NEW ANIMALS

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Be a Community Keeper

By sponsoring an Animal Ambassador, you are helping support The Exploration Place, a Northern BC non-profit organization and registered Canadian charity.

Adopt an Animal Ambassador

The Exploration Place’s Biome gallery is home to over 20 Animal Ambassadors (and counting!) whose job is to represent their species by interacting with our visitors during demonstrations and educational programs. Our Animal Ambassadors are the most unusual (and most popular) members of our team—those who sport exoskeletons and those who eat mice! They play a key role in connecting people of all ages with nature, environmental conservation, and the issues influencing each species and their native habitats. Each animal helps us spark a life-long interest in learning.

With habitats, food, feeding supplies, bedding, and medicines, these costs can really add up! Becoming a sponsor for an Animal Ambassador will make you an integral part of their health and well-being. Adopt for yourself, on behalf of your business, or for any animal lover in your life.

benefits of your adoption

Select an Ambassador

Black-Billed Magpie

Loki

Ball Python

Rio

Ball Python

JUJU

Corn Snake

Joey

Hermann's Tortoise

TOM

Blue-tongued Skink

GEORGE

Jeweled Lacerta

CYPRESS

Pink-toed Tarantula

ARAGOG

Crested Gecko

Leopard Gecko

Axolotl

Garter Snake

Nechako White Sturgeon

Oscar

Fire-bellied Toad

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIOME

Benefits to being a Community Keeper

All donations come with a receipt for income tax purposes
You will receive an invitation for you and a guest to join us for our annual Evening with the Vet, for Community Keepers only!
With donations of $25 or more, or with a monthly recurring donation, you will receive a personalized digital certificate
With donations of $100 or more, or with a monthly recurring donation, your name or business logo will be displayed on our website for one year
Invitation to our Members & Sponsors Christmas Party
Invitations to other special events throughout the year

VIDEO

Black-Billed Magpie

Anyone who’s been to the museum in person since 2015 will likely recognize this cheeky bird. Loki has formed unique relationships with many guests and staff alike over the years and definitely isn’t shy about picking favourites. The stimulation of observing and interacting with guests of all ages is something that he certainly enjoys.

Did you know that magpies, a member of the corvid family, are some of the most intelligent birds on the planet? In fact, corvids are some of the most intelligent animals known to exist, with a brain-to-body mass outmatched only by humans, great apes, and aquatic mammals such as dolphins. Magpies have shown the ability to imitate human speech in numerous languages and voices, are capable of tool use, and possess problem-solving ability on par with that of a small human child.

Loki was rescued from a dog attack as a hatchling when he and his siblings fell from their nest. Unfortunately, he was the lone survivor of his brood. Because he is very imprinted on humans, thus not eligible for release into the wild, Loki was brought to live in the museum and was integrated into the Biome as an Animal Ambassador. He has been one of our most interactive and popular Ambassadors ever since. Loki is very intelligent, able to mimic human speech, and performs many different little tricks and games.

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VIDEO

Ball Python

Rio joined us in 2014 and quickly captured the hearts of our visitors. Ball pythons are shy by nature, but with some time and effort, they learn to trust their caregivers. Rio is used to being handled and admired and is very comfortable being the centre of attention. In the wild, you can find ball pythons throughout the grasslands and open forests of West and Central Africa. As the most popular snake species kept as a pet worldwide, most people have had the pleasure of seeing one of these beautiful animals at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, due to their extreme popularity as pets, one of the greatest threats to this species in terms of conservation is the over-collection of wild populations for distribution in the pet trade. While captive breeding has seen an increase in recent years, most of those sold in the pet trade are still wild-caught, simply because the cost is much lower than that of breeding and raising captive specimens. For this reason, tens of thousands of these animals are collected from the wild and exported from Africa for the pet trade every year. The ball python is one of the smallest species in their genus, reaching maximum lengths of 3-5 feet, with females being larger than their male counterparts. In the wild, these snakes are estimated to live roughly ten years, while in captivity, a lifespan of about 20-30 years is typical. There have been many documented cases of captive individuals living 40-60 years, including one 62-year-old female who mysteriously produced a fertile clutch of eggs despite being housed alone at the Saint Louis Zoo for more than 20 years.

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Ball Python

Juju joined our Ambassador team during our closure. Ball pythons are shy by nature, but with some time and effort, they learn to trust their caregivers. She is still a bit hesitant but is slowly starting to feel more comfortable around people. In the wild, you can find ball pythons throughout the grasslands and open forests of West and Central Africa. As the most popular snake species kept as a pet worldwide, most people have had the pleasure of seeing one of these beautiful animals at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, due to their extreme popularity as pets, one of the greatest threats to this species in terms of conservation is the over-collection of wild populations for distribution in the pet trade. While captive breeding has seen an increase in recent years, most of those sold in the pet trade are still wild-caught, simply because the cost is much lower than that of breeding and raising captive specimens. For this reason, tens of thousands of these animals are collected from the wild and exported from Africa for the pet trade every year. The ball python is one of the smallest species in their genus, reaching maximum lengths of 3-5 feet, with females being larger than their male counterparts. In the wild, these snakes are estimated to live roughly ten years, while in captivity, a lifespan of about 20-30 years is typical. There have been many documented cases of captive individuals living 40-60 years, including one 62-year-old female who mysteriously produced a fertile clutch of eggs despite being housed alone at the Saint Louis Zoo for more than 20 years.

