Most of you will know me as “Jungle” Geoff. I’ve been with Little Ray’s Reptiles now for almost 6 years… it’s been a long time. I started at the zoo after completing a co-op program there for my last year of high school and have been there ever since. I never thought I would get such a unique and amazing job.
Although I do still do some work in the zoo itself, my job is mainly in outreach. I’m one of the many presenters that the zoo has doing hundreds of reptile shows ever year right here in the Ottawa area. Most of my work here in Ottawa is for birthdays, daycares and schools teaching everyone (not just kids) about all kinds of amazing animals as well as doing the occasional small display for corporate events. Now I never thought I’d find a job that combines my passion for animals and my love of travel. Although I do spend a lot of time in Ottawa doing shows, most of the year I am travelling around Canada putting on many different animal exhibits and doing reptile presentations at fairs and exhibitions. I’m the east coast representative for the zoo. I love the east coast and I spend most of the summer travelling in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and my personal favourite Nova Scotia.
I have worked with all kinds of different species of reptiles from snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises to my personal favourite crocodilians. I am also one of the few workers at the zoo also trained to do some work with the venomous animals as well. I was recently trained to do shows with some venomous snakes such as a cottonmouth, a rattlesnake and even a cobra. I definitely enjoy working with all kinds of different animals, not just reptiles. Along with the many different reptiles I’ve worked with over the years I have even had the opportunity to work with some very cool birds of prey. Don’t get me wrong I love working with large pythons, lizards and crocodilians but getting the chance to work with hawks, owls and falcons is cool too. As for mammals, I don’t work with them too often but I have had the chance to work with a few. I’ve played with lemurs, an armadillo, a fox, a wolf and even Siberian tigers… and that’s pretty cool. So yeah, I’ll say it as far as I’m concerned I have the greatest job in the world and I hope to be doing it for a very long time.
I’ve met many interesting people in my travels and hope to meet many more. So if you ever see me at a show, whether its here in Ottawa or somewhere else in our great country, please introduce yourself and if you have any questions I would be happy to answer them. Thanks and I hope to see you soon.