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Turbo
Normally Sulcata Tortoises' are found in the Sahara Desert. But you can find one feeling extremely at home in Animal Kingdom. Turbo was given to us by an individual who realized that caring for this large species of tortoise can be quite challenging. They can get to be 150 lbs. Turbo is eight years old and weighs close to 50lbs. He has become the store mascot and loves to bring smiles to the faces of children during birthday parties and tours. He also loves having his picture taken with clients who come to visit and enjoys his long strolls around the store supervised by our wonderful volunteers. Turbo loves his veggie salads and warm soaking baths and really loves the way we celebrate his birthday every year.
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Andy
Andy, our pet chinchilla, will be five years old this year. He became the store "pet" since the family that purchased him became allergic to his dust bath material. Chinchillas must take dust baths, so this was not going to work out. Andy loves it at Animal Kingdom. He participates in tours and birthday parties. Andy loves it on the cooler side since Chinchillas originally come from the Andes Mountains. If you touch Andy's fur you will see just how soft it is. Just be careful not to get Andy wet because his fur will trap moisture and will not dry. Overall Andy is a very mellow fellow; just don't scare him. Chinchillas can jump very high and lose fur when they are scared. Andy is also a very clean pet. Chinchillas have no odor so the cage tends to carry no offensive smell. Basic food for Andy consists of pellets and hay. He needs very little treats since they tend to upset the digestive systems of chinchillas.
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Clyde
Clyde is a four year old Scarlett Macaw. Even though this beautiful bird has the name of a male, it is actually a female. We named her before the sexing was done! Clyde was hand-reared by our team and came to us from our Florida breeder. We decided from the beginning that she would be one of our Rainforest Residents. Clyde has grown to trust many associates and clients in the store. She loves to be out of her cage and definitely complains when in it! She loves to have her belly rubbed and can be cradled on her back and rocked by the associates that she trusts. Clyde loves her diet of pellets, along with fruit and nut mixes and fresh goodies. Clyde is very very young and can live for up to eighty or more years.
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Dane
Dane the Albino Leucistic Leopard Gecko has been living in our reptile area for the past two years. We estimate his age to be about three and his lifespan can be up to fifteen years. Dane was purchased by an associate who decided he was sweet enough to leave in the store for the viewing pleasure of clients, birthday parties and tours. Leopard Geckos have the unique trait of being one of the few lizards to have a "voice." As proven by Dane, they can hiss when scared. If you look closely, Dane also possesses eyelids, which is not common on other geckos. Dane loves his dinners of crickets and wax worms and happily comes out of his cave when it is time to eat. Dane also sheds his skin and then will eat it. This may sound gross, but it is necessary for calcium and it also destroys any scent markers left behind for potential predators.
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Duke
Duke is a four year old Blue and Gold Macaw. This bird is a female and resides in our rainforest. Everyone calls her "Dukey" and she received her name based on an old Budweiser commercial. She never responded to any name except when one day an associate called out "Dukey." She appeared so excited and the name stuck. Duke was hand-reared by our staff and is capable of living for eighty or more years. Duke cherishes her diet of pellets, loves fruit and nut mixes and enjoys fresh fruits and vegetables. You will definitely find Duke out of her cage more than in it.
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Duncan
Being a four-year-old Timneh African Grey Parrot can be quite challenging at Animal Kingdom. Since she is smaller in size, she sometimes gets "lost in the crowd." Duncan was hand-raised by our associates and came to us a tiny fluff ball. Once weaned, we decided to keep her for the Rainforest where she loves to be. You will find her in there with the largest of parrots enjoying "her" space. Duncan received her name because she loves to dunk all her food in her water dish. Of course, our staff has a hard time keeping up with the clean water, but she loves it! We have also taught her to say "Dunkin Donuts." Maybe they will come and shoot a commercial with someone drinking coffee and scratching her head! She will look great in pictures with her dark grey body and maroon tail.
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Goober
Goober is an eight-year-old Yellow Shouldered Amazon. He was hand-raised from a baby in the West Haverstraw branch of Animal Kingdom. The owner took a keen liking to him and made him the store mascot where he greeted and spoke to clients. His name comes from his silly antics of rolling around with toys and playing Tarzan. When the store closed to combine with the Brewster location, Goober made his way here only to occupy the top spot in the front of the store with Turbo. He loves the many clients and staff members who pay attention to him and give him "treats." And, most of all, he loves to practice his vocal abilities (mainly by crying like a baby in the early morning). Goober truly believes the store belongs to him and that we are only here as his guests!
