♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE POLITICAL FALLOUT OF THE DEADLY I.C.E.

SHOOTINGS OF PROTESTERS IN MINNESOTA.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, A NEW BOOK LOOKS AT 100 YEARS OF DUDE RANCHING.

>>> AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE PHOENIX ZOO'S NEWEST RESIDENT, PILIPILI, A 500 POUND AFRICAN LION.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

AN INCREASING NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS ARE QUESTIONING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ACTIONS AFTER THE DEADLY SHOOTINGS OF PROTESTERS OF I.C.E.

AGENTS IN MINNESOTA ALONG WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S THREATS TO OCCUPY GREENLAND.

HOW MUCH IS THE GOP REALLY PUSHING BACK, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS?

JOINING US IS CHUCK COUGHLIN, CEO OF POLITICAL CONSULTING FIRM HIGHGROUND.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

TED: SEEMS LIKE THE NATIONAL NARRATIVE IS A LITTLE PUSHBACK.

HOW MUCH PUSHBACK IS GOING ON?

>> NOT A LOT.

THERE'S SWEATY PALMS, MAYBE ABOUT MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND THE PROSPECTS OF WHAT'S TO COME, BUT NOBODY IS OUTRIGHT ABANDONING THE PRESIDENT, FOR THE MOST PART, ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

YOU HAVE SOME SWING STATE REPUBLICANS THAT ARE EXPRESSING GRIEVANCES, YOU HAVE SOME CONGRESSMEN THAT HAVE TALKED IN GRIEVOUS MANNERS ABOUT HIS BEHAVIOR PREVIOUSLY WHO ARE DOUBLING DOWN AGAIN, BUT YOU'RE NOT SEEING A LOT OF MOVEMENT.

TED: SO THE LATEST FATAL SHOOTING IN MINNESOTA, THE WHITE HOUSE RUSHING TO JUDGMENT, VIDEO SHOWING COMPLETELY OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING.

ALL OF THESE THINGS NOT MOVING THE NEEDLE TOO MUCH?

>> NOT MOVING THE NEEDLE TOO MUCH.

THE ISSUE HERE IS THE DEEP POLARIZATION OF THE ELECTORATE.

AS WE'VE DISCUSSED ON THE PROGRAM BEFORE, 80% OF CONGRESS, OF THE HOUSE, GETS ELECTED OUTRIGHT IN A PRIMARY.

THEY DON'T FACE THE GENERAL ELECTION.

SO YOU GO ASK THEM, LIKE, WHERE'S MY THREAT IN MY ELECTION?

DOES IT COME FROM THE LEFT?

NO.

BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE A GENERAL ELECTION IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE IT'S A SAFE D OR SAFE R. I'M GOING TO LOSE IT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO LOSE IT BECAUSE OF A CHALLENGE FROM THE RIGHT OR FROM THE LEFT, IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT.

SO THEY'RE PUSHED INTO THE POLAR POSITIONS AND GOING TO HOLD ONTO THE POSITIONS TIGHTLY.

TED: ARE THEY GOING TO HOLD ONTO THE POSITIONS, IF THE NARRATIVE CHANGES, IF THE MOOD CHANGES, IF BY SPEAKING UP ABOUT THIS, YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY IMMEDIATELY PUNISHED?

>> TED, ARE YOU SAYING THERE'S PEOPLE -- [ LAUGHTER ] .

TED: I'M JUST ASKING.

>> YES.

WE ALL SEE THAT.

WE SEE THAT HISTORICALLY IS PEOPLE START TO MOVE AS THE FIRE GETS HOTTER, AS WE SAW THE PRESIDENT MOVE TODAY, AND START BACKING AWAY FROM HIS NARRATIVE AND BACKING UP, WHICH IS GOING TO CREATE LESS ANXIETY AMONGST THOSE FAITHFUL REPUBLICANS.

BUT, YES, THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND HE'S ATTEMPTING TO -- BOVINO OUT OF MINNESOTA, KRISTI NOEM'S PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE HER JOB.

TED: EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT TODAY, HE SAID SHE'S NOT GOING TO LOSE HER JOB.

