In honour of a television star's death, this is an homage to Jovian (also known as Zoboomafoo), a leaping lemur who passed away at age 20.5 due to kidney failure at the Duke Lemur Center. The American/Canadian television show Zoboomafoo educates its viewers about many different species of animals around the world. Even though the show has not released new episodes for several years, the creators Martin Kratt (co-host), Chris Kratt (co-host), and Leo Eaton shed a new light on educating young children. They pulled on many children’s heartstrings by introducing the audience to exotic, wild, and domestic animals. Through the airing of Zoboomafoo, children learned and were encouraged to develop a healthy relationship between people and animals. Zoboomafoo truly sparked my love, compassion, and respect for animals. Thank you to the creators of this show and Jovian for sparking such joy and excitement that has lead me to pursue veterinary medicine.

Zoboomafoo was, and still continues to be, a legacy and a beloved memory to all who were fans and enthusiasts of the program. Although many audience members grew up and watched the program less due to…life, we always remembered each forefront character in a specific frame that had been frozen in time, but to our dismay we forgot to remember they (especially Jovian) were growing older too. Upon hearing the news of Jovian’s death, many emotions and fond memories came flooding. In every episode Martin and Chris would bring in, introduce, and give fun facts about the featured animal. While doing this, they would go to their bountiful snack machine and dispense the animal’s favourite snack. The pure joy that each animal displayed when getting its favourite snack never failed to radiate onto me. Once the animal left, Martin, Chris, and Zoboomafoo would take the viewer on an adventure to that animal's indigenous habitat. There, we would observe how they live, survive and interact in their natural habitat. The show never failed to bring a smile to my face and enlighten me on all sorts of fun facts for each animal; there was always so much to learn! (If there were a Zoboomafoo die-hard definition in the dictionary, my face would take up the whole page!) In addition to my post-Zoboomafoo glee, you could always find me leaping on and off the couch, singing the theme song, just as Zoboomafoo did.

On behalf of Zoboomafoo aficionados, Jovian’s death has marked the end of countless people’s childhood’s. Thank you Jovian for all the adventures and lessons that have allowed people to respect and love animals.

I hope you have an unfathomable amount of garbanzo beans, sweet potato, papaya and mango slices in your snack machine in Lemur heaven.

Rest in peace.

Here is a "Water Creatures" themed episode if you wish to learn more about the animals or show or reminisce the good old days.