White-throated Monitor

The day began with learning to hold and show off a Eastern Box Turtle, then we moved onto the Plated Lizard and the Hedgehog.  After that we learned how to work with the Red-footed Tortoise, Star Tortoise, and Radiated Tortoise.  By the time we had all learned to handle the animals it was about time for lunch so we went to lunch for an hour.


By the time we finished lunch we still had 30 minutes left so we toured around the wings of the world area.  We also wandered by the Siamang Gibbons because they were howling.  Then we met our supervisor in a building for more training on interpretation.  She brought a special guest named Ollie the White-throated Monitor on a harness and leash.  We had our class and he walked around the room running into the walls and windows with his face...hes kind of adorable in a reptile like way.  After class we walked him back to his building about 40 yards away....it took 20 minutes.  Everyone was so excited to meet him that walked by us.  Then we toured an education area with several other animals used for random animal encounters and I even got to hold a baby hedgehog....which is much calmer and nicer to hold than the adult.


Around 2 our supervisor told us we were done for the day and we could do whatever so we went to the giftshop and then walked around looking at others doing random animal encounters.  We watched the elephants for a little while and then got icees.  We watched the bird show and then when walking to leave we got called over from one of the food places.....we got a free pizza because they made too many and were closing for the day....AWESOME!

White-throated Monitor

Siamang Gibbons