Exotic zoo comes to the Cass District Library
Published 9:28 am Thursday, August 10, 2017
The Cass District Library central library in Cassopolis was transformed into to a wild zoo Tuesday with lemurs, pigs, lizards and many other exotic animals roaming the premises.
As part of the library’s Summer Library Club, Market Coordinator April Hughes invited presenter Javon Stacks and his traveling Exotic Zoo to show local children different exotic animals and teach them about them.
The show hit the main and Mason/Union branches Tuesday, and will then hit the Edwardsburg and Howard branches Thursday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
Based in Farmington Hills, but always traveling around, Stacks said his Exotic Zoo is fun for the whole family.
“I really think people enjoy this,” he said.
Stacks has been a wildlife educator since 2009. Since then, he has done many children’s shows like the ones he is putting on for the Cass District Library.
Presentations like the ones Stacks puts on are important for children to learn more about the environment and the animal world, he said.
“[The presentations] teach kids how to respect wildlife and how to take care of them,” Stacks said. “It also keeps them from being afraid of the animals when they grow up, so they can learn about conservation and pollution. Kids need to learn to take care of animals’ environment and not pollute it.”
Hughes said the library decided to host the Exotic Zoo based on the popularity of past animal related presentations and the fact that they have never before hosted an animal exhibit featuring exoctic animals.
“We always to try to look around and try something that we haven’t before,” Hughes said.
Hughes said that each show will feature a different set of animals, as the most of the animals will need a “rest period,” so that they are not overworked.
“There’s definitely a surprise element,” Hughes said. “We can’t guarantee what animals you will see, but we can guarantee that you will see something big.”
Hughes believes that the animal presentations, along with the other programs put on as part of the Summer Library Club are beneficial to local children because they are able to get out the house and experience something new at the same time.
“[The Exotic Zoo] is something that is not only entertaining, but it has an educational aspect as well,” she said. “Some of the animals may be things the kids might not be able to see in zoos that are around us. It’s just a fun family program.”
