Bill Bailey may have to be appointed Canberra's next tourism ambassador.
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The comedian and animal lover has shared a one-minute video extolling the virtues of one of the national capital's premier attractions - with the video garnering more than 1 million views and counting.
During his stay in Canberra for his recent gig at the Royal Theatre, Bailey was put up at the Jamala Wildlife Lodge at Canberra's National Zoo and Aquarium, which, famously, allows its guests to share their accommodation with some of the world's most dangerous and endangered animals. Which are behind glass, of course.
Bailey posted on Facebook a video showing viewers around his room - there's the bed, there's the bathroom, there's the tea and coffee and, oh, there's the "massive bear just outside this glass".
He explained that the bear, Darkle, was an ex-circus animal and happily tucking into some watermelon and celery.
The video was posted last Thursday and by Wednesday already had 1.04 million views and counting.
Sally Bradley from the Jamala Wildlife Lodge said she understood even Bailey was taken aback by the response to the video and his delight at sharing close quarters with such a wild animal.
"He was a real gentleman, very gracious," she said.
"He's a real bird lover and he did an encounter with Ruby, one of our barking owls. And with a Crimson Rosella.
"It's very exciting his video has had the response it's had. It's certainly surprised him as well." The owl encounter was fitting given Bailey has a wonderful story about saving an owl from a restaurant in China.
