By LORNA CHEROT LITTLEWAY
THE FRIENDS OF CHATHAM LIBRARY sponsored an educational program, “Wild World of Animals,” presented by Two By Two Animal Haven at Chatham Middle School, Wednesday, February 21. There was a morning session conducted at the library and a noon session held in the school’s auditorium. About 150 children and their adults attended the afternoon session.
Two By Two Haven is a family run 501(c)(3) based in Pleasant Valley. All animals at the haven are voluntarily surrendered. Nine reptilian and mammalian buddies joined Heather Iannucci, the speaker. The program focused on three points: conservation, kindness and the importance of research before selecting a wild animal as a pet.
I was immediately transported to childhood when I was sent away to summer camp where I could not resist bringing something “wild” home to my family’s big city apartment.
Snappy, a baby alligator, originally owned by a 16-year-old boy, was the first exhibit. Snappy’s owner kept it in a bathtub and outdoor pool. Iannucci told the audience that Snappy could live for 60 years and grows about 12 to 18 inches annually. She also told us that Snappy can shoot water as far as 10 feet and that alligators, generally, in a burst, can run up to 25 m.p.h. Ms. Iannucci held Snappy by its tail and explained why. “Because its power is in the tail.” When lengthened an alligator can jump up to 6 feet.
She also informed the audience about other ‘gator characteristics: they are fresh water residents, have a u-shaped snout, have 80 teeth and always appear to be smiling. They also have two sets of eyelids. The outer lids act as “sunglasses.”
According to Iannucci, a reason alligators do not make suitable pets is because they sleep during the day and are active at night – a bit of a drag for kids who sleep at night and play during the day. She added that when Snappy reaches 6 feet and 600 pounds it would be transferred to a facility in Florida.
The next participant was Cha Cha, a chinchilla, whose native area is the Andes Mountains of Chile. Chinchillas are all fur “from nose to tail.” They have large ears, possess a great sense of smell but cannot see well. They use their whiskers to find food. They are very fond of cleaning themselves every two weeks-volcanic ash preferred.
Like Snappy, Cha Cha is a jumper –up to 6 feet–and is nocturnally active. Cha Cha’s family realized that she required more space and they didn’t have time for her. Iannucci reminded the audience that pets need “love and attention. Say hello to your pet when you get up in the morning. Hug it.”
The third guest was a Saharan Cane Toad, Backpack. The species is dubbed the “garbage can of the rainforest.” Iannucci explained that the toads are “invasive, meaning they have no predators.” She added, “They have large bumps on their backs and the bumps contain toxins. Licking the toad makes you sick.”
Iannucci told a story about an Australian sugar cane farmer who was so impressed with the toads that he ordered 104 of them to control the bugs on his cane crop. After releasing the toads the farmer observed that the toads preferred eating the sugar in the cane and that the bugs simply moved up the plant to avoid the toads.
Iannucci added that cane toads have adapted to the cold and now have a foothold in Florida. She thoroughly cleaned her hands before handling the next exhibit.
Agatha, an Umbrella Cockatoo, drew many “oohs” from the audience. She possesses a 9-feathered crest and has lived all her 21 years in captivity with a 30-member troop. She feeds on seeds, plants and berries. Iannucci called Agatha a “conservationist that helps restore the rainforest” by dropping seeds. She noted, “It takes 10 minutes for a drop of rain to hit the [forest] floor.
Agatha is multi-talented. She dances. Iannucci had the cockatoo demonstrate the Agatha Bop. It entails stretching the body up and lowering it with much head weaving right and left. (My parakeet was nuts about Diana Ross and The Supremes. He’d perch in the middle of the curtain rod, slide its feet in one direction while looking the other way, return to the middle and slide its feet in the opposite direction. I credit that bird with creating the Electric Slide.)
Agatha, also, talks and has a vocabulary of 30 words. To prove it Iannucci asked the audience to say, “bye bye” on her count of three. “Hi there!” was Agatha’s response.
