Christopher Mitchell (cmitchell@wmbb.com)
News 13 on your side
Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Crestview, Fla - Barbara Farris, owner of Blue Dolphin II Development, says she's planning to break ground on a new animal park in Bonifay soon, after some major paperwork is finalized. While Bonifay residents see nothing happening, other than trees continuing to grow on the planned site, she's already playing with some of the animals The Fowler Center is sending to the Florida panhandle for the park.

Farris wishes to keep the site of where the animals are being "acclimated" in Okaloosa County confidential. However, she provided News 13 an exclusive look into how the animals are being kept.

Currently, North American animals are being sent from The Fowler Center in Ohio to Okaloosa County. Kevin Gaines of the Center is literally camping out on the property to take care of the animals 24-hours a day until they can be moved into the new park, when complete. Animals include skunks, falcons, owls and vultures, and reptiles include pythons, lizards and other species. More exotic animals from other parts of the world will arrive to the panhandle closer to groundbreaking on the park.

The animal park is being designed by Jim Fowler, former co-star of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom who has partnered with developer Barbara Farris to construct the safari-type park. Visitors will be able to interact with the animal just like on a real safari, says Fowler during an interview with News 13 in July.

Kevin Gaines of The Fowler Center say the animals now being cared for in Okaloosa County are available to bring to schools and organizations. For more information, call Kevin Gaines at 706-984-2132 or visit www.fowlercenter.org. For more information about the park development, log on to www.jimfowlerslifeinthewild.org or www.bluedolphinII.com.