Our Story

It was 2010. Wes was in Ethiopia as part of a global project to build dome houses. One morning, Wes left his house prepared to go about the day’s work including plotting the boundaries of a nearby field.

As he went about the task, he suddenly felt an explosive pain in his skull. A young orphaned villager wielding an axe attacked Wes as he worked. Two Ethiopian workers who had followed Wes to the field that day saw the incident occur and retrieved him, getting him safely back to his community where his wife and neighbors rallied to save his life.

The closest hospital was too far of a drive. But plane transportation was at least a two hour wait. They had no choice. Arranging air transportation, the group did what they could to staunch the bleeding in the meantime—though they were all prepared for the worst when Wes’s blood pressure dropped dangerously low.

Finally, their plane arrived. But it would take them several hours to get to their destination—a hospital equipped to handle the level of injury Wes had sustained. Somehow, in spite of everything, Wes survived.

As he recovered, Wes was engaged by an aquarium in his room which he says brought him comfort. Learning about different species of fish and creating coral reefs occupied both his time and his mind during the long weeks of rehabilitation.

Today Wes strives to pass his appreciation for aquatic life on to others. With an aim to inspire as well as educate, Wes hopes that Blue Zoo will not only provide access to sea life but also teach future generations about the importance of marine conservation.