Florida's Flora and Fauna with Conservationist Kenny Coogan

12/22/2025

I was on Bloom Tampa Bay today! Check out the interview below!

BLOOM (TAMPA) – Conservationist, educator, and environmental communicator Kenny Coogan joined Gayle Guyardo, host of the globally syndicated health and wellness show Bloom, to share the inspi…

12/14/2025

Spotted at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya: the incredible Lodoicea maldivica, also known as the coco de mer. 🌴 Native to the Seychelles, this palm produces the largest seeds in the plant kingdom — some can weigh over 40 pounds! A true botanical marvel and a reminder of the amazing diversity of the plant world.

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Learn how to protect Florida’s incredible wildlife in my new show, Florida’s Flora and Fauna, hosted and created by me, and available now on TBAE Network. The first episode, ‘Manatees of Florida’, is live today. Five more episodes coming after the New Year — head to tbae.net for details.

12/09/2025

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center Ribbon Cutting!

Everglades National Park will celebrate the opening of its new Visitor Center in Everglades City on December 12. This updated facility will welcome visitors with improved accessibility a refreshed design and new opportunities to learn about the Gulf Coast area of the park.

The ribbon cutting marks an important milestone for the community and for visitors beginning their journey into this unique part of the Everglades. The event is free and open to the public and will feature brief remarks followed by an opportunity to explore the new space.

More information available in this link: https://ow.ly/vO9I50XEnf7

NPS Photo by Riley Hays

12/09/2025

Only in Sri Lanka: a Black-cheeked Lizard (Calotes nigrilabris) eating a snake AND another laying eggs right beside it. For a species endangered and found nowhere else, this was an incredible moment to witness. Calotes nigrilabris plays an important role as both predator and prey in its montane forest ecosystem. Observing these behaviors in the wild helps us understand their reproductive strategies and ecological interactions,

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Join me on an adventure through Florida’s ecosystems in Florida’s Flora and Fauna, my new show that I host and created — available now on TBAE Network. Watch the first episode, ‘Manatees of Florida’, streaming today. Stay tuned for five more episodes launching after the New Year at tbae.net!

12/08/2025

Thanks to the magic of the internet, yesterday I was in Uganda looking at cannonball trees — and today I’m in Sri Lanka looking at cannonball trees! 🌿 But here’s the twist: the trees in Sri Lanka aren’t the same species Buddha was said to be born under 2,500 years ago. Join me as we explore how history, culture, and botany got tangled — and why scientific names matter.

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Explore Florida’s wild side with my new show, Florida’s Flora and Fauna, which I host and created — now streaming on Tampa Bay Arts & Education Network - TBAE! The first episode, ‘Manatees of Florida’, is available now. Five new episodes drop after the New Year. Discover at tbae.net.

12/07/2025

During my visit to Entebbe Botanical Gardens, I was blown away by the wildlife on display. Dozens of Black-and-white Casqued Hornbills were flying around the gardens, calling from the treetops and adding a dramatic soundtrack to the day. I also spotted a stunning Couroupita guianensis — the Cannonball Tree — with its massive, fragrant flowers and large spherical fruits.

The gardens are a true haven for both birds and plants, and seeing these hornbills and rare trees in one visit reminded me why I love Uganda’s biodiversity so much.

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My new show, Florida’s Flora and Fauna, hosted and created by me, is available now on the TBAE Network! The first episode, ‘Manatees of Florida’, is streaming now! Five more episodes come after the New Year — watch now at tbae.net.

12/05/2025

This morning, Seth — the owner of Jungle Junction Ltd — took me out on Lake Victoria for one of the most incredible wildlife experiences I’ve ever had in Uganda. We navigated through the quiet papyrus channels of Mabamba Swamp and were lucky enough to spot three to four wild Shoebill Storks.

Mabamba Swamp is home to roughly a dozen resident shoebills, making it one of the best places in the world to see these rare, prehistoric-looking birds. Their numbers were once declining due to habitat loss and local persecution, but thanks to conservation awareness and eco-tourism, communities now protect the shoebills they once feared.

