EXOTIC ANIMAL DISPLAYS CONTRIBUTE TO ‘REYNOLDS REWILDING’ Dr. David Penning calls the project “The Reynolds Rewilding.” “Historically, we’ve had live animals on display in the building, but not in recent years,” he said. Penning has been working with his students to create a series of animal displays on the second floor of Reynolds. Those stopping to take a look may find some exotic species they didn’t know existed.
“I started out terrified of snakes and anything with scales … really, anything without fur,” she said. “Now I can handle most of the animals alone.
“There are 13 different cages, ranging from an American mata mata turtle, which has a weird, ornate design; African bullfrogs; stinkpot turtles from Kellogg Lake in Carthage; a chameleon; and a frilled dragon.
“There’s very little work with exotic animals or pocket pets in veterinary school. I shadowed more than 100 hours at a vet clinic and saw one guinea pig and no reptiles. If someone were to bring one in, I will know how to handle it, see its behavior and understand how I can help them.”
“There’s also an amphiuma – a threefoot-long salamander – named Hot Dog, which we collected during a student trip to Louisiana over the summer. He’s about as big around as a kielbasa but smaller than a summer sausage.”
From a public education standpoint, people will be able to walk through Reynolds and learn about animals they might not be aware existed, said Penning. Each animal will have a “Tinder-like profile” highlighting their characteristics.
Other unusual species on display include an axolotl (which Penning says is perhaps most famous for providing cute pictures on Instagram), which can regenerate limbs if needed; and a pipa pipa, a frog that gives birth by ejecting its young through openings on its back.
“The other side of it is students will get a zoological experience while here,” he said. “They can learn about the animals’ diets, test water quality, and monitor their health. If you look at what it takes to get into veterinary school, or get jobs at zoos or aquariums, they want applicants to have hands-on experience. Students very rarely have the chance to get training while working with exotic animals.”
Penning’s students have helped create the displays and assist with their feeding and care. 32
When she makes her rounds, sophomore biology/pre-veterinary major Hannah Snyder generally works with Ralph, a bluetongued skink, and Neo and Lucky – a pair of hearty turtles who sustained and recovered from shell injuries.
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