Zoo Tours'
Pilot Episode

We are proud to present the pilot episode of "Zoo Tours". This 8 minute video is a sample
of the Zoo Tours television series that is currently being presented to your favourite networks.
The show concept is near and dear to everyone involved with Zoo Tours and Naked Mole Rat Productions
and will showcase the past, present and future of zoological parks around the world. 

We hope you enjoy this video as much as we enjoyed making it, and we look forward to your comments and ideas.
Stay tuned for updates as to when and where you'll be able to catch this exciting and entertaining series.

On December 5, 2008, members of the Zoo Tours team went to the tiny island of Roatan
just off the coast of Honduras. While there, we located many different species of animals on land,
in the air and the ocean. We encountered 6 different species of lizard, two species of snake,
one of which was mildly venomous, and four species of turtle, including two species of sea turtle.
We also identified and photographed three species of bat, two of which were insectivorious and
one frugivorious. At least two species of tarantulas were found and were plentiful all over the island.
At some points there was a tarantula every three feet! Many members of the avian family were
also represented on the island ranging from white egrets to turkey vultures and frigate birds.
Sizes ranged from tiny humming birds brooding their nests to large, colorful macaws that soared overhead.

Underwater held as much of variety of life as on land. Chris swam with nine-foot black tipped caribbean
reef sharks, four-foot moray eels and a large grouper. It was the experience of a lifetime and we
managed to get it all on video. We also managed to catch 10 bats one night in the middle of the
rainforest in the pitch black night. This was also shot on video and we will be posting
both of these exciting adventures in the new year.

We also have many photos documenting the entire experience and can been viewed on
Phil the Naked Mole Rat's Facebook page. We have also written about our trip from two different
views in the January issue of "News From the Underground" and will continue this coverage in February as well.
If you don't currently have a subscription, go to "Join Phil's Colony" for details about our
monthly e-newsletter. We hope you enjoy all the pictures, videos and stories as much as we did in
collecting them. Stay tuned for another adventure from Zoo Tours coming soon!

Zoo Tours in Cuba

Zoo Tours visited Cuba in January 2009 and stayed in Varadaro. We found lots of lizards and frogs right
on our hotel grounds as well as several species of crab and birds, but only saw one bat all week.
There's not a lot of wildlife in Varadaro as it's all developed, but we did rent a car and travelled to
the Bay of Pigs and visited a Crocodile farm near the Zapata game reserve. This farm raised
the endangered Cuban crocodile and had animals from hatchlings to 70 year old breeders that
were participating in a re-introduction program sponsored by the Cuban government. We did go
snorkeling in the Atlantic and Caribbean seas, and we definately recommend the Caribbean side.
We found many species of starfish, up to six individuals under each rock!

We saw one species of snake but were unable to catch it, but it was 4 foot black snake,
and it's unknown if this animal was venomous. To see the rest of our photos,
please visit Chris Beleskey on Facebook and watch for the videos that will be available soon.

Zoo Tours' mission is to raise awareness about the vital role zoological parks play in the
conservation of animals and the habitats in which they are struggling to survive.
The primary focus of modern zoos is to promote a better understanding of the complex web of life.
Zoos have long been involved with field research, gathering the necessary information
to better care for their charges. This information is also implemented in the numerous
international conservation programs managed by zoos, conservationists, biologists
and indiginous peoples. With this collaboration, zoological parks strive to forge a
connection between its visitors and its animals through educational programs.

With fragile ecosystems being destroyed at an increasingly rapid rate, we must focus
our energies on not only sustaining our captive populations of zoo animals, but increasing
their numbers to the point of allowing reintroduction efforts to succeed.

Any reintroduction effort must have a viable habitat into which these animals can be released.
With so many animals being endemic to very specific habitats, any new information gathered
is valuable to help maintain a healthy ecosystem. It is much easier to protect an ecosystem
that has developed over millions of years than it is to replace it once it has been destroyed.
When a habitat is gone it is gone forever, and so is are the life forms that is supports.