Live Animals at the Maritime Museum

This March break, from March 11 to 19, young Nova Scotians will be able to embark on an exciting animal adventure at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.

Pets at Sea, is an adventure for the whole family that explores the connection between animals and life at sea. It showcases live animals borrowed from Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton, N.B.

Literally bringing the program to life is the wide variety of animals visiting the museum. Squirrel monkeys, parrots, goats, lemurs, pigs, an Amur leopard cat, a hedgehog, and a crow, are all on display to represent the most common additions to a ship's crew.

"A lot of people wonder why the Maritime Museum is bringing in animals," said Adam Langley, the program's project co-ordinator. "There is a strong tradition of animals going to sea. From crew members' pets to animals with specific jobs, animals have been sailing for years."

As well as meeting the live animals, visitors will also be introduced to some of history's most notable animal crew members. Panels and photos will highlight amazing sailing experiences of everything from a goat, which was part of the first solo sail around the world, to navy mascots that crewed ships during the Second World War.

While many pets are welcomed aboard ships as valued crew members, there remain some animals that sailors are not as keen to have on voyage. Inside the museum's, Critter Container, brave children and adults will meet animals that still manage to sneak aboard vessels uninvited. Tarantulas, cockroaches and snakes are just a sample of the animals that can be found hiding in this display.

Also making the trip to Halifax are the animals' keepers. Throughout the program, Magnetic Hill zookeeper Bernard Gallant and his staff will tend to the animals and share stories with the public.

Pets at Sea, opens on Saturday, March 11, and will run daily throughout March break. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is located at 1675 Lower Water St., Halifax.