Lapeer boy wants to emulate his hero, Steve Irwin, and visit Australia Zoo

Rorey Dulin, 7, of Lapeer Township, holding his red-eye tree frog, has entered a contest with hopes of winning a trip to Australia Zoo to meet Terry and Bindy Irwin. The late Steve Irwin is Rorey's hero. | Watch Rorey's video.
LAPEER TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Rorey Dulin, 7, is in training to be the next Steve Irwin. Already, he owns one ball python, two corn snakes, three leopard geckos, a bearded dragon, a cane toad and a red-eye tree frog.

But his dream is to visit the Australia Zoo, co-owned by the late wildlife expert's family.

"He has been a big fan of Steve Irwin for quite a few years now," said Andrea Dulin, 34, Rorey's mom. "He spends most of his time playing with his (pets) or out in the summer just looking for animals."

Rorey and his mom submitted a video to the Australian Zoo's Web site to win a trip to the zoo and are asking people to vote for Rorey to win. View Rorey's video.

Although his red-eye tree frog is his favorite animal, Rorey said, he likes all animals thanks to Steve Irwin, who is his hero.

"I've liked animals (since) I was two," Rorey said. "(Irwin) got me excited about them."

What he would most like to see at the zoo? The 11-foot freshwater white crocodile named Casper, Rorey said.

Rorey's interest has gotten his entire family enthused about reptiles, said his mother.

So far, Rorey's video has received 200 votes and the winner will be announced July 4.