AMAZON JOHN

I have loved animals for as long as I can remember. I even wanted to be a veterinarian. I studied veterinary medicine in college but when I started training birds of prey I quickly realized I wanted a more wildlife than just dogs and cats.

I met my wife Emma working at Zoo Atlanta with the bird show and we moved to the Indianapolis Zoo in 1992. I founded the success of the outreach program at the Indianapolis Zoo. There I trained all kinds of animals including horses, dogs, goats — even a roadrunner.

Then I started taking animals on the road. One of my favorite animals became the reindeer. You should see the look on people's faces when a reindeer steps off an elevator into a business office! I was having so much fun I decided to start Silly Safaris. I left the zoo in 1997 and I've been having fun with great people like you ever since.

My best friend Alligator Aaron, my family and I moved to a new farm - Silly Safari Station- where Safari Steve joined us and life is great. I love sharing animals with kids of all ages. It's fun for everyone!

Fun Facts

• I graduated from Wofford College in 1989.

• I got the name 'Jungle John' working as a DJ for Radio Ahhs.

• My favorite animals are vultures, gibbons, and reindeer.

• I miss being a disc jockey. My favorite part was the when the kids would call in. I remember a traffic report where this one girl counted people picking their nose at a stop light.

• I once trained a pig and a violaceous turaco. The turaco would poo grapes everywhere!

• I wish I could fly — I'll settle for riding a horse.

• My family and friends mean everything to me.

 NOTE: In 2007, Jungle John changed his name to Amazon Jungle John. Silly Safaris was becoming more and more famous. Now there are Silly Safaris Shows all over the country. Amazon Jungle John was bumping into more and more "Jungle Johns". To avoid any "trademark" issues, our Jungle John changed his name to Amazon Jungle John or Amazon John for short.