Project Green Jungle is a project of the Florida International Teaching Zoo. Currently we are located in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica, and Central Florida. Our project aims to increase local level environmental, social, and economic capacity building programs which educate local children and tourists through outreach programs and in-situ conservation activities. Most of the early founders and helpers of Project Green Jungle have zoological backgrounds. Early on, FITZ, and our zoo school, were utilized as a training facility for future zookeepers looking for hands-on training.
Tom graduated from the zoo school in 2000. While enrolled at the teaching zoo, he also worked at an accredited zoo specializing in crocodiles and hoofstock. In addition, at the teaching zoo, Tom instructs, and oversees the running of the teaching zoo when the director is not present. With John Brickel, Tom formed this project out of the need for the teaching zoo to have direct ties to conservation in the region the animals of the zoo are from. Tom's responsibilities for the project include directing the project, among other in-country responsibilities.
John also graduated from the zoo school, and he became an instructor as well. John has specialized in tropical ungulates for the last part of his career, but has experience with big cats, primates, reptiles and amphibians, and other mammals as well. John has been living in Puerto Viejo for the last three years gaining the personal knowledge and relationships needed to make this project a success.
Melissa Soro is a native Costa Rican. She and John are married, and she is currently opening Bad Monkey Books and Tours in Puerto Viejo. She is a licensed guide, and has specialized in Ecotourism and sustainability for her entire professional career.
James Opdahl is a furniture maker and snake breeder in Connecticut who helps us with our field expeditions. A naturalist since childhood, James now keeps and breeds Green Tree Pythons by night, and makes natural form fine furniture by day. If you have seen some video or photos on our site, chances are at least one or two were taken by James.
Heather Diffey also attended the zoo school. She then went on to intern for the Audubon Institute's Center for Reasearch of Endangered Species in New Orleans, Louisiana where she specialized in multiple species of cats and operant conditioning of antelope. She is currently employed by Monkey World Ape Rescue Center in England where she works with Capuchin monkeys. Her experience is mainly with cats, primates, and antelope, though she has worked with a large range of animals in captivity.
Don't forget Manny! Manny likes to clean the beaches of all the spare coconuts, chase crabs, and run off horseflies and other insects.