Why would someone surrender such a delightful bird? Cockatoos, which have a life span of 50-60 years, are in the habit of screaming as a warning to the troop when predators come out at night. Iannucci likened the scream to the sound of a “jet engine.” This screaming session can last up to two hours and is hard wired into cockatoo behavior.
Our next guest, from Africa, elicited more “oohs.” Andy is an 18-year-old Ball or Royal python. It is a small snake with a maximum length of 6 feet. Customarily these are worn as jewelry about the neck and arms. This species is a burrow dweller and no two snakes have the same pattern. They use their tongue to sniff out prey and have 100+ teeth to help with chewing and squeezing prey. They have to stretch out regularly.
Andy came to Two By Two because its owner left home for college and the student’s parents did not wish to care for it. Iannucci said that Andy could go back to its owner when the young man finished college.
Our next exhibit was also native to Africa – the Sahara desert. Sully, a 4-year-old Sulcatta tortoise drew “oohs” too no doubt due to its size –huge. Some children thought Sully was a snapping turtle. Sulcatta tortoises can live up to 150 years and grow as large as a tire.
Iannucci likened Sully’s shell to a solar panel. Their shells have 13 sections. Like Snappy and Cha Cha, Sully can shoot water up to 10 feet. Like the other reptiles Sully is nocturnal. He likes to walk several miles a day. Sully was surrendered after boring a trench into the family’s floor connecting the bathroom and kitchen.
It took the next participant’s owner only 24 hours to realize her mistake and 48 hours to surrender her $2,500 pet, a ring-tailed lemur named Maddie. The species, native to the rainforest in Madagascar, are matriarchal, very social and live in troops. (Iannucci said that Two By Two was called because it had an established troop of lemurs.)
Lemurs, too, can jump up to 6 feet; have an even number of 26 black and white tail stripes; have sharp teeth and run around marking their territory with their scent. According to the previous owner, Maddie’s signs of unhappiness included screaming, crying and not eating.
Maddie was the only animal that was displayed in a clear enclosure. Iannucci explained the situation was due to a dominance struggle. The troop’s leader died a few years ago and Maddie has been working her way up to fill the leadership void. Iannucci said that Maddie’s quest to be boss led to biting incidents. Chatham Middle School was Maddie’s final public appearance.
Iannucci identified the exhibit, an Australian Bearded Dragon, as a good prospective pet. The reptile can live from 7to 10 years. Iannucci said that Two By Two acquired Ming Ming when its owner’s neighbor reported it was left in a tree overnights. Ming Ming’s owner hoped it would “run away.” Then Iannucci reminded the audience, “It only takes one minute to be kind.”
The last exhibit elicited the most “oohs and ahs.” Bingo is a 7-month old kangaroo. When introduced Bingo was wrapped in a blanket and not visible. It was very reluctant to be removed from the blanket and ultimately the blanket was pulled down to reveal its head and shoulders.
Iannucci said that Bingo’s dad was 6 feet tall and 190 pounds while its mom was 4 feet, 80 pounds. Kangaroo life expectancy is 15 to 20 years. When born a kangaroo is the size of a jellybean and red in color. While nursing the baby “roo” remains in the pouch where the temperature is 98 degrees.
As soon as it starts eating grass the baby is booted out of the pouch and for the first year lives “in and out” of the pouch.
Iannucci and two handlers demonstrated Bingo’s affinity for its “pouch.” Standing at opposite ends of the stage a handler wrested Bingo out of the blanket, revealing its enormous feet and tail. The blanket was tossed to the other handler and placed on the floor for Bingo to see. Within three strides Bingo hopped back into the blanket.
Two By Two is licensed by both NYSDEC (the state Department of Conservation) and USDA (federal Department of Agriculture.) All of its programming is mobile and programs are “no contact.”
Its website is www.twobytwoanimalhaven.com
