Sunday, May 3, 2009

M'Kulu and Ken Ernest

From the Grasshopper Archives
Columbia Wholesale Supply "Giant Post Card" #J-541


From 1907 until 1953, the California Alligator Farm sat across from Los Angeles' Lincoln Park. It moved to Buena Park and reopened in 1955. Some time later, the young Grasshopper experienced the farm's reptilian wonders, including M'Kulu, then the largest Nile Crocodile in captivity.

M'kulu and Ken headed east when the Buena Park location closed down. The Croc migrated to "Jumbolair", the ranch/zoo/airport of Nautilis Fitness magnate, Arthur Jones.

Ken went on to work at the Black Hills Reptile Garden...not far from Dinosaur Park in Rapid City. He was recently written up in an OC Register article entitled When Alligators Roamed Orange County.