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VIDEO

Corn Snake

Many in our community likely remember Cream, a corn snake that was an Animal Ambassador here at The Exploration Place for over 24 years. That was a remarkable run as corn snakes usually live for about 8 years in the wild and have been known to live about 15-20 years in captivity. He engaged people of all ages and was loved by everybody who knew him. Joey, our current corn snake came to us in the summer of 2020. Initially, its name was Zoey, yet we’ve come to determine that this particular Ambassador is indeed male. In the wild, corn snakes can be found inhabiting overgrown fields, sparsely wooded areas, and farmland throughout the eastern United States. They are harmless to humans and feed primarily on rodents, making them a great neighbour for those needing pest control. Many people don’t realize that these snakes are constrictors, wrapping around their prey and squeezing it tightly before swallowing it whole. In the wild, corn snakes live about 6-8 years on average, while in captivity, they may live 15-20 years or more. Captive breeding has produced a variety of morphs in a wide range of colours and patterns. Their docile and inquisitive nature makes them a favourite of many and a fantastic Ambassador species.

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VIDEO

Hermann's Tortoise

Tom joined the Biome crew in 2019 and quickly became a public favourite. How could you not adore this little face? The Hermann’s tortoise is a yellow-brown, thick-scaled tortoise native to Mediterranean Europe. The diet of a Hermann’s tortoise like Tom consists of vegetation he would find while foraging in the Mediterranean wild, like leafy greens and grasses, veggies, and flowers. But his very favourite treat has to be raspberries. Hermann's tortoises live on average 70 years, though some have been known to live longer than this, even over 120 years. They are popular in the pet trade as they are gentle, laid-back, and passive, only biting to defend themselves. The Hermann’s tortoise population is declining, and they are considered endangered. There are currently more Hermann's tortoises living in captivity than there are in the wild.

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Blue-Tongued Skink

George became an Animal Ambassador in 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the largest lizard in the Ambassador crew.

Blue-tongued skinks get their name from - you guessed it - their blue tongue. One of their defensive moves is sticking out their tongue, puffing up their body, and hissing to show a predator that they are unpleasant to eat. George doesn't often stick his tongue out around here because he knows he is safe and well cared for.

Blue-tongued skinks are found in both Australia and New Guinea. In Australia, they are very common and are often seen in people's yards. They are omnivorous and will eat many different fruits and vegetables, as well as insects, snails, or smaller lizards.

Blue-tongued skinks hatch from soft-shelled eggs while still inside the mother, meaning they appear to have live births. They grow to an average size of 12". They can be quite shy, but with enough socialization, they can become much more confident and friendly with caregivers.

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Jeweled Lacerta

Cypress the jeweled lacerta, also known as an ocellated lizard, has been at the museum since 2021. He is a beautiful, showy lizard with shiny jewel-like scales, but the species is actually extremely shy by nature. We have worked toward building his comfort and confidence around humans through daily practices, leading Cypress to associate his handlers with positive experiences, such as feeding favoured treats by hand. These mid-sized lizards are endemic to southwestern Europe. They usually reside in bushy woodlands and dry, rocky areas. Unfortunately, this species is threatened in the wild. While factors like climate change, human interference, and habitat loss have contributed to a decline in population, less obvious factors have had a more measurable impact. Predation of offspring by non-native species of pheasant, introduced for hunting, as well as the widespread use of medicines intended to eliminate parasites in livestock, have also had a negative impact. In addition, wild jeweled lacertas depend on rabbit burrows and tunnels for shelter from predators and the elements. It is possible that disease outbreaks brought on by human pest control practices that at one time decimated wild rabbit populations also contributed to the jeweled lacerta’s population decline. Conservation efforts have included protection laws and programs intended to help increase survival rates by providing these lizards with alternative, artificial shelter mechanisms throughout their natural range.

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Pink-Toed Tarantula

We have had this pretty little spider in the Biome since 2019. She got her name through a public naming contest.The pink-toed tarantula is native to rainforest regions of Central and South America. This species is arboreal, meaning it spends its time in trees and other plants. It gets its name from its pink or orange-coloured toes. The pink-toed tarantula throws hairs from its body as a form of defence. It is an active predator, feeding on a variety of invertebrates as well as small vertebrates. Female pink-toed tarantulas can live 10-12 years in captivity, with males typically having a shorter lifespan.

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VIDEO

Crested Gecko

Our two crested geckos are among our first Ambassadors, coming to us way back in 2011! They have been well-loved by the public for many years. They have assisted in countless educational programs, bringing fascination to guests of all ages.

Crested geckos are known for the hair-like projections found above their eyes, resembling eyelashes, as well as a 'crest' along the side of their heads. Did you know Crested geckos don't have eyelids? Instead, they use their tongues to help moisten their eyes and remove debris.

Crested geckos are small, omnivorous tree-dwelling lizards native to southern New Caledonia, east of Australia. They are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active around dusk and dawn, when they feed on small insects, soft fruit, pollen, and flower nectar. First described in 1866 by French zoologist Alphone Guichenot, these lovely creatures were long thought to be extinct, only to be rediscovered after a tropical storm in 1994. Today, they are one of the most common gecko species in the pet trade, second only to the leopard gecko. The biggest threat to this species in the wild is predation by invasive fire ants, followed by habitat loss due to introduced species of deer and pig.

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Leopard Gecko

Our leopard gecko joined us during our closure, and like others of his species, can be a little shy. Leopard geckos are also widely considered to be nocturnal, so he does spend the majority of the daylight hours in his hide. When he does come out to say hello, you can't help but notice his distinctive brown and yellow markings. These markings act as camouflage, helping them hide from predators. The leopard gecko is a ground-dwelling lizard native to the rocky dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. They are thought to be the first species of lizard to be widely domesticated. The thick tail of the leopard gecko can store fat, acting as an energy reserve when there is not an available food supply. They can also regenerate their tails, which can detach when attacked by predators, but the regenerated tail will never look quite the same as the original. Unlike other gecko species, leopard geckos do not have toe pads, so they can't stick to walls and climb like other species can. Also unlike other geckos, they have moveable eyelids.

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