Yesterday we went to the nearest public library for a free “show” entitled, “Zoo 2 U”. A man, obviously passionate about animals, had brought about a dozen of them to the library for kids to see and touch.
Once again, we were late for this event and when we arrived, the iguana was being showcased to the children.
The man (I didn’t catch his name) would say interesting facts about the animal and then go around letting the children pet it or even put it on their head. Paula would have nothing of having a reptile on her head, but she did pet a gecko.
Anton found it only momentarily amusing and childish and went off with an equally sophisticated peer to play chess .
Once in a while, Anton would rejoin the group upon hearing the oohs and aahs of the older children. He got to pat - among others - a boa constrictor, a tortoise, a toad, a rabbit, a chinchilla, a kinkaju, and a tarantula. For her part, Isay had gotten her fill of draping a large snake around her neck, from our trips to zoos in the Philippines.
It was a very interesting presentation. I finally learned the difference between a frog and a toad and between a turtle and a tortoise. I also learned how to tell if an animal can swim or is nocturnal (hint: based on this feature, Paula and I should be nocturnal). I also touched the chinchilla, because it is one of the softest animals on earth.
We were also very pleased to learn that this library would not be closed, as previously planned, in August. Apparently its clients raised an uproar upon hearing the news. Town hall meetings were held and now it appears that the plan has been put on hold. For now. Good for us.
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