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Zoo at school
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Brave Frank Ohl fourth-graders were offered the chance to meet some of the Cleveland Zoo animals up close. Kaitlyn Sciortino (left) gave a friendly pet to a North American possum that Ulyan held for the guests.
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Dagostino (left) brought up a very brave teacher to help feed the zoo’s kookaburra bird. Fourth-grade teacher Adrian Hetmansky (right) called to the bird while Dagostino fed him grub worm treats for a job well done.
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The students of Frank Ohl were offered a rare treat of seeing their school mascot in action. Dagostino (left) helped a falcon fly to Ulyan(right), much to the awe of the students.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .At a March 25 Frank Ohl presentation, Cleveland Zoo representatives Margie Ulyan (left) and Katie Dagostino (right) introduced the school’s fourth- and fifth-graders to Bo the cockatoo. The zoo representatives let Bo show how he loves to recycle- he throws used papers in the recycling bin when he’s done.
By SARAH FOOR
Frank Ohl’s auditorium was crawling with students – and zoo animals – March 25 during “Professor Wylde’s Traveling Animal Show.”
Experts from the Cleveland zoo coordinated the event that focused on animal behavior, training and the creation of exhibits at the zoo.
“Today is all about getting an interest in animals started with the kids,” said animal keeper and show assistant Katie Dagostino.
“Our animal guests definitely help capture some of that interest. I’m in the right business, because sometimes, I think the animals are far more interesting to observe than people,” Dagostino said with a laugh.
The stars of the show included animals of the reptile, bird, amphibian, and mammal groups, including a snake, cockatoo and toad.
Margie Ulyan, the Cleveland zoo’s education interpreter and presenter during the show, asked the students, “Do you want to see a mammal? Well, look right next to you!”
After her joke, of course, Ulyan brought out a possum and then a fox to show the group animals of mammal classification. After meeting each creature, the zoo representatives asked the students for suggestions on how to make each animal’s home at the zoo.
The Cleveland zoo representatives shared that their facility has had the creation of exhibits on their mind lately, because they are opening a new and improved elephant house on May 5, complete with two pools, a night area and an indoor room.
“Every animal needs a perfect home away from home,” Ulyan said.
For a certain animal they brought, it indeed was almost like coming home. The zoo brought a falcon to the show and the students saw a live version of their school mascot take flight.
“We were very excited as we drove in and saw ‘Falcon’ attached to schools and businesses, knowing that we brought our falcon,” Dagostino said. “It’s a complete coincidence, but a very happy one!”