Evening all! In recent days I've had oothecae (egg sacs) of two different species of praying mantis hatch for the first time in a while. First to hatch were 45 Malaysian dead leaf praying mantises (Deroplatys dessicata) followed by 50+ giant Asian praying mantises (Hierodula membranacea). The tiny nymphs are incredibly cute but they're eating so many baby crickets it's ridiculous!!

Today is the first birthday of this fabulous royal python and I am delighted to announce that as of today he will be known as MUFASA! The competition to name him ended just last night and I had chosen a very different name to announce this evening, until this morning when I opened up the Timehop app (as I do every day) and changed my mind instantly. Completely by chance I was greeted with the information that June 15th is also the anniversary of the release of Disney's The Lion King (my favourite Disney animated film), by way of this picture of Rafiki and Mufasa embracing! If I had realised this before now it would have been a much easier decision as my 22yr old royal python is named Rafiki (which means friend in Swahili) and Mufasa is of course the king of the lions (at least at the beginning of the film, no plot spoilers here!) which is a perfect link to royalty as well. The name Mufasa was actually suggested by three different people during the competition, the very first of whom was an 8yr old boy named Joel at a school I visited back in May. Congrats to Joel, who expects to donate the prize of a half price visit from the animals & I to his cub pack when I start doing club visits and parties again in the future. 🙂 Mufasa spent his birthday wowing the children and staff members (some of whom are pictured here with him!) at Haydonleigh Primary School in Swindon, which incidentally is now the school I have been to more times than any other in JJR history. Today was my 23rd visit there and the 24th is already booked for next summer! Thanks again to everyone who suggested a name for this wonderful snake - if I hadn't seen the Lion King post this morning there would have been a different winner and a very different name for sure!

Blondie, my lovely Arizona desert blonde tarantula (aka Aphonopelma chalcodes), successful moulted a few days ago and here she is looking fabulous! The final two pictures are of her empty discarded exoskeleton, the first with the carapace (head area) intact and the second with it removed. I've said it before and I'll say it again - this process never ceases to amaze me no matter how many hundreds of times I've witnessed it over the years!

Ten years ago today, a few of my animals & I appeared live on BBC Radio 1 with Scott Mills and Chris Stark. Its still one of the highlights of my JJR adventure thus far and definitely the best visitor's badge I've ever been given. 😁 Scott, Chris & Rhianna (Radio 1's film critic at that time) were all absolutely lovely and I can remember it like it was yesterday. If you haven't ever heard it, or would like a laugh, feel free to listen here: https://m.soundcloud.com/jonathansjungleroadshow/scottmills

Today has been the 10th birthday of Pinocchio, my fabulous rhinoceros rat snake aka green unicorn. He's celebrated by visiting the lovely Reception children at Bishop's Cleeve Primary Academy near Cheltenham - my ninth visit there but Pinocchio's first! 🐍

Morning all and my apologies to any non-spider fans reading this, but I've just found this rather gorgeous male false widow spider. I've said it before but I'll say it again - no matter what the media would have you believe I can confirm that he made no attempt to bite my face off! 👍🕷️