We at the World Bird
Sanctuary are very excited about the new home for Anna our beautiful Green Tree
Python.
As many of you know Anna
has resided in a rather small enclosure for many years. This seemed to work out well for Anna, since Green Tree
Pythons spend the greatest part of their lives curled around a tree branch in
their native rain forests and don’t move around much. In fact, the only time they come to the ground is when they
need to move to a different tree to hunt.
Since Anna is given “room service” by our staff, even this minimal
movement is not necessary and snakes, like most wild animals, are all about
conserving energy.
However, WBS employees
Katrina Whitener and Jeff Meshach felt that Anna deserved a more natural looking
and larger environment. Joe Dolezal, member of
WBS’s volunteer group of craftsmen (affectionately know at WBS as the Tuesday
Crew) took it upon himself to make the idea happen. He proceeded to design a new
home with a more upscale look for Anna.
Many of the Tuesday Crew helped with various phases, but Joe spent a lot
of extra time and his own money to add some incredible features.
Tuesday Crew member Joe Dolezal puts finishing touches on Anna's new enclosure (photo: Melissa Moore)
The project took on a life
of its own, and the end result is a luxuriant new home for Anna that imitates
her species’ native rainforest. It
includes humidity and temperature controls that are all important to this
species well being, as well as branches and ledges for her to navigate at
will. Anna
even has a small pool for bathing if she
is so inclined.
Executive Director Walter Crawford, the Tuesday Crew, and Naturalist Paige Davis (photo: Melissa Moore)
Ask any of our staff who
is the most popular reptile at WBS and they will answer “Anna” without a
moment’s hesitation. Children
frequently request her for their Birdday parties, and she is a rock star at
many of the programs and special events in which she appears.
For her part Anna seems to have made herself right
at home in her new palace.
Submitted by World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer Gay Schroer
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