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By Charlotte Hopkins

Bhodi and Paisley Listisen get an up-close look at an ostrich egg, held by Copeland Whitfield, a Conservation Education Specialist from the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Emory Vargo stands beside a life-size replica of an elephant ear shown by Copeland Whitfield, during a hands-on lesson at Jefferson Hills Library.

Sam Motycki, with his dad Mike, examines the pelt of a cheetah during the Pittsburgh Zoo’s interactive Savanna habitat program.

Minty Finocchi observes a sand snake being gently carried by Pittsburgh Zoo intern Liam Friedlander during the Savanna habitat program. Children were invited to watch the animals up close but were asked not to touch. Minty followed that request perfectly.

Holly Rowan and her sons, Lewie and Brandt, watch in awe as Pittsburgh Zoo volunteer Debra Zimarowski carries a baby hedgehog through the audience

Children at Jefferson Hills Library were transported to the heart of Africa’s Savanna during a special educational program held on July 14, thanks to a visit from animal ambassadors of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.

Led by Conservation Education Specialists Copeland Whitfield and Lindsey Parry, the interactive event offered the children a hands-on experience exploring animal life, habitats, and survival strategies in the Savanna.

Whitfield opened the presentation by highlighting the importance of plants in the animal kingdom. “All our animals all start with eating plants, and so these guys are really important with every single ecosystem and every single habitat that exists,” said Whitfield.

He used the Baobab tree as an example, passing around a photo that showed the tree's enormous size. Whitfield explained that elephants often use Baobab trees as landmarks, helping them navigate across the Savanna. “Elephants will see the Baobab tree and remember that the tree is in that location,” he said. “The next time they see that specific tree, they will know where they are.”

The children were fascinated to learn how zebra stripes act as a defense mechanism by confusing predators such as lions. Whitfield also shared the truth behind the common myth of ostriches burying their heads in the sand. He explained that they are not burying their heads; they are keeping their heads low to the ground, so predators mistake them for a rock. The group even got to examine a large ostrich leg and learn that a single ostrich egg is so big that 24 chicken eggs can fit inside one.

The lesson continued with an impressive visual item: a piece of grey fabric cut to the size of a real elephant ear. Audience member Emory Vargo stood next to it for comparison as Whitfield described how elephants use their enormous ears to detect sounds from miles away. The children also got a close-up look at a rhino horn and learned that it’s made of keratin, which is the same protein that makes up human hair.

Helping to bring the lesson to life were volunteers Debra Zimarowski and Liam Friedlander, who carried live animals around the room. These included a hedgehog from Madagascar, a sand snake, and a securely contained hissing cockroach. Animal pelts from a lion, cheetah, and zebra were also passed around, along with a real rhino horn, giving the children a chance to feel the texture of these exotic creatures.

Parry led the second half of the presentation, shifting focus to insects of the Savanna, known as decomposers. “Decomposers have a really important job of cleaning up the floor,” she told the audience. “They eat all of the yucky stuff that no one else wants to eat.” She explained how dung beetles and millipedes fertilize the soil by consuming rotting plants and animals. She also explained the importance of the hissing cockroach. Parry noted that the zoo uses around 500 of them to help clean up the forest floor within its exhibits.

The presentation was lively and engaging, filled with fun facts and interactive moments. Whitfield and Parry created an exciting atmosphere where curiosity was encouraged, and the children walked away with new knowledge and lasting memories.

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