20 years of experience working together, Bart and Jarrod depend on each other. Bart is Jarrod's only life-line and if things get a bit toothy, Bart is there to back Jarrod up.

A bunch of crocs cornering Jarrod and Bart

Jarrod trying to get chicken out as fast as he can

 Of course, when you're working with giant, toothy reptiles, there are always close calls.

A hungry east African Nile croc

A Nile croc that's more interested in Jarrod than in chicken. Check out those teeth!

Another close shave

After a successful show, Jarrod and Bart gave me unprecedented access to the giant crocs in the Croc Pond.  Having worked with giant crocs before, I was familiar with the safety precautions required. But I was still sweating bullets!

Contemplating my next move in the Croc Pond.

Me and a 10-foot Nile crocodile, the second largest reptile species in the world!