A Reptile Sanctuary
Scales Up With Kubota
The Texas-based tractor company helps former BMX pro
Kenan Harkin turn his Florida home into a zoological oasis
Before professional BMX rider Kenan Harkin was wowing crowds with his signature 360-degree backflip, he was just a kid growing up on Long Island, living for visits to the Bronx Zoo.
“I loved turtles and reptiles. I always wanted to have my own zoo,” Harkin says from his backyard in Jupiter, Florida. Seated in a lawn chair surrounded by jade green Chinese fan palms, spiky opuntia cactus, and saucer-sized hibiscus blooms, it appears his wish has come true. After pioneering the extreme sport and serving as a television personality for channels like NBC and FOX Sports, Harkin turned his attention to his childhood aspiration, and now, with a little bit of elbow grease and the help of a Kubota L Series tractor, he’s lovingly planted the reptile oasis of his dreams: Kamp Kenan, home to fifty different species of lizards, turtles, tortoises, and one snake, totaling two hundred animals.
“I’ve got a twelve-and-a-half-foot gator just out the back here named Snaggletooth,” Harkin says. “I have three caimans, a South American member of the alligator family. We have two dwarf species, the smooth-fronted caiman and the actual dwarf caiman, whose full size is only about three and a half feet, so it’s a little alligator, right? But don’t be fooled—the smaller they are, the more Napoleonic complex crocodilians have, and they’ll defend themselves vigorously.”
The conservationist’s enthusiasm is infectious, even over Zoom, making it easy to see how he’s won over an audience of 823K subscribers on his YouTube channel, Kamp Kenan, which he says is dedicated to educating people about scaly and misunderstood creatures. Some days, that means sharing a health update on Guapo, Harkin’s twenty-year-old Cuban rock iguana, who recently struggled with skin issues. On other days it showcases how he’s built the ecosystems at Kamp Kenan, including a naturally filtered pond that hydrates his numerous smaller turtle species. None of Harkin’s Jurassic Park–like landscaping would be possible without his Kubota L3902 compact tractor. Take the Chinese fan palm, for example. “I was able to move that in minutes,” Harkin says. “I’m just one guy! So that’s been a game-changer for me.”
With plans for an expanded enclosure on the horizon, Harkin is preparing to upgrade to a Kubota L47 tractor loader backhoe—a step he says is essential to realizing his blueprints. “We’re going to be using massive boulders to create some cool topography with different plantings, so I need to be able to manipulate and move those elements on my own,” he says.
Access to such intuitive and easy-to-handle equipment helps Harkin create stunning backdrops for his exotic creatures. Kubota also plays a crucial role in supporting his conservation work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Turtle Survival Alliance. The agency and the nonprofit frequently rely on Harkin to provide a haven or rehabilitative care for animals rescued from dangerous environments. Harkin, in turn, diligently follows state guidelines to protect his menagerie, many of which are endangered.
“In Florida, because of our climate, we can house many different species, but there’s a risk of creating ecological issues,” Harkin explains. “I do my best to adhere to all safeguards and undergo inspections twice yearly.” He also spends every working hour building and maintaining safe and supportive habitats. The durability and hydraulic capacity of Kubota tractors make it all possible. With a bit of help from Kubota, Harkin says, Kamp Kenan’s Aldabra tortoise Nostradamus, Galapagos giant turtle Socrates, and water monitor Slinky will survive and thrive.
See how Harkin built his reptile sanctuary with
Kubota products on YouTube
Calling All
Chill Seekers
Perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, New Smyrna Beach
exists in the place where art and Mother Nature meet
Access to such intuitive and easy-to-handle equipment helps Harkin create stunning backdrops for his exotic creatures. Kubota also plays a crucial role in supporting his conservation work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Turtle Survival Alliance. The agency and the nonprofit frequently rely on Harkin to provide a haven or rehabilitative care for animals rescued from dangerous environments. Harkin, in turn, diligently follows state guidelines to protect his menagerie, many of which are endangered.
“In Florida, because of our climate, we can house many different species, but there’s a risk of creating ecological issues,” Harkin explains. “I do my best to adhere to all safeguards and undergo inspections twice yearly.” He also spends every working hour building and maintaining safe and supportive habitats. The durability and hydraulic capacity of Kubota tractors make it all possible. With a bit of help from Kubota, Harkin says, Kamp Kenan’s Aldabra tortoise Nostradamus, Galapagos giant turtle Socrates, and water monitor Slinky will survive and thrive.
Explore more Kubota products at KubotaUSA.com
See how Harken built his reptile sanctuary
with Kubota products on YouTube