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Trey King

@gastontking

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Conservationist. Author.
Coatimundi Enthusiast
#TheConnectionForgingSteel

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Grateful for moments like this with my coatimundi friend, Maya. It’s taken years to build this trust that allows her to feel safe, calm, and still in control. When she chooses to relax and stay close, even for just 30–45 minutes, it means everything. Love you My ❤️

@staugustinewildreserve
@world_coati_day

#animalsofinstagram #coati
#animalcare #conservation #TheConnectionForgingSteel taken in St Augustine Wild Reserve by @gastontking

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2 years ago

🔥 Some legends are forged. Others must be tempered. 🔥

The Connection Tempering Steel is here, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this adventure with you. If you’re looking for action, heart, unforgettable animal companions, and a story about overcoming the odds, this book is for you.

A huge thank you to @benji_photoworks for an incredible session filled with professionalism, creativity, kindness, and fun! You captured this milestone perfectly.

The Connection Tempering Steel is available now! taken in Washington Oaks Gardens State Park by @gastontking

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4 months ago

Please join us in wishing Maya, our beloved brown-nosed ring-tailed coatimundi, a very happy 7th birthday! 🎉💛

Maya arrived at the St. Augustine Wild Reserve in 2019 after being rescued from breeder overstock. Over the years, she has become a favorite among guests, volunteers, and animal caretakers alike, forming meaningful bonds with the people who help care for her each day.

We are incredibly grateful to the many guests and volunteers who helped make her birthday celebration so special. Maya continues to inspire curiosity, conservation, and a deeper appreciation for wildlife through everyday.

Help us celebrate Maya and coatimundis everywhere! Visit her at the St. Augustine Wild Reserve to learn more about this remarkable species and the stories that make animals like Maya so unforgettable. taken in St Augustine Wild Reserve by @gastontking

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4 months ago

Maya may never know it, but the smallest moments with her can turn my worst weeks into the most memorable ones. 💛

We all have bad days. What matters is that we keep going and remember we don’t have to face them alone.

If someone you love is struggling, reach out. Listen. Be there. Sometimes a little love can mean more than we realize.

For Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, remember to hold on. 💛

Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

#SuicidePreventionAwareness #988Lifeline #YouAreNotAlone by @gastontking

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a month ago

Haven’t even been back a week, and we’re already talking about when we can return! 🇯🇵

Our time in Japan was truly unforgettable. From the incredible architecture, food, energy of the cities, and the beauty found around every corner, this trip was everything I hoped it would be and more.

A huge thank you to @maria_carolyn_ for leading us through such a vast, busy, and amazing country. Exploring Shinjuku, Hakone, Kamakura, Enoshima, Osaka, Kyoto, and Ueno together gave us memories I’ll carry for the rest of my life.

What I’ll miss most are the shrines, the temples, the food, and the kindness shown from the people we met along the way. That and the Khoi fish! Thank you, Japan, for making us feel so welcome. 🙏🏻🙌🏻 taken in JAPAN by @gastontking

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3 months ago

33 🎂🎉

Another year older, but even more grateful for the life I’ve lived, the people I’ve loved, and the memories made along the way.

Here’s to the family, friends, adventures, animals, and little moments that have shaped my story so far. ❤️

33 years down, and so many pages still left to write! taken in St Augustine Wild Reserve by @gastontking

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2 months ago

From the world’s largest fish to playful marine mammals and incredible underwater wildlife from across the globe, the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is nothing short of breathtaking.

But you already knew exactly where I’d end up!

Coatimundis may not live beneath the waves, but these intelligent, endlessly curious members of the procyonidae family are native to Central and South America. With flexible snouts, powerful climbing abilities, and personalities that can win over just about anyone, they’re one of my favorite ambassador species for inspiring wildlife conservation. taken in 海遊館　OSAKA AQUARIUM KAIYUKAN (JAPAN) by @gastontking

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3 months ago

I hope this isn’t too on the nose 😂

Today I visited the amazing Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto with a copy of The Connection Tempering Steel. Walking beneath the vibrant torii gates, I learned that tens of thousands of businesses across Japan all sponsor the shrine! And with their donations helping fund and preserve these iconic vermilion gates, the donors hope to receive business prosperity and financial success from the deity Inari. The revered patron of merchants, rice, and agriculture.

I picked up a white kitsune or Shinto fox plush for Maya. In Japanese tradition, foxes are revered as the messengers of Inari and symbolize wisdom, protection, and good fortune. It felt like the perfect souvenir for an animal that has inspired so much of my own journey.

Kyoto was such a beautiful city and I cannot wait to return. This experience, these unforgettable travels have all been life changing, and I cannot wait to see what happens next! ⛩️🇯🇵 taken in Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto, Japan by @gastontking

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3 months ago

Valentine’s Day was a beautiful day for sunflowers 🌻 Maya received a dozen to sniff and enjoy! Alongside her coati kissing booth, she had a beautiful day of love and adventure 💛 taken in St Augustine Wild Reserve by @gastontking

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8 months ago

Expect the unexpected! 🔥📚

A huge thank you to @davey_hartzel and @Melanie Hardin for having me on @sunnytvnetwork to discuss the release of my new sequel, The Connection Tempering Steel. It was a pleasure sharing the journey behind the series, the inspiration drawn from my experiences working with animals, and the next chapter in Justin and Coco’s adventure.

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if the bond between humans and animals became something more than instinct… This story is for you.

The Connection Tempering Steel is available now on Amazon!

Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey, shared a post, purchased a copy, or left a review. Your support means the world to me. 🙏🏻🙌🏻

#theconnectiontemperingsteel #AuthorLife #Bookstagram #bookcommunity taken in Limelight Theatre by @gastontking

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4 months ago

My ARC readers are beginning to share their thoughts on The Connection Tempering Steel and I’m incredibly grateful.

Dominic “Nic” Lasenna, a supporter of the series, wildlife, and conservation, has become the first ARC reader to finish both Forging Steel and Tempering Steel.

My editors and I truly pushed this sequel to new heights, and in less than two weeks, the story will finally be yours to experience. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and see your feedback!

#theconnectiontemperingsteel taken in Saint Augustine, Florida by @gastontking

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4 months ago

The Connection Tempering Steel is more than just a story. It’s a journey of courage, sacrifice, friendship, and the extraordinary bond between humans and animals!🔥

Step into the country of Ignacia and discover what lies in the depths of Justin Steele’s heart. He and his coatimundi partner, Coco, will team up with powerful allies, face dangerous enemies, and meet remarkable animals along the way.

This incredible Kingdom Hearts-inspired piece beautifully captures the spirit of the sequel and many of the animals that help shape Justin and Coco’s adventure.

A huge thank you to @konawhatnow for bringing this vision to life. Your attention to detail, stunning use of color, and creative interpretation of the story is amazing. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. 🙏🏻🙌🏻

The Connection Tempering Steel is available now and 50% off on Amazon! What animal are you most excited to meet? 🔥 taken in Justin’s Heart by @gastontking

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4 months ago