SHE'S DOING A VERY GOOD JOB.

YOU'RE NOT BUYING THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW, WE SHOT ANOTHER GUY IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA TODAY.

TED: YEAH, WELL -- >> IT'S A CONTINUUM, AND WE'LL SEE WHERE IT ENDS UP, AND THEN YOU STILL SAY THAT THERE'S 80% OF REPUBLICANS THAT STILL APPROVE OF TRUMP'S JOB PERFORMANCE.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND HERE.

BEFORE WE DO THAT, GET TO GREENLAND.

BACKING OFF THE THREATS, THE TARIFF THREATS AND BACKING OFF, FORWARD BACK, FORWARD BACK, SOME IN GOP ARE SAYING IF WE INVADE GREENLAND THEY WOULD BE LISTENING TO IMPEACHMENT.

REPRESENTATIVE OF NEBRASKA, NOT RUNNING AGAIN, OBVIOUSLY.

HE CALLED IT UTTER BUFFOONERY, WHAT'S GOING ON AS FAR AS THE ADMINISTRATION AND GREENLAND?

>> I THINK THAT'S A FAIRLY SAFE CHARACTERIZATION OF IT.

YOU KNOW, HE'S AN EGOTIST.

HE WANTS TO CONTROL EVERYTHING.

HE HAS NO EMPATHY OR DESIRE TO RECRUIT ALLIES TO HIS SIDE.

HE'S A BULLY.

SO HE'S BULLYING PEOPLE, AND YOU KNOW, TED, AS THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA SAID, IT'S A RUPTURE, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A RUPTURE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ALLIES, AND WITH THIS PRESIDENT, THAT'S A PROPER ASSESSMENT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP.

TED: THINGS LIKE A RUPTURE WITH OUR ALLIES, THESE SORTS OF -- THESE ARE ELEVATED THINGS, AND THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU GO TO THE SUPERMARKET AND THINK AND TALK ABOUT.

FOR THE ELECTORATE IN GENERAL, REPUBLICANS IN PARTICULAR, DOES IT MATTER?

>> I MEAN, IT DOES WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ECONOMIC ISSUES, AS YOU SAID, DOES IT AFFECT THE STICKER PRICE OF A CAR?

DOES IT AFFECT MY GROCERY PRICES?

DOES IT AFFECT GASOLINE PRICES?

DOES IT AFFECT MY UTILITY BILLS?

DOES IT AFFECT MY HEALTH CARE BILLS?

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES THAT AMERICANS PAY ATTENTION TO THAT MOST VOTERS, PARTICULARLY REPUBLICANS OF INTERESTED VOTERS, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT MATTER TO ME, SO HOW AM I GOING TO ASSESS THOSE THINGS?

TED: THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO THE NEXT QUESTION, YOU MENTIONED THE POLLING AND THE STRONG SUPPORT THAT EXISTS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE FOR THE PRESIDENT.

WHY IS THAT SUPPORT THERE?

WITH THE BEHAVIOR AS IT IS -- AND I EMPHASIZE BEHAVIOR, THE THINGS HE SAYS, THE THINGS HE DOES, THE WAY HE BEHAVES.

>> YEP.

TED: IS THAT STILL CHARMING TO THESE FOLKS, OR IS THAT BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE?

>> I THINK THAT'S IT.

I THINK THAT'S THE CONCLUSION WE ALL HAVE TO REACH, IS THE DEMOCRATS ARE CAUGHT IN THIS ACTION/REACTION MODE, NOT LEADING.

FOR INSTANCE, IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY THAT IS ADVOCATING TODAY FOR AN IMMIGRATION REFORM MEASURE?

TELL ME.

THAT WOULD BE LEADING.

THAT WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO FROM HERE, NOT JUST POINTING YOUR FINGER AT THAT GUY, GOING I CAN'T BELIEVE HIM.

YOU NEED SOMETHING IN THE ELECTORATE TO ASPIRE TO, TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WE'RE FOR, AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT FROM THE DEMOCRATS.

