THUNDER BAY -- Though they are often presented as fierce and deadly, unfamiliar animals don’t have to be scary.
That’s a message the organizers of the Wildlife Festival are working to drive home as they bring their showcase of exotic animals to the city this weekend.
The event, which is a collaboration with Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo and the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, is being held in the CLE Coliseum building, allowing members of the public to get up close and meet snakes, reptiles, eagles and falcons among others.
Shane McConnell, the director of marketing and sponsorship, said the goal is to show people that these animals should be respected and appreciated, not feared.
“They’re being really sensationalized. When we see kids for the first time a lot of their issues are that they’re really scared of these animals,” McConnell said.
“We’re trying to shine a light on these animals and show people they’re not the scary animals you see in movies and television shows but they’re just like any other animal, like dogs and cats at home. Some are dangerous but they’re not mean.”
Cole Barrette, 12, has a new found appreciation for one of the most feared spiders after holding a tarantula in his hand.
“I had never held a spider before in my life,” he said. “It just looked really cool and I saw other people holding it and it looked like nothing so I tried it.”
Seeing the animals in a relaxed light, with trainers teaching them about their different features, is helpful.
“Everybody thinks reptiles and alligators are scary but when I see them over there they’re not that scary,” he added
The most popular attraction inside the exhibition was Chloe, an eight month old bobcat. Other popular animals were pythons, caimans and bald eagles.
The theme of this show is Wild Americas, which displays animals that primarily originate from North, South and Central America.
McConnell expects attendance to be between 5,000 to 10,000 people over the course of the weekend.
The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
