Larry Clifford, 68, has had many unusual friends over the years: sea lions, dolphins, penguins and parrots. But his relationship with a cougar named Clark prompted him to write and publish an illustrated children’s book, “Would You Be My Friend?” The Spokane Valley resident and onetime curator of Spokane Valley’s former Walk in the Wild Zoo spent 38 years training exotic animals in places like SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, before a back injury forced him to retire. He traces his fascination with animals to childhood. “When school was over I used to rush home to watch ‘Sea Hunt’ with Lloyd Bridges,” he recalled/Cindy Hval, SR. More here. (Jesse Tinsley's photo for the SR: Larry Clifford, a longtime exotic animal trainer, and his hyacinth macaw, Hawkeye, live in Spokane Valley)

Question: Do you have a favorite zoo?