The Fort Worth Zoo was the host facility for this year's International Herpetological Symposium, and while I know they have lions (could hear them roaring) I saw little else. However, what I did see mattered: "The Museum Of Living Art." What better name to give to a reptile facility?

Upon arrival, we grabbed drinks and ran like school kids through the exhibits, jostling to see who could take a picture first. The zoo was closed to the public, so we were not on our best behavior, which made it a bit more fun.

After the random scattering, we all sat down to a barbeque dinner overlooking the lovely Gharial exhibit, and watched a the female come right to our side of the enclosure. The closer the animal got, the less people were concerned with food and the more of us scooted over to the glass to shoot pics.

After dinner, the back of the building was opened. MOLA itself is huge for a reptile exhibit, but the back seemed like a giant labrynth. Rooms set up for each grouping of species and set to the species of those animals -- a tortoise room, amphibian room, more rooms, and a room that held several Boelen's Pythons.

Hard as I tried, those cages would not open, nor would Ari look away. But I guess I made his night when the excitement of what was in the cages hit me; when I'm excited I not only squeal, but I make great faces.

Another highlight there for me was the Ctenosaura bakeri, Utila Island Iguana. This was the project that first got me involved with conservation issues and the folks who are the driving force behind the International Reptile Conservation Foundation.

Photos from the night after the bump.