I work with lots of really interesting animals, but the Giant Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus) is a favorite. They are large, with huge eyes and can be seen plastered to the wall or glass. I love their eyes. We have a female that is off display and I love pampering her, if you can pamper a gecko...
Quick Facts :
They are arboreal, nocturnal insectivores from Madagascar.
The scientific name - "ourĂ¡" meaning "tail" and "platys" meaning "flat". Fimbriatus is the Latin word for "fringed" based on their unique appearance of fringed skin.
Females can have three clutches a year, two eggs per clutch that will hatch in ~90 days.
They do not blink. Instead they will lick their eyes clean.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
I did not forget you Blog! I promise to post more in 2011.
I thought of you often dear blog, but time was not my friend. My last post was in August and so much has happened.
A quick recap - I had the cubs from June until the end of October, then my husbands birthday, Halloween, the kids birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. My kids started Kindergarten in August, Auburn has dominated college football, and I was without a car for two months. "Busy" does not begin to describe the second half of 2010. I did make some awesome new friends along the way! The family is great. Husband really likes his job and the kids love school. They have both lost teeth and grew molars. And speaking of growing, they are so big! I want my babies back! Auburn football has ruled our lives this fall. We went to most of the home games, the SEC Championship in Atlanta, GA, and I am going to Glendale, AZ for the National Championship! War Eagle!
Ahh...2011. How I have needed you. A new year with new plans. My first plan is attempt a Photo A Day project. The name says it all - take a picture every day. Stay organized is my second plan. We can keep our house clean, but it only takes a couple of days before it looks like a tornado ripped through my house. I blame the kids, but I know I am also to blame. In order to organize, we have to purge. We so much useless junk that we have not nor will we ever use it. Bye-bye. The other plans are the same as every other year. Get in shape, save money, fix/remodel the house, etc.
My babies, Murphy and Tallulah. The pinnacle of my career. I was praised by the managers and the director, which literally warmed my soul to the point I was glowing. The cubs were an amazing 21 week journey. We all learned so much, not just about tigers, but about ourselves. True friendships were made and true enemies were discovered. "Enemy" is a strong word, but we found out who can and cannot trust. They left us Oct 25. We all cried. A lot. Another goal for this year is type up everything we did for future reference, and also type up my story (a personal journal/novel of sorts).
There are some big changes going on at the Zoo. We no longer have white tigers, now we have Sumatrans. They are amazing cats. The display is almost ready for them to make their debut. We have peddle boats and a giraffe feeding station, and are close to starting construction on the sky lift, parrot feeding station, and pony rides. We have a new gift shop manager. My first impression was a good one, she has some great ideas. We have a manager that is leaving, which may open an opportunity for me! Not as a manager, but maybe a Keeper II. We will see.
So 2011 - Bring it ON!
A quick recap - I had the cubs from June until the end of October, then my husbands birthday, Halloween, the kids birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. My kids started Kindergarten in August, Auburn has dominated college football, and I was without a car for two months. "Busy" does not begin to describe the second half of 2010. I did make some awesome new friends along the way! The family is great. Husband really likes his job and the kids love school. They have both lost teeth and grew molars. And speaking of growing, they are so big! I want my babies back! Auburn football has ruled our lives this fall. We went to most of the home games, the SEC Championship in Atlanta, GA, and I am going to Glendale, AZ for the National Championship! War Eagle!
Ahh...2011. How I have needed you. A new year with new plans. My first plan is attempt a Photo A Day project. The name says it all - take a picture every day. Stay organized is my second plan. We can keep our house clean, but it only takes a couple of days before it looks like a tornado ripped through my house. I blame the kids, but I know I am also to blame. In order to organize, we have to purge. We so much useless junk that we have not nor will we ever use it. Bye-bye. The other plans are the same as every other year. Get in shape, save money, fix/remodel the house, etc.
My babies, Murphy and Tallulah. The pinnacle of my career. I was praised by the managers and the director, which literally warmed my soul to the point I was glowing. The cubs were an amazing 21 week journey. We all learned so much, not just about tigers, but about ourselves. True friendships were made and true enemies were discovered. "Enemy" is a strong word, but we found out who can and cannot trust. They left us Oct 25. We all cried. A lot. Another goal for this year is type up everything we did for future reference, and also type up my story (a personal journal/novel of sorts).
There are some big changes going on at the Zoo. We no longer have white tigers, now we have Sumatrans. They are amazing cats. The display is almost ready for them to make their debut. We have peddle boats and a giraffe feeding station, and are close to starting construction on the sky lift, parrot feeding station, and pony rides. We have a new gift shop manager. My first impression was a good one, she has some great ideas. We have a manager that is leaving, which may open an opportunity for me! Not as a manager, but maybe a Keeper II. We will see.
So 2011 - Bring it ON!
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