Nathan Johnson, 10, Henderson, gets a warm-tongue kiss from a baby wallaby during Animal Enrichment Day at Roos-N-More in Moapa. Photo by Mike Donahue

By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

More than 860 people took advantage of Animal Enrichment Day at Roos-N-More in Moapa last week to meet face-to-face with a pack, or herd, or troop or den; or whatever; of exotic and interesting animals.

Kids and adults from all over Southern Nevada took tours of the small zoo at 746 Snowden Ranch Road and were able to hold and handled monkeys, snakes, a baby wallaby, birds and even a threatened or endangered species.

“We call it supervised interaction and it’s as much an enriching experience for the animals as it is for the public,” said zoo owner Valerie Holt. “Everyone, animals and people, get to experience different sounds, different smells, different sensations. It’s all a rewarding experience.”

Four-year-old Ava Erickson of Eden, UT, is having second thoughts about the red-tiled Boa “Pandora” at Roos-N-More last week. Photo by Mike Donahue

The three-acre-plus animal and rescue operation opened in 2006 with 15 kangaroos and wallabies. Since then it has evolved into an accredited, non-profit zoo with an estimated 250 different animals including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, according to Dave Eisenstein, a zoo volunteer from Las Vegas.

Eisenstein, who owns and performs in Cap’n Dave’s Dinosaur Lectures and Shows, conducted tours of the facility during Enrichment Day and explained to visitors that many of the zoo’s animals were donated after debilitating injuries.

Valerie and her husband Jay Holt are both veterinarians. In addition to Roos-N-More the couple own and operate Animal Kindness Veterinary Hospital in Las Vegas where they specialize in the treatment of exotic and small animals.

“Jay is usually at the hospital while I get to stay out here and take care of the zoo,” Valerie said.

The Moapa zoo is full time operation that utilizes two full-time employees, one part-time worker and 12 volunteers. The Holt’s children, 16-year-old Zach and 14-year-old Hailey also pitch in to keep all the animals happy and everything running smoothly.

On Enrichment Day visitors got to handle and meet several different species that carried by volunteers who casually strolled the zoo grounds.

Valerie said the zoo is accredited by the Zoological Association of America. A couple of the more exotic zoo inhabitants include the Binturong or Bearcat from Borneo, and the Kinkajou from South America, which are the only known carnivores on earth with prehensile tails.