Reptiles at Rotiwennakéhte
Reptizoo staff member Coralie St. Aubin teaches the students about the Burmese python. Fern Marmont The Pines Reporter
The reptiles finally made their way to the Rotiwennakéhte Elementary School last Friday after the event had to be postponed during the Winter Carnival due to illness.
The event was facilitated by Reptizoo, Montreal’s first mobile zoo, and included reptiles such as a gargoyle gecko, Burmese python, blue tongue skink, pancake tortoise, and a Chinese water dragon.
For many students, the highlight of the visit was the chance to hold or touch the reptiles.
“I enjoyed it because I like snakes, my favourite animal,” said 10-year-old Meagan Daoust.
Daoust shared that she was very happy to hold and touch the snakes, describing them as slimy and smooth. For her, the most fearful reptile at the event was the turtle, as it had hard scratchy bumps.
Amber Simon, the student life animator at the elementary school, got the idea after another school in the area hosted the mobile zoo.
“The students love animals, any kind of animals, insects, reptiles,” said Simon, who added that the elementary school also hosts pet therapy about once a month, and students are always asking when the animals are coming back.
Simon said that the reptile visit was meant to be both fun and educational.
“They were super excited and really intrigued by the details they learned about the different species,” said Simon. “Each student got a turn to either touch or hold the reptiles, which made the experience very special.”
While most students eagerly handled the reptiles, Simon admitted she preferred to keep a little distance.
“I didn’t hold any of them, I was too chicken,” said Simon with a laugh. “It was still really interesting, learning about everything.”
According to Coralie St. Aubin, the Reptizoo staff member who led the presentation, the organization aims to teach children not only about reptiles, but also about respecting animals and overcoming their fears.
“Sometimes when kids are growing up, they get told that this type of animal is scary,” said St. Aubin. “We want kids to understand that animals like reptiles or spiders aren’t necessarily scary,” said St. Aubin.
“There’s a lot of misinformation about animals, and we want to show that they’re important living creatures that deserve respect.”
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Throughout the presentation, while a little rowdy and excited at times, students asked questions and listened carefully as they learned more about the reptiles slithering in front of them.
When asked what the reptiles might have thought of them, Daoust responded, “Hmm, I would say they loved us. Yeah, they did.”
Fern Marmont, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
