The Biology Department's Creature Feature

Jojo, the Sulcata Tortoise, originally kept in a walk-in closet, sick and underweight, is healthy and happy, and loved the attention from visitors as he walked around in the hallway of The Mott Academic Center.  Photo provided by Maria Davis.

On Saturday, Oct. 5, Biology Faculty Dr. Leah Knapp and Dr. Maria Davis presented “Creature Feature” an animal program for Homecoming visitors. 

The biology program is home to multiple animals, several of which are rescues, who help teach students, children, and adults The University of Olivet’s campus and in the community about, and appreciate, reptiles and invertebrates – the “un-huggables”. 

Numerous alumni and their families were able to meet and interact with the animals. Jojo, the 150-pound Sulcata Tortoise, was the star of the show “and he knows it” according to Knapp

Jojo gave rides to two children at the Creatures Features event and while watching his sister ride the giant tortoise, 7-year-old, KT said that “it (Jojo) is like a human Rumba!” 

The Bearded Dragon, Bailey, getting lots of attention and pets from an attendee of the Creature Feature event. Photo taken by Maria Davis.

Along with Jojo, the other animals featured at the event were the Madagascar hissing cockroaches, Lady Beatrix the Brazilian black tarantula, Yuli the Russian tortoise, Thurston the red-eared slider turtle, Sneakers the ball python, and Waroo the bearded dragon. All the animals are toddler-proof making them safe for even small children to touch and interact with.   

Children and parents were able to get up close and personal with each animal and learned to handle them while being educated about each species.   

 Olivet alum Kyle Modad smiling with his son having fun with Sneakers, the Ball Python, and the Madagascar hissing cockroaches. Photo taken by Maria Davis.

KT was very proud of himself and his father for handling all the animals, and announced, “I will go to this school.”  Knapp feels it says a lot about the animals and the program in recruiting future students, though not usually this young.               

“Animals are sexy!”  Knapp and Davis and their students hope these interactions were both fun and used as a chance to educate others about “unhuggable” animals and maybe inspire the next generation of biologists. 

Written by Mia Williams