Docent Training Update

Today I completed my 5th training session at the Zoo.  At the end of the session today we went to the Giraffe Exhibit and got to go behind the scenes.  I didn't get to pet the giraffe's today like the elephants last week.  However, we did go into the enclosure beside the one that 3 giraffe's were in.  the Momma Giraffe was in with her two babies.  One baby was almost 2 years old and the other 3 months old.  We were told that this would probably be her last baby, as she was getting on in years.  The Mother Giraffe, named Mariah, was 24 years old and has reached the end of her child bearing years.  It's very interesting to stand there and listen the the Keeper talk about the animals, facts about the type of animal in general, and the little quirks each one may exhibit.  How some throw fits just like a spoiled kid, some very easy going, some get upset easy.  I guess each animal has a different personality just like people.

At the end of class, we handled our '3' animals.  Today we handled:

A Zebra Mouse.  This was not taken out of it's little cage.  It is shown only in the cage when taken out on a show and tell trip.

A White's Tree Frog.  This amphibian, when handled, must be kept wet and can't be touched by the people to whom you are showing.  We had to take him out of the container, hold him as if showing him, and then put him back and close up the container.  Before handling him we had to wet our hands and keep him moist at all times.

Then we handled an Argentine Horned Frog.  The same thing applied to him as the tree frog.  This guy was about 3 times as big as the tree frog.  I guess to to describe how big, this guy as about the size of the Bullfrogs you see in these frog jumping contests.  He was pretty good size.  Pretty much covered your whole hand.

Also, after class was over today I hung around and completed one of my requirements.  We have to attend 3 interpretations. That is, go to one of the animal exhibits and help another Docent talk to the people about the animals in that exhibit.  Today, we went to  Glacier Run and talked to people about the Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears there.  We had a piece of Fur and a Claw from a Polar Bear to let the people, mostly kids, touch and feel, and tell them about the bears in the exhibit and answer questions.  That was also fun and interesting.