YOU'RE JUST SEEING GRIEVANCE AND REGRIEVANCE.

TED: THIS IS A MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY.

YOU HAD OBAMA, NOT THAT FAR BACK IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

REALLY?

THIS IS THE BEST THEY CAN DO?

>> MAN, IT'S CRAZY TO ME.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRAZY TO ME.

I PUT AN E-MAIL INTO SENATOR KELLY'S OFFICE.

PUT A TEXT INTO SENATOR GALLEGO.

I SAID WHY AREN'T WE SEEING THIS?

WHY AREN'T WE SEEING MORE OF A DIALOGUE WHAT IT IS THE COUNTRY NEEDS?

WE'VE BEEN LIVING IN THIS SINCE 1070 AT LEAST, IF NOT PRIOR TO THAT, WHICH I WAS INVOLVED WITH, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, AND WE'RE A BORDER STATE WITH OUR STATE'S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER TO THE SOUTH OF US, YOU WOULD THINK YOU WANT AN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT WORKED.

WE DON'T.

THAT'S BEEN -- NOBODY IS STEPPING UP TO SAY LET'S FIX THAT, GET IT DONE.

I HAD PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND SAY THEY WANT IT BROKEN BECAUSE IT FUELS THE GRIEVANCES, FUELS THE GRIEVANCE CYCLE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAD THEN, BUT McCAIN TRIED TO DO THE GANG OF EIGHT PROPOSAL.

THERE'S BEEN OTHER PROPOSALS OUT THERE, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME WITH THE CYCLE, SO DEMOCRATS PROBABLY LIKELY GOING TO REGAIN THE HOUSE IN THIS CYCLE.

YOU WANT TO PUT AIR UNDER THAT.

YOU WANT TO GET AN IDEA THAT YOU COULD MATERIALIZE IN THE HOUSE IN THE NEXT CYCLE.

YOU DON'T GET THE SENATE, MAYBE YOU DON'T, MAYBE YOU DO, BUT YOU DON'T, AND THEN IT'S TEED UP FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE.

YOU HAVE A BILL THAT YOU'RE FOR IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE, AND YOU CAN MAKE IT AN ISSUE AND, MY GOD, MAYBE WE ACTUALLY SOLVE THIS BY THE TIME THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION OVER.

TED: CHUCK, LAST QUESTION, I WANT TO GO BACK TO REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES.

I REMEMBER NOT THAT LONG AGO WHEN CONSERVATIVES DIDN'T TRUST THE ELITES, WHEN CONSERVATIVES DIDN'T TRUST BIG BUSINESS AND BIG CORP.

AND BIG TECH AND THAT, IT'S LIKE IT'S A RETURN TO THE GUILDED AGE WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND IT'S A MATTER OF FALLOUT.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> IT'S MEDIA CONSUMPTION.

ALGORITHMS, THEY READ WHAT THEY READ AND YOU CAN'T GET THEM OUT OF THE ALGORITHM.

THEY HAVE A ROUTINE OF WHAT THEY READ, AND WE READ DIFFERENT THINGS.

YOU CAN SEE A DAY'S NEWS COVERAGE AND SEE IT ONE WAY FROM ONE NEWS OUTLET AND ANOTHER WAY FROM A TOTALLY DIFFERENT NEWS OUTLET.

WE'RE SO DEEPLY DIVIDED AS A COUNTRY, HOW WE TAKE IN OUR INFORMATION, AND ALL THE MEDIA LEAKS HAVE BEEN DISPARAGED.

THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA, DON'T BELIEVE THEM ANYMORE.

THE LAME STREAM MEDIA, FAKE NEWS, AND THEN HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT'S CALLING A FAKE ELECTION.

TED: WHAT IS MAINSTREAM MEDIA, NUMBER ONE?

NUMBER ONE IS FOX.

DOES THAT MAKE IT MAINSTREAM OR WHAT?

>> FOR HIM IT IS.

THEY'RE REPEATING WHAT HE WANTS THEM TO SAY.

TED: CHUCK COUGHLIN FROM HIGH-GROUND, A PLEASURE SPEAKING WITH YOU AND GETTING YOUR INSIGHTS.