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Kenya
Kenya is a four-year-old Congo African Grey. Congo's are known for their striking red tail, silver grey bodies and tremendous talking abilities. Kenya does not disappoint. Kenya is a male and we wanted gave him a name suited to his African ancestry. Kenya was hand-raised by our staff and we received him at about four weeks old. Kenya was raised to live in the Animal Kingdom Rainforest and loves being in it with the rest of the crew. He thoroughly enjoys having his head scratched and will train you to do it all day if time permits! Kenya is not a fussy eater and loves fresh mixes that the associates make up.
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Kiwi
Who knew that the song Happy Birthday could encourage someone to break out into a lively dance? Well, as soon as eight year old Kiwi hears this song she bops in perfect time to it. It is hilarious and children love it. Kiwi is a Quaker Parrot and was originally a store mascot in the Mahopac location of Animal Kingdom. She was rescued by a store employee and soon the bird did not want to be at home without her. When the store combined with the Brewster location, Kiwi was transferred to her permanent spot guarding the rainforest door. Kiwi spends most of her time out on her play gym. She does not like being in the cage. She has taken a keen liking to many clients and waits for them to show up! Some clients come weekly just to play with her and scratch her head. Kiwi loves to sing, give kisses and plays a great game of peek-a-boo.
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Madison
Madison is a five-year-old mini-lop bunny. He was originally purchased by a great family but they could not care for him anymore. Madison came to the store and was so friendly that we decided to keep him as the store "pet" bunny. Even though Madison is a male, we kept the name the family gave him. Madison loves to entertain children at birthday parties and loves being brushed and pet by everyone. He also loves fresh fruits and vegetables as well as timothy hay and pellets. A fondness of Madison's is being walked around the store by all of our Kingdom volunteers. We have a special harness and leash for him and sometimes he tries to outrun the volunteers!
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Rosie
Rosie the Abyssinian Guinea Pig became a store "pet" about a year and a half ago. She originally belonged to one of our breeders but had a tough pregnancy and then had to be spayed. One of our managers saw her and realized how sweet and calm she was and thought she would make a great addition to our store. She will be three this year and, hopefully, will live until at least eight years old. Rosie loves children and likes to be held. She relishes bits of orange and hay in addition to her standard pellets. Rosie loves being the center of attention during the birthday parties and also likes roaming around the exercise pen.
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Sammie and the Cruisers
Originally named Samantha, but now Sammie, this six-year-old Sun Conure was purchased by a client in the Mahopac location. The client would leave her bird at the Brewster location from time to time and Sammie would start mothering and preening the new baby sun conures that were in the store. The client saw how happy she was and decided to leave her with us as long as she was never separated from the two conures she fell in love with. Their names are Peka and Boo. They are four years old and you can find the three birds always perching together in the rainforest. They have come to be known as "Sammie and the Cruisers." The three birds hate to be separated and will always scream to one another if they are. They have a special toy swing that the three of them sleep in together.
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Small Fry
She can jump, she can prance and she can fold her body in half. Small Fry is our five-year old party ferret. Being a female and sable in color, you can find her entertaining almost every weekend at birthday parties. The children love to hold her and clients love to visit her. She gives kisses to almost everyone. Small Fry has been spayed and has had all her shots. She came to us as a "runt" and needed special care. Of course, we all fell in love and could not part with her. Small Fry likes to hide when she sleeps and loves to snuggle up in anything fleece. She uses her litter box most of the time but does have some "accidents." Small Fry loves being the center of attention in the small animal area but loves to get out for walks on a leash. You can also find her doing time in the exercise pen!
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Winston
Winston the corn snake is the newest addition to the Animal Kingdom family of pets. Winston is seven years old and lived with the daughter of one of our managers for most of that time. When she went off to school, she was not allowed pets so Winston went to live with a friend of hers. It turned out that the friend was not really too fond of snakes. Even though Winston was getting good care, he was not getting handled as much as he wanted. It almost seemed like he was getting depressed. Our manager, upon learning of this, brought Winston into the store. He has settled into his new environment and loves his climbing branches and sleeping spot. You will find Winston bathing in his water bowl once in a while since corn snakes love to do this. Winston seems very happy and active now. He also has become one of the prime birthday party attractions; the children love to hold him. Winston can live to be fifteen years old and he is considered a normal patterned corn snake.
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