Georges Opens the Show!

This morning on the show Salut Bonjour, our biologist and president Joanie Asselin transported viewers on a true mini-journey into the heart of the animal world. Accompanied by a few star residents from Éducazoo, she shared fascinating discoveries, scientific anecdotes, and heartwarming moments.

The first to steal the spotlight was none other than Georges, an impressive African spurred tortoise. Native to Africa, this terrestrial tortoise can grow to nearly 80 cm and live for more than 70 years. In the wild, it uses its powerful claws to dig enormous burrows that can reach several meters deep—an essential behavior that helps it escape extreme heat. In the studio, Georges revealed another side of his personality: a big foodie who absolutely loves to eat!

Viewers were then introduced to the fascinating White's tree frog, Goobie and Kermit. Native to Australia and New Guinea, this nocturnal frog lives in tropical forests and has very delicate skin, typical of amphibians. An astonishing fact: when threatened, it can project a stream made mostly of water to surprise a predator and quickly escape. An impressive defense mechanism… but almost harmless!

Another tiny star of the visit was the African pygmy dormouse. This miniature nocturnal rodent has large eyes perfectly adapted to life in the dark. An excellent climber, it can make spectacular jumps and uses its tail to maintain balance. Highly social, it can share its nest with several companions and even communicates using ultrasounds. It also has a remarkable ability: entering a state of torpor to conserve energy.

It would be impossible to conclude without Coco, the famous cockatoo from Educazoo. Curious, expressive, and highly intelligent, Coco loves to attract attention and learn new words—especially when there’s an audience!

With this visit full of surprises, Joanie Asselin once again showed that science can be accessible, fascinating, and full of wonder.

Watch the segment : Click here