Scout troop rallies 'round the zoo

A troop group effort gets the job done, above.

In July, the final phase of the new Crocodile Monitor Exhibit at The ZOO was completed. The new exhibit is part of Dragon World, which includes Ivan, the Komodo Dragon, and will grow to display species of lizards including Gila Monsters.

Gulf Breeze Boy Scout Josh Suelflow coordinated with Doug Kemper, Executive Director of The ZOO, Natalie Akin, The ZOO's Director of Visitor Services and Business Operations, and Terry Whitman, Director of Facilities, Operations, and Maintenance to build the exhibit for his Eagle Scout project.

The exhibit is divided into several sections for "Lars," a male, and "Hillary," a potential mate, and includes an enclosed winter viewing area. Crocodile Monitors are the longest monitors in the world and live on the island of New Guinea.

Joshua received a grant from "The Home Depot - KaBoom Blitz Project" to fund the exhibit which is part of the 2007 Blitz Refurbishment Program. Other businesses, Lowes, and Werner Turf also contributed sod and lumber.

Members from Joshua's Troop 11 helped to put the exhibit together. Joshua worked with Diane Norris, The ZOO's General Curator, and Rachel Pettry, Lars and Hillary's keeper, to complete the interior of the exhibit.

Ryan Schuler, T.J. Jordan, and Jeremy Suelflow, and ZOO personnel assisted Joshua in laying the sod, planting grass, and cleaning and arranging the branches for the monitors to climb on. Suelflow said he was very excited to help move Lars and Hillary to their new outside homes which now can be viewed by The ZOO's visitors.

Joshua is the Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 11 which meets at The Gulf Breeze Presbyterian Church. He also plays on the Gulf Breeze High School soccer and baseball teams.