PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — For the first time, the Boston-based Animal Adventures Family Zoo and Rescue Center brought an array of exotic animals for a visit to Presque Isle on Thursday, April 18.
Chris Geary, business manager for the Boston-based Animal Adventures, showcased a large boa during a visit to UMPI’s Gentile Hall on April 18. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star-Herald)
Over 50 people gathered in the gym at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Gentile Hall as Animal Adventures founder Ed Laquidara and business manager Chris Geary each showcased, one by one, animals that included a large boa, an alligator, porcupine, reptiles, frogs and a tortoise.
Many community members embraced the opportunity to hold the smaller animals and pet the larger creatures. Nine-year-old Isaiah Dalton of Presque Isle was all smiles as he let a small Italian leatherback bearded dragon from Australia rest on his shoulder.
“It felt a little funny with his claws on me. They were a little rough,” Dalton said.
Isaiah came to the exotic animals show with his parents, Dennis and Tricia Dalton, who said they wanted to expose their son to animals that don’t tend to hang out in northern Maine.
“I grew up in Memphis and I saw these types of animals at the zoo, which is something you have to travel to York County to see in Maine,” Dennis Dalton said. “We wanted Isaiah to have that same type of chance.”
Violet Washburn, UMPI coordinator of student engagement and international student services, said her office decided to bring Animal Adventures to campus as part of student suggestions for events. She hopes that the exotic animals show will become an annual activity at the university.
“It’s something unique for us to bring since there isn’t a local zoo in the area,” Washburn said.
Animal Adventures is New England’s largest privately owned animal rescue center that takes in exotic pets, mammals, amphibians and reptiles that are unwanted or unable to be cared for by their previous owner. While some come to the center injured and are rehabilitated for release into the wild ,others stay at the center indefinitely and become part of the visiting zoo or traveling programs. For more information, visit https://www.animaladventures.net/.
