BBC America’s “Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan”

Daniel Kopulos with Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings, Lost). Daniel brought snakes from Fauna NYC to help Dominic promote his show, “Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan” on NBC’s Today Show with Kathy Lee and Hoda. “Wild Things” premiered on January 22, 2013 on BBC America.

All animals included in Dominic’s interview on the Today Show were provided by Fauna! Daniel was backstage to help with the animals.

Before the interview, Dominic taught Suze Orman how to handle snakes backstage at the Today Show.

Daniel Kopulos helps Dominic Monaghan promote his show “Wild Things” on the Today Show – Daniel shares his behind-the-scene experience

Daniel Kopulos helps Dominic Monaghan promote his show “Wild Things” on the Today Show

Those of you that personally know me realize what a typical morning is composed of for me. Waking up at 6am to rush through caring for the menagerie at home before making the hour-long trip into the city to open the store. Thursday was a whirlwind of a day because BBC America asked me to bring some special animals to help promote Dominic Monaghan’s new show “Wild Things” on the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda. The call time was 9:30am. For me that meant shifting my normal schedule two hours forward. That’s right, 4 o’clock in the morning!

Once at the studio I was quickly introduced to Dominic. He immediately wanted to get to know each of his new co-stars better and carefully one by one made himself at home with them.

While we were being shifted from one green room to another Dominic was working intently on educating and dispelling the innate fears of all the behind the scenes people we encountered about the animals I brought. People that had fears of snakes were soon placing them comfortably around their necks with Dominick’s gentle and assured guidance.

Through all the chaos happening around us Dominic created stillness. He appeared more interested in sharing the experience of animals and making a positive influence on everyone than being on the morning program. There was no talk about his well-known previous films or his current project. His passion for animals completely took center stage.

Shortly after the Today Show, we were rushed off to another affair. Apparently during the morning’s filming Dominic was asked to do an interview for People, which should be available in a week or so. For the entirety of the interview Dominic kept one special snake in hand, a female leucistic ball python. I was thoroughly impressed with his profound desire to maintain his focus on the message he wanted to share even throughout the interview. He spoke of the animals that share his home and how his preference is to observe the beauty of them being exactly what they and their amazing fascinating natural behaviors. He knows that his show where he travels to remote places and handles amazing and dangerous animals will encourage people to want to own exotic animals. His take home message is to make responsible choices, and to choose a pet that is appropriate rather than for the awe factor, and to then take the best possible care for that animal.

After this interview we had a chance to speak for a bit about some of the conservation work that we each have been doing. We shared our personal Central America and other location stories and how challenging it can be to change cultural habits and myths regarding wildlife. I knew Dominic was an animal advocate and he now has an even larger platform where he can influence others through his program “Wild Things”. It’s inspiring to meet someone so like-minded and who is also intuitively gentle with animals and the environment. Thank you and well done Dominic!