>> MY ADVICE IS WHEN IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE, KEEP AN UMBRELLA WITH YOU AND KEEP MOVING.

TED: WE'LL WRITE IT DOWN.

.

TED: A NEW BOOK CELEBRATES THE LONG HISTORY OF DUDE RANCHING AND THE 100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DUDE RANCHERS ASSOCIATION.

A PHOTO-DRIVEN COFFEE TABLE BOOK CELEBRATING ALL THINGS DUDE RANCHING.

WE LEARN MORE FROM RUSSELL TRUE, CHAIRMAN OF THE DUDE RANCHERS ASSOCIATION.

JOINING US IS RUSSELL TRUE, CHAIRMAN OF THE DUDE RANCHERS ASSOCIATION, YOU ARE ALL OVER DUDE RANCHING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WELL, THANKS!

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

TED: LET'S GET STARTED.

WHAT IS A DUDE RANCH?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS.

MINE IS SIMPLY A PLACE THAT BRINGS GUESTS ONTO OUR RANCH, THAT CAN RUN THE GAMUT FROM BASIC EAT, SLEEP, RIDE HORSES TO RESORT-LIKE PLACES.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK, WHAT DO DUDES DO ON A DUDE RANCH?

>> DEPENDS ON THE SPECIFIC RANCH.

SOMEWHERE CATTLE RANCHES THAT EMBRACE TOURISTS WHO BUILD THE FENCE, FIX THE WATERS, CHASE COWS, AND OTHERS HAVE TENNIS AND SPAS AND CUISINE AND -- TED: REALLY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOME ARE FIVE-STAR PLACES.

TED: FOR WORKING RANCHES THAT ALSO ARE DUDE RANCHES, DO THE DUDES EVER GET IN THE WAY?

DO YOU EVER WANT TO SHOOSH PEOPLE, WE GOT BUSINESS TO DO THERE?

>> WE DON'T OPERATE A RANCH LIKE THAT.

BUT SOME OF THE BEST HELP EVER, AND OTHERS ARE GETTING IN THEIR OWN WAY.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

HOW LONG IS DUDE RANCHING BEEN AROUND?

>> DUDE RANCHING HAS PROBABLY BEEN AROUND, HISTORY SAYS, EATON'S RANCH WAS THE FIRST, CUSTARD TRAIL IN THE DAKOTA TERRITORY, AND THE FIRST SIGNED GUEST WAS 1892.

AND THEN TURN OF THE CENTURY EXPLODED ISSUE AS WE CALLED IT THE INDUSTRY, BUT A MICROSEGMENT OF THE INDUSTRY, AND THEY REALLY TOOK OFF, SO DUDE RANCH ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED IN 1926 TO TRY AND SORT OF PROMOTE AND MANAGE THIS GROWING HOSPITALITY SEGMENT.

TED: AND THAT'S 100 YEARS AND THUS THE BOOK CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

WAS IT A BUNCH OF EASTERN FOLKS WANTING TO GET OUT AND BE A COWBOY FOR A WEEK?

>> MEANING THE GUESTS?

TED: YEAH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE A TRAIN OR TAKE A HORSE OR STAGE OR WAGON OUT TO THE RANCH.

THESE WEREN'T WEEKEND TRIPS, THEY CAME FOR THE SUMMER OR SEASON OR GOOD SHARE OF THE SEASON.

CIRCLE Z HAS RAIL CARS PARKED IN PATAGONIA.

DUDE RANCHING WAS FOR THE ELITE.

THE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE TIME AND THE MONEY AND THE THOUGHT PROCESS TO TAKE THIS GREAT ADVENTURE.

TED: AND THE DUDE RANCH, THE GOVERNING BODY THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS FOR THAT, HAD TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE THING WAS EXPLODING, WASN'T IT?

>> YES, IN THAT ERA IT WAS EXPLODING.

TED: YEAH, HOW DID THAT CHANGE THINGS?

