Zoo Buddy: Honoring Dr. Clint Harper

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - The Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo is honoring Dr. Clint Harper in a very special way.

He passed away in February, but he will always be remembered as a beacon of light in this community. He worked for Cooper Veterinary Hospital in West Monroe and spent a decade as the vet for the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo.

His wife, Heather, and two kids, Riley and Reese joined us in this segment to talk about the memorial bench that will be placed in front of Maleah's enclosure and a future veterinary hospital in his name on zoo grounds.

"He absolutely loved his job, he loved animals, that was definitely genetically passed on. He cared for everything, one of the best things about him was he was a very well-rounded vet. He could do cats, dogs, pythons, tigers, he could do anything," says Riley. "He loved working at the zoo it was his passion project, he was always here in emergencies."

Heather says it was always a family ordeal, everyone bonded over animals. She met Clint when they were both vet techs at Cooper Vet.

"One thing he always talked about was the dreams he had for the zoo and how he wanted to make it better and he worked really hard," says Heather. "I feel like he has done that. And for him not to be here to see it is hard, so I'm glad there will be a hospital to continue the great care he was doing here. So I think it's just a wonderful idea."

Below you'll see some ways to donate toward these projects.

Maleah the tiger's exhibit has a lot of meaning for Dr. Clint Harper. He helped drive her all the way from Nevada with Zoo Director Philip Crawley.

And we couldn't have done this Zoo Buddy without some animal information! Dr. Clint Harper's daughter Riley had some fun facts about the zoo's ball python , Monty.

"They love the savannas and grasslands of Africa, they eat small rodents they're really good in nature in Africa," explains Riley. "Farmers like them because they keep the pests under control and they're constrictors you can see he's not trying to eat me I don't hope haha, they squeeze their prey to suffocate them and then they eat them like that so they're not venomous."

More Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo News

While construction continues on the new Louisiana Purchase Exhibit, the Reptile Building is closed. Until then, you can request some reptiles at educational programs or birthday parties or you might just see one at the zoo when staff are taking them on a stroll. Call 318-329-2400 for more information.

Due to weather delays, construction crews believe the new exhibit will be open between December 2024 and January 2025.

You can also volunteer with the zoo. Contact the Louisiana Purchase Zoological Society through their Facebook page .

The zoo is open every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can get tickets to feed the budgies, feed the tortoises, ride the boat, or ride the train at the front office.

Click here for a breakdown of their prices.