Getting a close up look at exotic animals creates a greater appreciation for their uniqueness.
That’s the theory behind the Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo, which was in Thunder Bay this weekend at the CLE Coliseum building for their Dinosaurs Past and Present exhibit.
In addition to the reptiles, patrons at the event were able to greet a majestic bald eagle and great horned owl.
James Cowan said interacting with animals is the best way to understand them.
“There’s nothing like it to see a live eagle in front of your eyes,” said Cowan, director of the Canadian Raptor Conservancy who partnered with Little Ray’s for the demonstrations.
“To see the sparkle in its eyes and to see the expression on its face, you can’t go wrong. We’re a product of the environment so everything we do as humans have some effect on the planet so to teach kids that is our number one goal of doing shows like this.”
The exhibition attracted a large number of families with young children, but also caught the attention of at least one future biologist.
The 19-year-old Salamon is studying biology at Lakehead University and brought some friends out to see the animals.
She said has always had a fondness for owls, and had only been able to work with taxidermy subjects during her studying. Standing right beside a great horned owl gave her a new perspective.
She said it’s a great opportunity for children to learn about unusual animals in a fun way.
“I think it’s amazing, especially because reptiles are so misunderstood,” she said. “They can see them and interact with them and it just proves against some of the common misconceptions.”
Cowan said that while most people don’t realize it, birds of prey such as eagles and owls have prehistoric roots.
“We link the dinosaurs of the past with present day alligators and birds. Essentially, birds are considered to be living dinosaurs,” he said.
In addition to the living animals, fossils and dinosaur skeletons were prominently displayed throughout the hall.
Staff performed demonstrations with the birds of prey, and had shows with an assortment of different animals.
Youngsters were able to interact with a scorpion, iguana, giant snake and an American alligator.
The exhibition showcased five different species of alligators and caimans from various parts of the world.
The most popular animal among the youngsters was the giant snake, which the handlers say is capable of growing to the length of a school bus.
The Ottawa-based zoo routinely travels through the province with different exhibits, and has made repeated stops in the city over the years. Organizers estimate that nearly 4,000 people turned out over the course of the weekend.
