Local News
Animals on display at shopping center
By Tiffany GreenThe Cullman Shopping Center is hosting a free “Jungle Safari” of live exotic animals now through Sunday.
The exhibition will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day and 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday.
“People can come see something like this without going to the zoo,” said Robert Engesser, owner of Jungle Safari.
There is a petting zoo with animals children can pet and feed. There are big cats, monkeys, baby lions, tigers, a black leopard, lemurs, capuchin monkeys, a camel, goats, a kangaroo, a belted galloway calf, ponies and more.
People can watch the big cats be fed dinner each evening at 7:30 p.m.
“The best part of this zoo is that it’s free to see,” said Don Morgan, property manager for the shopping center, in a press release.
Engesser said all the dangerous animals are kept safely behind fences and cages.
“The petting zoo animals are safe,” he said. “The big animals are just there to look at.”
For a fee, people can have pictures made with the baby lion cub and baby tiger, ride a pony or ride a camel.
“We enjoy what we do,” Engesser said. “It’s a good thing for the community and enables us to care for the animals. It’s not really a job, it’s a lifestyle.”
Riley Roberts, 7, from Good Hope was enjoying seeing the animals. He said his favorite was the lemur.
“The little baby goats are my favorite,” said his 11-year-old sister Rachel. “They are so cute.”
Jungle Safari supports a breeding farm in Florida and has donated animals to zoos all over the United States over the past 30 years. Engesser has been in the family business for more than 23 years and travels with the animals up to six weeks at a time.
‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 221.
- Local News
-
-
Fugitive alleged child molester found
A Cullman County man who has been on the run since he was accused of molesting a child in 2006, was found in Mississippi Tuesday.
-
Man arrested for impersonating deputy
A local man who allegedly impersonated a Cullman County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested by a real one Thursday.
-
Possible homicide in Fairview
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a possible homicide, which occurred in Fairview Friday.
-
Residents tour local farm, industries
The Cullman County Farm-City committee held their annual tour Thursday and toured Birmingham Fastener, Tinney Farms and the Cullman Stockyard.
-
Veterans Day celebration starts Saturday morning
A city and county-wide Veteran’s Day celebration will be Saturday morning at 8 a.m. with Civil War re-enactors a Depot Park. Events will continue throughout the day at the Festhalle Market Platz.
-
Hanceville police recover active meth lab, stolen property in home
Two Hanceville men are behind bars after police allegedly recovered a working meth lab and about $20,000 worth of stolen property Wednesday from a local residence.
-
City: Water meets all standards
As far as Cullman city officials are concerned, they provide some of the highest-quality water in the area.
-
Sumiton fugitive returned to Cullman to face charges
A Sumiton man who eluded about 50 area law enforcement officers during an April manhunt, only to be arrested in Walker County in July, was recently returned to Cullman County to face charges.
-
Cleaning up
Nearly half a dozen workers have spent time at Cullman Memory Gardens this week, mowing and trimming a cemetery that has largely been neglected the past year.
-
Baileyton receives grant for electrical problems at park
The town of Baileyton has received the Land and Water Conservation Grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).
- More Local News Headlines
-
Fugitive alleged child molester found