>> I THINK IT CHANGED THE WEST, AND PEOPLE -- WE'RE SUCH A TINY LITTLE BUSINESS, BUT WE WERE THE FIRST DESTINATION VACATION IN THE WEST, AND HERE WE'RE COMING ALL THE FAMILIES WE KNOW THE NAMES OF, THE ROOSEVELTS, ROCKEFELLERS, VANDERBILTS, COMING OUT, SENDING KIDS, BRINGING THEIR FAMILIES, AND SOME OF THEM STUCK, AND THEY ENDED UP CHANGING THE WEST.

TED: ISN'T THAT INTERESTING.

IN ARIZONA, HOW MANY DUDE RANCHES DO WE HAVE NOW?

HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

>> YEAH, THERE WERE 338 IN ARIZONA THAT WERE IDENTIFIED.

WE'RE DOWN TO 14, 15.

TED: WOW, WHAT HAPPENED?

>> LOTS OF THINGS, BUT TUCSON HAD 127.

IT WAS THE DUDE RANCH CAPITAL IN THE WORLD.

TUCSON EXPLODED AND JUST RAN OVER THEM.

TED: YEAH.

>> PHOENIX DIDN'T HAVE MANY THAT MADE IT TO THE 80s.

SO A LOT OF IT WAS URBAN GROWTH, AND IT'S A TOUGH BUSINESS MODEL, AND SO -- AND NOW, WE HAVE THESE RISING REAL ESTATE VALUES IN THE URBAN -- I MEAN THE RURAL WEST.

AND SOME OF THEM JUST GET BOUGHT.

TED: THERE'S STILL A THREAT FOR DUDE RANCHES?

>> THAT'S MY VIEW, THE BIGGEST THREAT TODAY, IS THE VALUES.

>> AS FAR AS THE BOOK IS CONCERNED, 100 YEARS OF THE ASSOCIATION, IT CELEBRATES ALL THINGS DUDE RANCHING.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOLKS TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS BOOK?

A LOOK BACK, A WAY TO LOOK FORWARD?

WHAT DO YOU GOT HERE?

>> I'M A HISTORY GUY.

MY BUSINESS PARTNER DID A COUPLE DUDE RANCHING BOOKS, HE SAID DUDE RANCHING IS BETTER THAN MOST BOOKS, WE NEED A BETTER BOOK.

THIS WAS HIS VISION.

TO TAKE THE PHOTOS THAT WERE OPERATING IN 1926 OR BEFORE TO TODAY, AND THERE'S 26 OF THEM.

JAY RECRUITED SCOTT BAXTER, NOTED ARIZONA PHOTOGRAPHER, WHO PUT TOGETHER THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHY TO SORT OF COMPARE WITH THE OLD.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, AND I NOTICE OUR BEND BOB BUILT THE FOREWORD THERE.

>> A GREAT GUY.

TED: THE PHOTOS ARE FANTASTIC.

LYNN DOWNEY WROTE THE HISTORY, CORRECT?

>> SCOTT BAXTER, THE 100 YEARS, 100 RANCHES PHOTOGRAPHER DID ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHY, TRAVELED TO THE RANCHES AND LYNN DOWNEY IS THE FOREMOST EXPERT ON DUDE RANCH HISTORY AND WROTE THE COPY FOR THE BOOK.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, DO YOU THINK IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THAT HISTORY BECAUSE FOLKS BACK IN THE DAY THEY WERE LOSING SOME OF THOSE FOLKS.

THAT FIRST PERSON KNOWLEDGE OF THE WAY DUDE RANCHING WAS IN THE PAST?

>> YEAH, IT'S SCARY, WE LOST ONE TODAY, AND I'M STARTING TO BE AN OLDTIMER AND I DON'T RELISH THE NAME, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE US WHO WERE GREAT RANCHERS, YEAH, IT'S THE EVOLUTION.

TED: WE DO A LOT OF PUBLIC POLICY ON THIS PROGRAM.

IF YOU WERE TO WANT SOMETHING AS FAR AS PUBLIC POLICY IS CONCERNED, TO KEEP DUDE RANCHING ALIVE, TO PROMOTE DUDE RANCHING AND HAVE IT EXPAND, MAYBE NOT THE WAY IT ONCE WAS BUT MORE THAN IT IS NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE?