Watching these giants hunt, stand motionless, and glide through the wetlands is a reminder of why conservation matters — and why supporting responsible local guides like Seth is so important.

An unbelievable adventure, and one I’ll never forget.

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From hidden wetlands to backyard wildlife, Florida’s Flora and Fauna, hosted and created by me, is now streaming on TBAE! The premiere episode ‘Manatees of Florida’ is available now, with five more episodes arriving after the New Year. Get sneak peeks and more at tbae.net.

12/04/2025

Watched a Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) at Wilpattu National Park use a brilliant trick — shaking its leg in the mud to flush out fish before snapping them up! Even came back to the same puddle later — clearly it knows its favorite fishing spot. Wildlife never stops surprising me!

🦩
Explore Florida’s wild side with my new show, Florida’s Flora and Fauna, which I host and created — now streaming on Tampa Bay Arts & Education Network - TBAE ! The first episode, ‘Manatees of Florida’, is available now. Five new episodes drop after the New Year. Discover at tbae.net.

12/03/2025

Spotted at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya: Leuenbergeria bleo! This fascinating cactus tree is native to Central and South America, growing like a shrub or small tree with striking green stems. While it wasn’t flowering when I visited, it had colorful fruits hanging from its branches. Its unique form and fruit make it a standout, and a great reminder that not all cacti are desert dwellers!

🦩
Learn how to protect Florida’s incredible wildlife in my new show, Florida’s Flora and Fauna, hosted and created by me, and available now on TBAE Network. The first episode, ‘Manatees of Florida’, is live today. Five more episodes coming after the New Year — head to tbae.net for details.

12/02/2025

On vacation in Sri Lanka with my friend Thurindu, I got to watch spotted deer in action! These deer aren’t just common — they’re crucial to the ecosystem. Their alarm calls alert other animals like gray langurs and toque macaques when predators, including leopards and crocodiles, are nearby. Even local Jeep drivers use their calls to track leopards. Nature’s warning system at work!

🦩
Join me on an adventure through Florida’s ecosystems in Florida’s Flora and Fauna, my new show that I host and created — available now on . Watch the first episode, ‘Manatees of Florida’, streaming today. Stay tuned for five more episodes launching after the New Year at tbae.net!

12/01/2025

While in Sri Lanka, we stopped at a spice shop to learn about Cinnamomum zeylanicum, or true Ceylon cinnamon. I cannot endorse any of the health claims mentioned—so don’t ask me to cure your Monday blues with it! 😄

But it was fascinating to see how this cinnamon is harvested and prepared. Do you like cinnamon for Christmas? Do you know where your cinnamon comes from? Unlike the more common Cassia cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon has thinner, softer bark and a sweeter, more delicate flavor—truly a different experience for the senses.

🦩
My new show, Florida’s Flora and Fauna, hosted and created by me, is available now on the Tampa Bay Arts & Education Network - TBAE ! The first episode, ‘Manatees of Florida’, is streaming today. Five more episodes come after the New Year — watch now at tbae.net.

11/30/2025

While exploring Sri Lanka, I got some incredible wildlife footage I just had to share! I watched water buffalo goofily chewing in the wetlands — their munching was impossible not to laugh at — and later spotted a sambar deer with absolutely massive antlers strolling through the Horton Plains.

These animals aren’t just beautiful — they’re vital to their ecosystems. Water buffalo shape wetlands that support countless species, and sambar deer help maintain forest balance by browsing shrubs and undergrowth. Seeing them up close is a reminder of why conservation matters. Protecting their habitats ensures that these amazing creatures continue to thrive for generations to come!

🦩
Explore Florida’s wild side with my new show, Florida’s Flora and Fauna, which I host and created — now streaming on Tampa Bay Arts & Education Network - TBAE ! The first episode, ‘Manatees of Florida’, is available now. Five new episodes drop after the New Year. Discover at tbae.net