KUCHING: Fancy a magical up-close encounter with a cockatiel, cockatoo, sailfin lizard, iguana, Central American boa, Burmese python, fully white peacock or marmoset monkey?
If yes, then head to the Charity Pet Carnival being staged at the Boulevard Shopping Mall here.
The carnival themed “Christmas Mini Zoo” will be on until Jan 1, next year.
Organiser Melvin Teo of Little Monster Pet Station said the exhibition, which was an annual event by his Pet Shop, started on Dec 21.
“Open from 10am to 10pm daily, we have more than 60 species of reptiles, birds and small animals numbering more than 100 on exhibit,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
He said the exhibition was into its sixth year, adding that “our main
objective is to educate, especially the younger generation about animals and birds.”
“While at the exhibition, they can also play with and touch most of the animals and birds on exhibit, provided they first ask for permission from the staff on duty to ensure their safety,” he said, adding that most of the exhibits were not dangerous.
Teo also said that among the most peculiar exhibits are a marmoset monkey from Brazil and a fully white
peacock.
The fully white peacock would only be available this weekend, he added.
On the marmoset monkey, he said he had to acquire a special permit to bring it in from Peninsular Malaysia for the exhibition.
“It would immediately be shipped back to Peninsular Malaysia after the exhibition,” he added.
(The marmoset is a New World monkey which lives in Central or South America as opposed to Old World monkeys which come from Africa or Asia.)
According to Teo, a RM5 entrance fee is imposed on every visitor and 20 percent of the proceeds would be donated to the Kuching Autistic Association (KAA).
He said public response had been overwhelming since its opening on Dec 21 with at least 6,000 visitors as at noon yesterday.
He noted that the figure did not include a big number of visitors who had free passes.
Teo said as one of the objectives of the event was to educate the young about animals, some of which they never had a chance to see in their lifetime, his company had been distributing free tickets to schools prior to the event.
