Ron Magill

No, no, I was really scared when that chimp said, because a chimp can rip your arm off and then beat you with it. I mean, a chimp is a very, very dangerous animal. We've all heard about chimps attacking people. And this is one of the biggest male chimps I've ever seen in my life. He looked like a small gorilla.

and to have him get up, you know, be fast asleep, and all of a sudden open his eyes wide, and that scream, just that, and these big canines sticking out. I mean, let me tell you something, and he's right. And I couldn't believe Hubble didn't just jump in the water. The one guy, Leroy Bennett, he jumped in the water. I sat there in fear. I was an idiot because I could have been killed.

and to have him get up, you know, be fast asleep, and all of a sudden open his eyes wide, and that scream, just that, and these big canines sticking out. I mean, let me tell you something, and he's right. And I couldn't believe Hubble didn't just jump in the water. The one guy, Leroy Bennett, he jumped in the water. I sat there in fear. I was an idiot because I could have been killed.

I should have jumped in the water too. Fortunately, the thing just passed back out. And that's like, I think it was like the second week I started as a zookeeper, man. I'd never been exposed to that kind of thing. And it's just, that's blood-curdling stuff. Really, that was very frightening. One time I was working for Bill Hosto when I was working at the Miami Serpentarium, my very first job.

I should have jumped in the water too. Fortunately, the thing just passed back out. And that's like, I think it was like the second week I started as a zookeeper, man. I'd never been exposed to that kind of thing. And it's just, that's blood-curdling stuff. Really, that was very frightening. One time I was working for Bill Hosto when I was working at the Miami Serpentarium, my very first job.

And I had to open up the right side of the lab. And there was one room where the king cobras were. And I remember I'd go in and I'd open the door, turn on the lights, and a king cobra had gotten out. And I opened the door, and literally, Eight feet in front of me, this King Cobra just goes right up in front of my face.

And I had to open up the right side of the lab. And there was one room where the king cobras were. And I remember I'd go in and I'd open the door, turn on the lights, and a king cobra had gotten out. And I opened the door, and literally, Eight feet in front of me, this King Cobra just goes right up in front of my face.

And I just backed up, closed the door, and I went, Mr. Haas, I think there's one out. And he went in there and he just went, oh, yeah, there is. Let me put it back. And I was like, oh, my God, are you kidding me?

And I just backed up, closed the door, and I went, Mr. Haas, I think there's one out. And he went in there and he just went, oh, yeah, there is. Let me put it back. And I was like, oh, my God, are you kidding me?

I'll tell you the hard thing for me. Yeah, I'm going to be honest with you. One of the first things they taught me when I went around is they were feeding condors.

I'll tell you the hard thing for me. Yeah, I'm going to be honest with you. One of the first things they taught me when I went around is they were feeding condors.

and the gentleman was feeding the condor a live rabbit now this is back 45 years ago we don't really do that anymore but i remember the condor getting the rabbit and the rabbit screaming and i just said to myself no i don't think i can do this even though it's nature this is what happens in nature i said to myself i don't think i can do this um That was very difficult for me.

and the gentleman was feeding the condor a live rabbit now this is back 45 years ago we don't really do that anymore but i remember the condor getting the rabbit and the rabbit screaming and i just said to myself no i don't think i can do this even though it's nature this is what happens in nature i said to myself i don't think i can do this um That was very difficult for me.

Fortunately, we've gone past that. We don't feed live animals to animals anymore. But that was a moment that did hit me. It haunted me for several days after that.

Fortunately, we've gone past that. We don't feed live animals to animals anymore. But that was a moment that did hit me. It haunted me for several days after that.

Listen, I'm not going to lie. It was a very difficult thing to watch, even though the person at the time was insisting, no, this is what gets them involved. their natural behaviors go. And in fact, we were breeding those condors and several of the condor chicks that hatched out at Crannon Park Zoo are now flying free in Colombia. They were released back into the wild.

Listen, I'm not going to lie. It was a very difficult thing to watch, even though the person at the time was insisting, no, this is what gets them involved. their natural behaviors go. And in fact, we were breeding those condors and several of the condor chicks that hatched out at Crannon Park Zoo are now flying free in Colombia. They were released back into the wild.

That was the most productive pair of condors, Andean condors in the country at the time. And it was because they were provided all these natural behaviors. So, I mean, listen, I'd be a bit of a hypocrite because the bottom line is, you know, we've got to feed these animals animals, you know, it's a circle of life.

That was the most productive pair of condors, Andean condors in the country at the time. And it was because they were provided all these natural behaviors. So, I mean, listen, I'd be a bit of a hypocrite because the bottom line is, you know, we've got to feed these animals animals, you know, it's a circle of life.

And I just think that the animals can be more humanely put down as opposed to putting them in their lives and having them fight for their life.