Below is the transcript of the speech given by our Grand Worthy Advisor, Katie, introducing our new Grand Service Project, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo (www.fresnochaffeezoo.org/) at the First Official Visit in 2021.

Hello everyone and welcome to the world-famous Jungle Cruise®, my name is Katie and I will be your skipper for this afternoon.  Now, everyone, turn around and wave goodbye to the folks back on the dock … they may never see you again. Remember, I get paid for the number of people I take out … not the number I bring back!

Our first stop will be right on your left, the Greater One-Horned Rhino. Native to the Indian subcontinent, this fellow right here is the largest of the rhino species. The Greater One-Horned Rhino used to thrive in the grasses of India, but unfortunately, they now risk extinction due to hunting. However, due to conservation efforts, the Greater One-Horned Rhino is making a comeback in Asia. I once heard that rhinos love to use their head to push objects like logs and even a ball. Did you know these rhinos are identified by a single black horn that is about 8 to 25 inches long? This right here is a perfect example of why you never get into an argument with a rhino. He’ll always get his point across. 

Our next stop will be directly to your right. If you look closely, you can see a beautiful Malayan Tiger.  Did you know that these animals were listed as critically endangered in 2015?  There have been huge conservation efforts to globally bring back these magnificent creatures through organizations and education. Male Malayan Tigers can grow up to be 8 feet in length and use their incredibly strong legs to move around at a fast speed. That’s no house cat over there.  Malyan Tigers can jump over 20 feet, and we must be at least, well … 19 feet away!  Don’t worry, he’ll jump right over us.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…the backside of water!  If you look over here to your right ... and then back to your left, you can have a glimpse of … wait, that's not the backside of water … it's the Grand Service Project!  California Rainbow will be partnering with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for the Centennial Year Grand Service Project.  The zoo will be opening a new Asia exhibit featuring orangutans, rhinos, tigers, and many more animals that are home to the continent.  California Rainbow will have the opportunity to support the Malayan Tiger exhibit, work on enrichment programs throughout the zoo that creates experiences for the animals that allow them to perform their natural behaviors and learn about conservation methods worldwide.  In addition, there will be animal opportunities for alumni to adopt that special animal they hold near and dear to their hearts.  I am beyond excited to be able to work with all of you and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for this centennial year and cannot wait to show the world what California Rainbow has to offer.

There will be more information to come on the Grand Worthy Advisor Instagram, so each week keep by watching Meerkat Mondays.  Thank you for riding with us!  If you enjoyed yourself, my name is Katie and this has been the world-famous Jungle Cruise®.  If you didn’t, then my name is Mrs. Regier.

Thank you.