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT DONE?

>> I THINK PROPERTY TAXES CAN BE AN ISSUE FOR DUDE RANCHERS, THEY DON'T GET THE AG STATUS THE SAME.

THERE'S BEEN SOME EFFORTS, BUT IT'S NOT QUITE THERE, AND THE STATE TOURISM, AOT, THEY KNOW ABOUT IT AND WORK REAL HARD.

IF THE STATE SUPPORTED AOT MORE, THEY WOULD HELP US MORE.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, WELL CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK AND CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT RANCHING CAREER.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: GOOD TO HAVE YOU UP HERE.

RUSSELL TRUE, THE DUDE RANCH FOUNDATION CHAIR, AND THE BOOK IS BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S A COFFEE TABLE BOOK AND A HALF, I TELL YOU, REALLY SOMETHING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: PILIPILI, A THREE-YEAR-OLD AFRICAN LION, THE NEWEST RESIDENT AT THE PHOENIX ZOO, THE 500-POUND LION BROUGHT FROM LINCOLN PARK ZOO AS PART OF A PROGRAM DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING A HEALTHY, SUSTAINING POPULATION OF AFRICAN LIONS.

HERE TO TELL US ABOUT PILIPILI IS JOAQUIN HIDALGO.

WHO IS HE?

>> THE STAR OF THE SHOW RIGHT NOW.

HE TOOK MY CREDIT.

HE'S AN AMAZING BOY, A THREE-YEAR-OLD AFRICAN LION CAME FROM CHICAGO, AND BROUGHT A LOT OF FANS WITH HIM, THESE FOLKS ARE OBSESSED WITH HIM.

I FELL IN LOVE.

TED: WHY IS HE SENT HERE?

>> HE WAS SENT HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL GIRLS LOOKING FOR A GIRLFRIEND.

TED: YES, YES.

>> LOOK AT THAT HANDSOME BOY.

WE WANT TO HAVE A HEALTHY POPULATION OF LION.

THEY ARE LISTED AS VULNERABLE, AND I WAS MENTIONING EARLIER, THEY LOST 90% OF NATURAL HABITAT IN THE WILD, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THEM HAPPY AND HEALTHY AND KEEP THE NUMBERS UP.

HE'S PART OF THE SPECIES SURVIVAL PROGRAM, AND THE WAY I SIMPLIFY IT, IT IS A DATING PROGRAM FOR ANIMALS, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PROFESSIONALS THAT LOOK AT ANIMAL'S GENETICS AND MATCH THEM.

WE THINK PILIPILI IS A GREAT MATCH FOR KAMARA.

TED: IS THAT THE ONE WHO CAME OVER RECENTLY?

>> THAT IS ZILLI, HER SISTER.

KAMARA IS THIS TIME AROUND, WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT YOU.

>> HAD ONE, MAYBE TWO LIONS TRANSFER TO MIAMI?

>> TWO BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BOYS, THE FIRST LIONS BORN HERE IN OVER 30 YEARS, THEY WENT TO ZOO MIAMI FOR SIMILAR THINGS.

OUR BOYS HAVE TO GROW UP AND LEAVE THE PRIDE AND THEY WILL HOPEFULLY LEAVE THEIR PRIDE WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.

TED: PILIPILI IS A HAPPY BOY, DIDN'T LOOK LIKE HE HAS TOO MANY PROBLEMS HERE.

BONDING HIM TO HIS ENVIRONMENT, BONDING HIM TO HIS HANDLERS.

HOW MUCH OF A CHALLENGE IS THAT?

>> DEPENDS ON THE ANIMAL.

HE IMMEDIATELY LOVED EVERYBODY.

FELT SO SAFE FROM THE MOMENT HE CAME IN FROM HIS CRATE.

HE WAS DOING EVERYTHING PERFECTLY.

HIS TRAINING BEHAVIOR STAYED WITH HIM PERFECTLY, PUT HIS PAWS UP TO SEE HIS PAWS, OPEN HIS MOUTH TO SEE HIS MOUTH.

