Zoo Visits Abilene Learn and Grow Depot

Rolling Hills Zoo brought some live furry animals, education, and fun to Learn and Grow Depot in Abilene this week.

Anita Butler, Director of Education at Rolling Hills Zoo, began the program by reading the story “Kiss, Kiss” to the children. With Valentine’s Day near, the story was fitting as it showed baby animals kissing their mothers and fathers.

The story was followed by Gretchen Morgenstern, Volunteer with Rolling Hills Zoo, showing the children a sugar glider marsupial from Australia. The children were allowed to touch the sugar glider if they chose to do so. They also got to see up close and touch a ferret and a chinchilla.

The highlight of the program for the children was when they were put in a circle and the chinchilla was put inside a large, clear, plastic ball and allowed to roll around right in front of them. The children were able to touch a zebra pelt, rhinoceros horn, and a real, but not alive, lion head and paws. There were a lot of smiles and laughs during the interactive program.

Story by: Billy Hansen / Memorial Health System