Fil-Am father, son bring 'jungle attractions' at kids' birthday parties

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. -  It looked like no safari-themed party was going on at a well-appointed neighborhood in the San Bernardino County -  just a regular birthday party for a nine-year old.  Adults gathered at tables in the backyard enjoying catered tacos and other south-of-the-border delights, while birthday girl Nadia Morales and her classmates played.   No one really paid much attention when the show crew arrived, unloading their stuff and setting up tent and table in the backyard. Their ''uniform'' said it all: SOCALJUNGLE.COM.  Buddies Josh Price and Quezon City-born Ace Kierulf Gonzalez and their assistants - their children Callie Price, 3, and Seth Gonzalez, 8 - began to showcase their stars: cold-blooded jungle critters .   Price and Gonzalez make it their business to demystify the reptiles with the help of their own kids.   “So.Cal Jungle Reptile Parties provide children with a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Price told Philippine News. “Children will never forget (their first meeting with reptiles).  Our parties are designed to givean up close and hands-on encounter with some amazing creatures.”   “Our reptile parties provide a great learning opportunity as well,” added Ace Gonzalez, who is an 8th Grade U.S. History teacher at the El Roble Intermediate School in Claremont.  “As the children interact with the animals, they will hear important information about each creature.”   Curiosity set in when kids noticed movement in plastic containers on top of the table. They were drawn to Price and Gonzalez and wanted to know what they were up to.     Excitement grew when the crew let loose a tortoise.   “That’s Waffle,” Seth told PNews. “We call him that because he came home in a waffle box and he was no bigger than a ping pong ball. Now he weighs 40 pounds. And he loves grass.”   Waffle freely roamed the backyard, happily chomping on the green, entertaining the children.   “Luis and Maritza (party hosts) might not need to mow the lawn this week,” said a guest.   “That’s what we call the Sulcata Tortoise which is found in northern Africa,” Price told the children, “the third largest species of tortoise in the world after the Galapagos tortoise.” Now, not only the children were attentive, but also the adults. “They grow from two to three inches very quickly reaching six to ten inches within the first few years of their lives. Adults are usually 24 to 36 inches in shell length, and weigh from 100 to 200 pounds,” he continued. “The lifespan of the Sulcata Tortoise or African Spurred Tortoise is about 50-150 years, though they can live much longer. “But remember, children, Price warned, “don’t pet his legs or head, just his shell because he might think you’re giving him food. Reptiles are amazing animals,” he added.     The experts at So. Cal Jungle have been working with them for 19 years.   “Just as the animals have grown over the years, so has our knowledge, experience and passion for these wonderful creatures,” said Gonzalez.   The partners take great pride in their animals, and spend every day caring for and interacting with them. They spend countless hours researching and learning about every animal they have.   “This close attention is assurance that our animals are well fed and non-aggressive when we show up for an event,” said Price.    And then it was showtime!   First, important instructions: “If you have a question, raise your hand. If you’re afraid, let me know. And if you touch the animals, what should you do before you eat?”   “Wash your hands,” the children exclaimed in chorus.   And here’s a warning to the squeamish, it could be very graphic.   The children at Nadia’s birthday party will never forget the amazing experience they had – from letting a tarantula crawl on their arm, to handling a crested gecko, and holding hissing cockroaches; and finally, forgetting fear of snakes of all kinds and sizes, to petting them.   Besides the tortoise and tarantula, and the Madagascar hissing cockroaches, each of the children had a chance to hold all the other reptiles, including different sizes of geckos; the 12-foot Albino Burmese python, from Southeast Asia, one of the largest snakes growing up to 18 feet and weighing up to 160 lbs; different sizes of ball pythons, jungle carpet pythons, 8-foot Reticulated Python, which like all pythons are non-venomous constrictors and normally not considered dangerous to man; 6-foot Red Tail Boa Constrictor; 6-foot Savannah Monitor; and 3-foot Argentinean Black and White Tegu.     “At first my husband was on the skeptical side on whether we should get an 'animal show'  for our daughter’s 1st birthday,' a previous host wrote. "But after seeing your show, he was convinced it was the best decision we could’ve made. Your passion for animals is clear and your patience for children (a handful) is admirable. Children and adults were impressed and all enjoyed being entertained by you and your friends. To this day, everyone is still talking about this show and on how they have never seen anything like it – I keep getting calls for your number. Again, we thank you for adding a special touch to our daughter’s special birthday.”   The company goes to great lengths for educational birthday parties, gifting the honoree with a T-shirt.  The animals - none of which are venomous,  the partners stress - are available for photo shoots and movies.   The company is fully insured.  For more information, call So.Cal Jungle Reptile Parties at (626) 862-4761 or visit www.socaljungle.com - Philippine News