HE'S SUCH A GOOD BOY.

GETTING HIM TO BOND WITH THE GIRLS IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.

INTRODUCING HIM TO OUR GIRLS, THAT'S CHALLENGING.

TED: I SEE HIM CLIMBING ON THE ROCKS, IS THAT EXERCISE?

WHAT YOU DO AS FAR AS GETTING THESE GUYS TO WORK OUT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LIONS ARE KNOWN AS LAZY ANIMALS BECAUSE THEY SLEEP OVER 20 HOURS A DAY.

THEY CAN MOVE WHEN THEY WANT TO, THEY HAVE A LOT OF ROCKS TO CLIMB UP AND DOWN, AND WANT TO GET TO THE HIGHEST SPOT TO SEE EVERYTHING AND FIND THE BEST SPOT TO TAKE A NAP.

TED: TALK ABOUT LIONS AND -- THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIONS AND TIGERS, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?

>> BEHAVIORWISE, IT'S NIGHT AND DAY.

LIONS LIVE IN BIG PRIDES AND TIGERS ARE STRICTLY SOLITARY.

THEY NEVER COME TOGETHER WHEN IT'S MATING TIME.

IT'S NOTHING ROMANTIC.

THEY AREN'T HANGING OUT.

AT THE ZOO, THE LIONS ARE SOCIAL, CURIOUS, SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

OUR TIGERS ARE STAND OFFISH, OUR GIRL JOANNE IS THE CUTEST.

SHE LOVES PLAYING WITH HER BOXES.

SHE LOOKS AT ME AND GIVES ME THE DEATH STARE, AND AS A HUMAN BEING, I UNDERSTAND, YOU'RE A TIGER, YOU STAY THERE.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE IN THE WILD, IT SOUNDS LIKE TIGERS ARE PROBABLY MORE DANGEROUS THAN LIONS, WOULDN'T YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, THEY ARE DEFINITELY FAR STEALTHIER AND THEY -- BOTH CATS GO THROUGH HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICTS BECAUSE THEY OVERLAP WITH PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T THINK I'D WANT TO FACE EITHER ONE IN THE WILD.

TED: NO, NO, LIONS MORE DOG-LIKE.

>> I GO THEY FEEL MORE LIKE CATS ON DOG HARDWARE, BUT THEY ARE FAR MORE SOCIAL, THEY PLAY WITH EACH OTHER AND THEIR FAMILY.

THEY'RE MORE EXPRESSIVE, IN MY OPINION, BUT TIGERS, DEFINITELY MORE STANDOFFISH.

TED: AGAIN, AS FAR AS ACCLIMATED TO THE SURROUNDINGS, THIS IS A DIFFERENCE -- CHICAGO TO PHOENIX, THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE.

THEY FIT RIGHT IN, HUH?

>> YEAH, OBVIOUSLY THE WEATHER IN PHOENIX IS GOING TO BE MORE AKIN TO AFRICA FOR HIM AS WELL ANYWAY, BUT OVER IN CHICAGO, HE HAD A GREAT TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.

I DON'T THINK HE MISSES THE SNOW, PROBABLY.

THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW OVER THERE IS NOT A LOT OF FUN, BUT HERE IN ARIZONA, HE HASN'T EXPERIENCED HIS FIRST SUMMER YET, ONCE WE HIT THE SUMMERS HERE, WE'LL HAVE AIR-CONDITIONING, MISTERS.

TED: PILIPILI IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU WILL SEE THE HANDSOME LION OUT THERE.

SPENDING TIME WITH THE GIRLS, GETTING TO KNOW THEM.

YOU MIGHT SEE HIM, MIGHT SEE THE GIRLS, HOPEFULLY SEE ALL THREE TOGETHER.

TED: SOUNDS GREAT.

JOAQUIN HIDALGO, CONGRATULATIONS ON PILIPILI, CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT BIG GUY.

>> ASK HIM TO SMILE.

YOU WILL GET A GOOD ROAR ON THE ROCK.

TED: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.