JOHN’S STORY
John got started working with animals in my mid-twenties, even though his passion was there the opportunities were not.
He started by working in a pet store named Southgate Fish and Pets in Tacoma Washington, while working there he learned to understand the basics of animal care, and how important it was to keep the animals tanks, cages, etc. cleaned and how important it was on the animals over all health. He also learned how to deal with people on a one on one basis and how important it was to educate customers on the health and well being of their own animals.
While working there an employee, Mike, of Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium frequently came in to purchase food for his own animals. John started asking questions about how to become a volunteer at the zoo. He did not want to be a docent, but what he wanted was to work with the animals. Mike informed him that a new volunteer program designed for people who wanted to work with the animals was beginning soon and to call the zoo for further details.
John called and got an interview with John Hauk, the head of the Animal Care Department. John Hauk took John to his office, which was upstairs in the World of Adaptations building dedicated to various animals from insects, bats, primates, birds, reptiles, amphibians and aardvarks.
While there John Hauk explained that other areas of the zoo had already been filled and that only three areas were left, Tundra, Family Farm, and the World of Adaptations.
John just looked at him and said, “I want to be right here, there is a more diverse species here to learn about than anywhere else in the zoo”! Three weeks later, his dream of working in a zoo had come true.
John worked at Point Defiance Zoo as a Keeper’s Aide for seven years. Not only did he work at World of Adaptations but also the Family Farm, with goats, sheep, llamas, pigs, chickens, etc., and when the opportunity to work in Tundra came along he took it and had the pleasure of working with Polar Bears, Musk Ox, Arctic Fox, and tundra waterfowl.
In 1994 he met his future wife Maria, and after sitting down and discussing their dreams, both of which wanted to own a zoo. On April 10, 1995 and with only a handful of animals Zoo Safari had become a reality.
In the fall of 1997 Maria and John, with their son August, moved to Pryor Oklahoma, and for a year and a half they looked for a house with property. In 1999 they found their dream home with acreage outside of Locust Grove Oklahoma and started to make Zoo Safari larger.
Since April 1995 Zoo Safari has grown to include Sulcata Tortoises, Fennec Fox, Capybara, White Eared Tufted Marmosets, Emus, and more, up to 50 + individuals.
Zoo Safari is his passion and his love, and educating kids of all ages about the world we share with nature is, and always will be his passion.
John has been a Christian his whole life but in 2014 dedicated his life to Jesus Christ. He gives all that he has accomplished to Jesus being in his life.
