THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 21, 1994 TAG: 9406210086
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Sherrie Boyer
DATELINE: 940621 LENGTH: Medium
I feel something tugging my shirt from behind and turn around expecting Allio, only it's not her - but a real kid, a goat, nibbling away.
{REST} So I shoo it aside and feel a tug on my front shorts pocket. I reach down to stroke Sam's head, and find instead the nubby nose and floppy ears of a pregnant nanny goat. Pulling on my shoelaces is another goat, a wee baby thing I stoop to pet. Then a hen brushes past, clucking excitedly, the donkey brays and a llama trots by.
If this all sounds a little chaotic, it is. Animals are everywhere, nudging you and your children. But these goats just want a little love - a good hearty stroking and some dried corn, please.
Nonetheless, I am feeling a little timid. Standing, I am eyeball to collarbone with this llama. The turkey is huge and it just doesn't look friendly, its red eye staring from a mostly blue face.
But the worker in charge today, Kenny Falls, says not to worry. The llama would rather amble than stay for a talk and the turkey loves nothing more than to ruffle its feathers.
The children aren't the least bit startled by all of this. They lean over goats to give them hugs, pet chickens, bury their fingers into the oily wool of sheep, ruffle the feathers of hens, touch the nose of the donkey and stroke a kangaroo.
Sam is laughing and shouting, calling the animals by name. Maddie finds storybook characters: Broody Hen and her Little Chick, Mary's lamb and Billy Goat Gruff - a dear, tough, little bearded goat. Allio curls up near a sleepy baby goat, stroking and cuddling.
Unlike the leisurely goats we admire from a distance, behind a fence, at the Norfolk Zoo, these goats are busy. When a generous visitor pops a quarter into the feed machine, the goats crowd around.
In addition to the petting area, there are lots of other animals in cages, including several different leopards, a half jaguar, an African Mandrill (a baboon with red and blue markings that Maddie insisted was a ``pretend face``), a lynx, bald eagle, Egyptian goose, raccoon, crocodile, Arctic fox and a very adorable, very active sea otter.
All of the animals are maintained in this park/zoo area by the SPCA.
Admission is $1/person ages 2 and up, Monday through Saturday. Entry is through the building. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Sunday, admission is the same for children, but $2 for adults (which helps fund staffing on this day). Hours are noon to 5 p.m.; entry is through the gate on the left side of building.
To get there, take the second J. Clyde Morris Boulevard exit from Route 64 and follow signs for the Virginia Living Museum. The petting zoo is about 1.5 miles from the highway, on the right (directly across from the entrance to the museum). For more information, call 1-595-1399.
You'll want to be sure to hit the museum on your visit. The active beehive remains our family favorite. Virginia Living Museum, 1-595-1900.
by CNB