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Wild encounters in Nahant

Deyscha Smith

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NAHANT — Around 60 children sat in attendance at the Nahant Town Hall on Tuesday for a live animal show by Curious Creatures, an interactive and educational program based in Groveland.  

The hour-long event was led by the Nahant Public Library and organized by Children’s Librarian Raegan Herlihy, who happened to discover Curious Creatures after she received a postcard from them one day. It was then that she decided it would be a unique opportunity for the children to experience something new. “It just sounded very fascinating for them to see and touch all of the animals they don’t get to see every day,” Herlihy said.

The Curious Creatures’ exhibitor, who introduced himself as “Mr. Matt,” began the demonstration by first explaining the rules of “what his animal friends don’t like” to the children and their families, including no loud noises and making sure that their hands are clean to prevent everyone, including the animals themselves, from getting sick. 

The show then began with them meeting Lenny, a gray baby bunny who was just born in April. Next was his “best friend,” Susan, a 27-year-old, 10-pound Brazilian Red Foot tortoise that could live between 80 and 90 years, possibly even 100. 

Susan wandered around the carpet throughout the entire show, going up to the children and allowing them to pet her whenever they pleased, as the demonstrator brought Lenny around so that they could pet him, too. As the show continued, he brought out a chinchilla named Kevin that, at one point, he placed on top of his head to a crowd of laughter and smiles. Later, an energetic ferret named Biscuit climbed all the way down his back. 

Aside from theatrics, the show was also informative, and when a spiky hedgehog named Penelope was brought out, the children had the opportunity to learn the proper way to pet her — gently, with their fingertips, down her back. Last to come out of their boxes were a speedy Australian lizard named Pringles and a baby alligator from Florida named Alfonze, who is only a year and a half old and will eventually grow to 10 feet long and weigh over 1,000 pounds when fully grown. 

The last “friend” was Phoenix, a South American boa constrictor that is currently 6.5 feet long. Before making their way out of Town Hall, each child had the chance to see the snake up close and pet him, marking the end to an afternoon filled with amazement and curiosity. 

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