Zoo Fan Photography

02/10/2023

I will miss hearing this sweet boy's chuffs. 💔

I was privileged to be able work with the team at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo capturing moments with Rajah and his sister, Rani, to share with the fans of "The Little Zoo That Could." My thoughts and prayers are with the keepers and entire zoo family.

08/29/2022

It’s your Monday morning alarm courtesy of Boomer.

Who’s ready to have a great week?

08/19/2022

It's International Orangutan Day. The goal of this day is to raise awareness about the predicament of this species, which has progressed from endangered to critically endangered.

Unfortunately, humans are the greatest threat to the survival of orangutans. Deforestation, for example, encroaches on their habitat. In addition, illicit hunting claims the lives of 3,000 orangutans each year.

Orangutan is derived from the Malay words 'Orang' meaning person, and 'hutan' meaning 'forest'. Orangutans are known as forest gardeners because they aid in seed dispersal. They eat the tree’s fruit, the seeds fall to the ground, and the forest expands.

08/18/2022

It’s Black Cat Appreciation Day and Joel Sartore, Photographer perfectly captured Katrina. I love visiting the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and photographing Katrina and I strive to capture the soul and personality of animals the way Joel does.

Black phased African leopards like Katrina are relatively rare - their coats a deviation from the norm due to melanism. You might think that an almost jet-black coat would be an advantage, allowing these cats to fade into the shadows, warm faster in the sun, and ward off certain parasites, but whatever advantages these felines gain from their unique coloration, they lose in their ability to communicate. Researchers have found that these cats lack white markings on their ears and tails that other members of their species use to signal each other, meaning their ability to communicate is partially, or in some cases, completely obscured. Photo taken at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.

08/10/2022

I took a break from the Gulf Coast rain and took a drive up to the Alabama Safari Park. This is a great day trip and a chance to see the animals in a different way.

08/10/2022

Adventure up close.

07/29/2022

Today is World Tiger Day. The world's largest cats are facing numerous threats linked to human activity like poaching, illicit trafficking, loss of habitat, climate change, deforestation. Wildlife is our shared heritage and it's our shared responsibility to protect it.

Meet one of my favorite tigers. Rajah is a Bengal tiger who calls the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo home along with his sister Rani.

05/18/2022

Well hello.

05/08/2022

Wishing Casanova a very happy 8th birthday. 🐾 🎂 🐾

📷: Casanova’s 4th birthday enrichment 2018

03/05/2022

My heart broke when I read the Gulf Breeze Zoo's post today announcing that Toby, one of the bengal tiger cubs had passed away.

I fell in love with Toby and his companion, Indra, in December 2020 when they made their debut at Christmas Zoobilee.

These photos are from my last visit to the Gulf Breeze Zoo on December 30, 2021. Toby was having a lazy day napping and I was enchanted just watching him.

Rest in peace, sweet boy.

03/03/2022

Today is World Wildlife Day. The 2022 theme is "Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration" to draw attention to the conservation status of some of the most critically endangered species.

Edward is a gopher tortoise at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Gopher tortoises are considered a keystone species. That means they play a crucial role in their ecosystem, and other species depend on them for survival.

According to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) there are an estimated 350+ species that rely on the tortoise’s burrows – such as the gopher frog, Florida mouse and many invertebrates would not have a place to live without the gopher tortoise!

So how can you help gopher tortoises? If you see a gopher tortoise or its burrow, give it plenty of space. A tortoise relies on its burrow for survival, and getting too close to one can cause it to collapse or fill with sand.

If you are lucky enough to see a tortoise wandering about a natural area, leave it be and do not put it into water. They cannot swim and could drown if placed into the water. Finally, if you need to assist a tortoise crossing the street, always take it in the direction it was heading, and never put it in your car or take it to a new location.