Meet Ozzy: The North Florida Wildlife Center star helping promote this weekend’s Jungle Jingle
Ozzy is just one of the animals visitors can meet during the North Florida Wildlife Center’s first-ever Jungle Jingle, happening December 13
LAMONT, Fla. (WCTV) - The North Florida Wildlife Center is introducing the community to one of its standout animal ambassadors, Ozzy, a Dumeril’s boa who plays a key role in the center’s education programs.
According to Haley Johnson, a general curator with the North Florida Wildlife Center, Dumeril’s boas are endemic to Madagascar and face growing challenges in the wild.
“They are threatened out in the wild for a number of reasons, including habitat loss, deforestation, the exotic pet trade, amongst other things that are human conflict issues,” Johnson said.
Johnson said Ozzy weighs about 17 pounds, and notes that male Dumeril’s boas typically grow between 6½ and 8 feet long.
The North Florida Wildlife Center also explains that boa constrictors like Ozzy are non-venomous and capture prey through constriction.
The center said Dumeril’s boas are considered ambush predators in the wild, often waiting for potential prey to cross their path. But life is much easier for Ozzy under human care.
“Of course, Ozzy is well taken care of in human care and doesn’t have to go hunting for his food,” Johnson said. “He does like to lounge around quite a bit. With his size, he is very striking to our guests, and with how docile and calm he is, he is a great educational ambassador.”
Ozzy is just one of the animals visitors can meet during the North Florida Wildlife Center’s first-ever Jungle Jingle, happening December 13th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Guests will be able to meet Santa, take photos, enjoy animal encounters, and learn more about wildlife conservation.
The wildlife center is also home to several threatened and endangered species facing similar challenges in the wild, including critically endangered black-and-white ruffed lemurs, endangered ring-tailed lemurs, and critically endangered radiated tortoises.
To find out more information about the North Florida Wildlife Center, click here.
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