2021 “MAKING FRIENDS WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – February Story
The photo was taken as the Zoo was about to close and I was on my way out, exactly one week before the first lockdown hit us, in March of last year.
2020 “HANGING OUT WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – August Story
Vasili remained at Assiniboine with his brother until he and Kira – who had stayed in Calgary her whole life to that point – arrived in Toronto to populate the Amur tiger exhibit once again with the departure of the panda family.
2017 “Chillin’ with Animals” Calendar – August Story
For without any perceptible warning Vitali suddenly rolled over and leaped to his feet, emitting an ear-splitting roar directed squarely at me, mere feet away from him. Yes, there was a fence and a railing between us but this isn’t information one tends to process in the nanosecond a tiger turns to roar at him.
The Grumpy Penguin 