Reality TV show set on Maine 'farm with alternative livestock' ~ The unveiling of a man the soul of a woman

"Tundraaaaa-ooooo," Bob Miner bellowed, standing on the doorstep of his home.

Lions roared and wolves howled in reply, their wild chorus echoing through the tall white pines of Mount Vernon.

Tundra is the eldest lion at DEW Animal Kingdom and Sanctuary, which is home to more than 200 exotic and domestic animals. On the blustery day in mid-November, DEW was closed for the season. Nevertheless, behind the cast iron gates that barred the entrance, the sanctuary was bustling with activity.

It's no surprise that this strange and exciting place has been chosen to be the subject of a new TV series, "Yankee Jungle," set to premiere on Animal Planet at 11 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29.

"I hope people will enjoy it, and I hope they will understand that it's real," said Bob Miner, who runs the facility with his wife, Julie, and a close-knit group of family, employees and volunteers.

When first approached by Lone Wolf Media, a South Portland-based production company, the Miners refused to be a part of a typical reality show, with scripts and staged events. But after much consideration, they agreed to participate in a "docu-series," which would more accurately portray their life at DEW, which they describe as an "innovative farm with alternative livestock."

"It follows our everyday life, and it's exciting," said Julie Miner, sitting at the kitchen table with a ring-tailed lemur wrapped around her neck.

As the Miners talked about their life at DEW, the small primate crawled around on their shoulders, grooming their hair and looking around the kitchen with wide yellow eyes. Born six months ago at the facility, the lemur will be just one of the many animals featured in the TV series.

The first "Yankee Jungle" season will consist of just three episodes, which were filmed during April and May of this year. The premier episode follows the DEW crew during mud season, when they're busy preparing to open for the summer.

"If people like it, they'll produce a whole season of at least six episodes," said Julie Miner.

"We want people to see who we are and what we do," said Bob Miner. "We're not just people who put an animal in a cage and take your money to see it. It's our home. We want people to realize that and learn about and respect these animals for what they are — not pets."

Lone Wolf Media began working on "Yankee Jungle" three years ago, when Kirk Wolfinger, the president of Lone Wolf, happened upon the Miners, who live in a timber-frame house on the property, right beside the tiger and lion enclosures.

"It's such a one-of-a-kind place they have out there, and they are truly extraordinary people," said Jed Rauscher, executive producer of the series, in a previous BDN story by Emily Burnham. "It was a long process to put together the materials and pitch the network, but eventually, we did a development deal with Animal Planet, and they greenlit three episodes … We're hoping to do a full season if these initial shows do well."

Also featured on the show will be actress and comedian Birdie "Karmo" Sanders, better known to Mainers as the Marden's Lady, and Maine comedian Jason Hodgdon, a.k.a. Krazy Jake, who will both provide some comic relief. DEW employees Ella and Steve round out the cast of characters.

The second and third episode with air at 9 p.m. on Dec. 6 and Dec. 13.

"We're not your typical zoo," said Julie Miner. "We do two scheduled tours each day that anyone can come on. We want people to learn about the animals and learn how to help preserve their natural habitats."

Bob Miner began taking care of farm animals in 1980 after suffering debilitating strokes from his service in Vietnam. The animals, and the relationships he formed with them, helped him recover, he said.

In 1994, Julie and her two daughters, Hannah and Heidi, volunteered at the farm. Bob and Julie hit it off and married six months later. Together, they moved D.E.W. to 42 acres of land and expanded to house more than 200 animals from all around the world, a feat that requires eight separate licenses from various state and federal entities. The operation is entirely funded by admission fees, donations and gift shop purchases.

"We take everything but cats, dogs and people," said Julie Miner. "And everybody has a different story."

DEW animals come from a variety of places, such as overloaded zoos or people who owned them illegally as pets. And because the Miners allow some of their animals to breed, some of their animals were born right there on the property.

Their oldest tenant is Freddy, a 30-year-old gibbon, an ape that came to DEW when he was two years old in 1984.

Bob Miner remembers the birth date of nearly every animal in the farm, and each animal has it's own name, often based on its personality.

"This isn't a job," Bob Miner said. "It's not a hobby. It's a way of life."

One of the Miners' concerns about the TV series is that it will stir up negative comments from people who don't agree with what they do at DEW, such as caging wild animals and allowing them to breed.

"But maybe [the show] will help people to understand that when they attack DEW, they're personally attacking us," said Julie Miner.

This isn't the first time that the Miners have worked with television producers. In fact, they were recently the subject of the documentary "Wild Home," which details Bob Miner's past as a Vietnam veteran struggling with health problems, and how the animals helped him to recover. "Wild Home" premiered at the Camden International Film Festival in September 2014.

For the winter, many of the exotic animals — such as the monkeys, kangaroos, wallabies and coatimundis — are moved to heated barns. But many others, including the wild cats, are able to adapt to the cold and remain in their outdoor enclosures year round.

On Nov. 18, Bob Miner walked through the slush and mud to visit each of the wild cats living at DEW. As he approached the lion enclosure, Tundra leapt down from a wooden platform and lumbered up to the fence, pressing his body against the metal so Miner could scratch his thick, tawny fur. Two lionesses in the enclosure joined them, pressing their noses to the fence and licking Miner's hands.

"I had all kinds of problems back in the late 70s," he said. "And all I can say is: Look at me now. Look at what Julie and I have built, just with the love and appreciation for animals."

To learn about DEW, visit dewanimalkingdom.com. And to stay up to date about "Yankee Jungle," find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YankeeJungle.