Live wildlife a hit with youth, adults alike
Robbinsville – Children of all ages – along with parents and grandparents – visited the Graham County Library on June 5, to participate in a hands-on presentation of Wild Animals from around the world.
With visitors from the Wildlife Wonders Zoo in Cleveland, Tenn., and handler Tom Bennett, the library hosted 174 kids and adults with four shows. The program is one of several activities presented by the Nantahala Regional Library to kick off a busy summer for those who frequent the library – as well as those who don’t normally visit.
Nantahala Regional Library Youth Librarian Bridget Wilson and teen helper Gracey Sneed were on-hand to greet visitors and seat the “reservation only” crowd of participants to each program. This is the third year that the Wildlife Wonders has traveled to the libraries of the Nantahala Regional area.
“It is of great interest to the communities and a great opportunity to introduce newcomers to the library to see what is available and hand out a summer schedule in hopes of making life-long library users,” Wilson shared.
A zookeeper, animal handler and co-owner of Wildlife Wonders, the North Georgia Zoo and the Paradise Valley Farms, Bennett and his wife Hope have created a home for animals where authentic connections between the people and animals are encouraged and initiated.
Bennett brought a chinchilla named Diana, who originates from the Andes Mountains of South America; an armadillo named Arlo, originating in Brazil; a marine toad named Trevor, from South America; a blue tongue skink lizard named Bob, originating from Australia; a six-foot-long Madagascar ground boa named Fluffy; and a 33-year-old, white-fronted capuchin monkey named Priscilla, from South America.
As Bennett introduced each animal, he gave a short biography and specific details about each creature before allowing the children and adults to touch the animal if they wanted. Children and adults alike expressed amazement as the animals were carried around the library and gently petted by those who were brave enough. Others sat, watched and enjoyed the animals as they were presented.
Graham County Librarian Courtney Anderson was pleased with the great turnout.
"Events like ‘Animals Around the World’ offers our small community the opportunity to engage with zoo animals that many of our children would never have the opportunity to see," Anderson shared. "We are excited about our simmer fun with Ms. Bridget’s Color Our World Summer Series and all the events happening with that, but we are also excited about our in-house programs ranging from computer classes, basket weaving, guitars, sewing and more. All classes are free and for various ages.”
Anderson would like to do a poll to gauge interests in other classes to offer in the future.
She would also need to know what teachers would be interested in teaching the classes.
If you are interested in teaching a class, or if you have an idea of a class you would like to take, please contact the library at 828-479-8796.
The North Georgia Zoo is in Cleveland, Ga., and is open to the public on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; and Wednesdays-Sundays, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For more details, visit northgeorgiazoo.com.