By corbin on 6/28/2009 10:34 AM

As a young child I always dreamed of meeting Jane Goodall. This incredible researcher and world-renowned primatologist has always inspired me to make a difference in this world one single step at a time. When I finally had the opportunity to meet Jane her talk really got me thinking…Who are the Great Apes?



Of course we all know about the famous Chimpanzees in Africa that Jane studied for so many years. She was the first researcher EVER to observe wild chimps using and manufacturing tools (like sticks and branches) to poke into termite mounds to collect the tasty morsels.



Don’t get confused…this is NOT a chimpanzee. This is a Bonobo. Bonobos are members of the Great Ape family and until recently most scientists considered...

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By corbin on 6/27/2009 11:36 AM

We have all heard about the Komodo Dragon. The large mythical looking creatures that live only on a select group of islands in Indonesia. They even have earned the title as the world’s largest lizard growing up to 10 feet long and weighing in at over 300 pounds. There are facts though that many people don’t know about these misunderstood beasts. For an instance: Did you know inside that bulky head are over 60 short razor sharp teeth designed for tearing flesh? Or that they will go through four to five sets of teeth in a lifetime?



Did you know that in 2002 a research team found on a single island “mini dragons” that are much smaller than other dragons in Indonesia? These small dragons only reach 7 feet and weigh 47 pounds!



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By corbin on 6/25/2009 12:40 PM

My recent trip to Oregon would not have been complete without visiting one of my favorite places in the WHOLE entire world...The Oregon Coast! There is just something about the cold waves of the Pacific, the rocky tide pools, and the washed up kelp that makes this place one of my favorite destinations. ***The picture above was taken in Lincoln City right behind The Sandcastle Motel (a place we would stay when I was a kid). Although I never did get a black belt in Karate I think I could give Jackie Chan a run for his money!

  

We drove along the coast and hit some of my favorite towns including Depot Bay the world's smallest harbor. Tourists around the world flock to Depot Bay to check out their famous Gray Whales. These whales have been visiting this place for generations and can be seen at the town's Whale Watching Center. ***Here...

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By corbin on 6/22/2009 12:36 PM

What is bigger than a bear, barks, and is endangered? I'm talking about the magnificent Steller Sea Lion. Now don't get confused with the commonly seen California Sea Lions. Stellers are MUCH MUCH BIGGER! Males can weigh in at nearly 3,000 pounds making them one of the largest members of the Pinniped family (seals/sea lion/walrus).



The Oregon Zoo is actually one of the only zoos in the country to exhibit Steller Sea Lions. The reason is because Stellers require large exhibits, eat 25-30 pounds of fish EACH and every day, and can be dangerous to work with.



These large marine mammals are actually quite graceful underwater. In the wild Steller Sea Lions spend the majority of their time on rocky shores in large groups that can number up to the thousands. They will spend their time in the water to hunt, avoid bad weather, or if they feel threatened.

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By corbin on 6/18/2009 10:51 AM

The answer lies right behind me. Hippos' are considered the most dangerous animals in Africa. Matter of fact they kill more people than lions and crocodiles combined! Large males can weigh anywhere from 3,500 - 9,920 pounds! Even though they are unpredictable and dangerous Hippos are one of my favorite animals!



These two gorgeous hippos are enjoying the afternoon sun in their Oregon Zoo exhibit. In the wild hippos will leave their water source and walk sometimes several miles in search of food. They are primarily vegetarians eating various grasses. Even though they are built for water hippos cannot even swim! They move around by pushing off with their toes from the river floor like ballet dancers.



Check out that smile! This is a Dwarf Caiman...

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By corbin on 6/16/2009 1:28 PM

If you've been following me on Twitter you will already know that this past weekend I had the opportunity to visit the Oregon Zoo located in Portland, Oregon. This was my very first visit to 64 acre zoological park and trust me...it has been LONG AWAITED!



I just had to start today's blog with this picture I took of one of the zoo's Polar Bears. Check out how much he LOVES his ball. This of course is considered enrichment for the bears. It gives them something to do and stimulates their minds. You wouldn't want to take it away from him. Polar bears who weigh anywhere from 800-1500 pounds are considered the world's largest land carnivore. They also are the most dangerous animals at the zoo. How neat!



As soon as you walk into the gates you are awe-stricken by the "Cascade Crest" exhibit which is home to numerous Mountain Goats (pictured above). The reason why I was so fascinated with the exhibit was because it was truly visually stunning.  It featured giant boulders for the goats to climb, grassy hills, and a moat to keep the animals a safe distance from visitors.

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By corbin on 6/11/2009 8:51 AM

During my visit to the Knoxville Zoo I encountered a species that is in peril. A species that once spread across Africa and Asia that is now restricted to only game reserves and parks in Africa and a small part of Iran. I'm talking about the cheetah. These magnificent animals are best known for their title as the world's fastest land mammal being able to reach speeds of up to 70 mph. Back in the 1900's over 100,000 cheetahs used to roam this earth. Now the population has dwindled down to a mere 12,000 making them endangered.



There are a lot of factors effecting the wild cheetah populations. One of them is the genetic "Bottleneck Effect." It is when there is not enough genetic variation to sustain a healthy wild population of a species. It leads to severe inbreeding. Other factors include habitat...

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By corbin on 6/8/2009 1:25 PM

I had the wonderful opportunity just a few days ago to visit the Knoxville Zoo located in Tennessee. This zoo was one of my favorite places to visit when I was just a kid and the memories there are still so clear in my mind. Since I had not visited the zoo since I was ten A LOT of things changed (for the good)!  I am so excited to share with you all some of my favorite pictures I took during my visit. ~Enjoy



The Knoxville Zoo is WORLD FAMOUS for their Red Panda breeding program. They have had more panda births than any other place in the Western Hemisphere! I was so happy to see the pandas in their brand-new exhibit called "Red Panda Village." Unfortunately Red Pandas are considered endangered and are being effected by human expansion and poaching.



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By corbin on 6/2/2009 9:20 AM

One of the many places I had the opportunity to visit while I was in Miami was Jungle Island. To be honest I had never heard of such a place but was excited all the same. When I entered through the gates I was greeted instantly by these magnificent macaws. Jungle Island has dozens of these birds designated throughout park.



One the many park highlights include "The Tale of the Tiger." This show features tigers, a lion, a skunk, a baby gibbon and much more. What I really enjoyed about this show was how much they stressed conservation. I also enjoyed watching the audience and how they were more receptive and caring towards tiger conservation after seeing a real tiger up-close and personal.



Of course my favorite animal I visited...

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By corbin on 5/29/2009 8:57 AM

Tonight, Friday May 29th is the very last episode of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The animals and I have visited Jay on numerous occasions and have had the opportunity to have worked with some of the best producers in the country. Not only that but we have been able to spread our message about conservation, education, and responsible pet ownership to millions of people.



Don't you just love my "Best Buy" looking uniform? This is Jay and me right after I graduated High School during my second appearance on the show. This time the animals and I were featured with Sam Jackson! He LOVED feeding Scooter a banana.



I had to bring out this infamous image of Jay and me during my first appearance...

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