InterpNEWS
21
Farm Magic: 5 – Animal Affection Rod Burns, B.Ed. CPHI Quadra Island, British Columbia Canada bpc@connected.bc.ca
Anyone who has had a dog or cat in their lives is able to recount the special tricks these family members use, in order to receive just a few more gentle strokes, scratches under the chin and belly rubs. The family dog or cat learns when they can curl up in a lap, climb onto the sofa or to take up ½ the bed. Parrots, have a very keen sense about humans: some humans will be screeched at, while others receive softer chirp vocalizations. Some people have Tarantula Spiders quietly walk along their arm. Others have Constrictor Snakes, which calmly slither to their human wrapping around warm shoulders. Increasing, are the numbers of people who have had life changing experiences swimming with dolphins. Millions of ecotourists travel to distant waters in search of a five (5) minute experience out of a six (6) hour tour! The oohs and ahhs could expressed watching a Black Bear eating crab along a tidal shoreline. Others might have inhaled the breath of a dolphin racing along side of their watercraft. Heritage Interpreters make possible, exceptional, tactile experiences for guests, as these feelings produce memories, which last a lifetime, far greater than endless yakking! How many of these tactile experiences are based on a shared, sentient understanding of affection? The following are some of my personal affection and tactile interactions with wild and farm animals. I am sure many of you will be able to add your own examples. In the mid-1980’s, I had the dream Naturalist-Heritage Interpreters position, being the Education Supervisor at a provincial government wildlife centre. For 3 wonderful years, every day, coming to or leaving the office, I passed the off-public animal enclosures. I made it a point, that whenever I made eye contact one of the inmates, I would say hello, good morning, good night. All manner of light chatty vocalizations became part of my greetings routine. A few days into the job, passing the otter enclosure, I noticed a lone animal curled up in the far corner of its’ enclosure. In the wild, otters are gregarious, family animals. Over a few weeks of just talking with Otter, staying about 3 feet / 1 m. from its’ enclosure, I inched closer to the fence. At the same time the otter left its’ far corner and came closer to my position. After about 6 months, I would be spending minutes per day just talking to Otter. This progressed to my fingers pushing past the fencing and giving Otter ear and body scratches. Contrary to the don’t touch advise, based on painful experiences of Animal Feed staff, not once in 3 years did the animal ever snap, bite or snarl at me.