GULF SHORES, Ala. — World-renowned animal expert Peter Gros made a visit to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo on Saturday, talking about some of the animals on display at the zoo and answering questions.

The event was free to the public, and Gros took time to answer questions from many of the 200 who attended.

Gros, host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, has about 30 years of field experience with captive wildlife and has established breeding programs for 377 endangered animals. He also developed the nation’s largest captive breeding colony of ostriches and a rehabilitation program for birds of prey.

A licensed Exhibition and Animal Educator for the U.S.D.A. and an active member of the American Zoo and Aquariums Association and Zoological Association of America, Gros  talked about many of the rare animals on display at the Gulf Shores Zoo.

“Everything went well, and Mr. Gros was a nice fellow, a really nice fellow,” said Cyndi Johnson, head keeper at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. “We were really happy about the turnout, considering it was such late notice.”

Johnson said Gros did an animal show, complete with a Burmese python, alligators, wolves, a red ruffed lemur, and a red kangaroo.

“These are all animals that are on display at our zoo all the time,” Johnson said.

The zoo, which was featured in a primetime series on the Animal Planet Network, is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.