Live animals coming to county museum next year

ABOYNE – It’s still a year away, but a new exhibit is coming to the Wellington County Museum and Archives (WCMA) and it features live animals.

“Wildlife populations around the world are under enormous stress due to pollution, deforestation and habitat encroachment,” states a report from Wellington Place administrator Jana Burns included in the agenda for the county’s information, heritage and seniors committee meeting on Jan. 8.

“As a result, many species are becoming endangered while others are on the brink of extinction.”

The report adds, “To help tell this story, the WCMA is thrilled to host a new exhibit arriving January 2026 titled ‘Wildlife Rescue.’”

The exhibition was created by Ottawa-based Little Ray’s Exhibitions, an animal rescue that strives to create educational experiences that promote animal conservation and welfare, the report states.

The exhibition will feature seven animal habitats and a variety of animal-focused experiences for visitors of all ages.

“This exhibit, most excitingly, features real, live animals (turtles, snakes, geckos, tarantulas, frogs and ferrets) and will provide the stories of the people who have dedicated their lives to helping these creatures survive,” the report states.

It’s a chance to see exotic animals up close, without having to make a trip to a zoo or aquarium in another community.

Exhibit modules explore topics such as animal facial recognition and grip strength, and highlight species recovery efforts around the world.

The report does not say how long the exhibit will run, but states that it will coincide with Family Day and March break in 2026.

For those occasions, additional programming with interactive animal demonstrations will be arranged by “expert staff,” it states.