Tuttle's Tiger Safari A Busy Place

Darren Brown, News 9

TUTTLE, Oklahoma -- "I always loved animals...never dreamed I was ever gonna have the exotics that I have today," says Bill Meadows.

And Meadows will admit that his Tiger Safari Zoological Park was just a dream at one time. Now it's 45 acres and growing. Of course, there are lions, tigers, and bears. But there's also:

"Small-clawed Asian otter, the Argentine tegu, the Asian palm civet."

Get all that? Well, I'm not sure what those other two even look like, but here's the Argentine tegu.

"He gets to be about three to four feet long, and he likes to lash out.  So, that's kinda why I'm standing back here," Meadows says.

The Tiger Safari's a really busy place.  Every weekend there are people out her enjoying birthday parties and picnics and banquets.  And, yeah, some people come just...for the shell of it. 

The park has some unique things to offer, like this jungle safari hut that's available for overnight stays. And their Jungle Zoo to You program is going full throttle.

You've heard the phrase "Don't give up your day job." Meadows is getting close to giving up his. And that's not so bad.

"Basically, when I retire off the fire department, this is what I want to do the rest of my life.  I love animals, and I have just a few more years on the Oklahoma City Fire Department to where I can do this full time, and share it with the public."