Have you ever touched one?

@ersmommy1 (12588)
United States
August 21, 2009 11:58am CST
Last weekend we went to the zoo. They have a stingray exhibit open until September sometime. So we paid the $3 per person to spend 10-15 minutes petting the stingrays. You don't actually pet them. You put your hand in the water and let them glide under your hand. It was amazing. They feel like wet silk. AWESOME. What a memory for my daughter. Do you have a momory of dealing with an "exotic" animal?
6 people like this
17 responses
• Philippines
21 Aug 09
This is very interesting. For exotic animals, I'm not sure if a starfish is an exotic animal but i always see them when I go to the beach in summer vacation. There was lots of them in the shore and it's fascinating for me I guess.
2 people like this
• United States
21 Aug 09
They have that exhibit @ our zoo too. We have not gone especially since the Aligator Hunter was killed.... I know it is rare. But still between that, our kids don't listen whatsoever, and I can't see spending the money I don't have to do it.
1 person likes this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
21 Aug 09
I understand. Here, it's free from 8 am to 9 am. I think that is a bit early. After the Erwin thing, I was leery too.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Aug 09
Nothing is "free" @ our zoo. Though they give you like 3 passes w/ their zoo pass to ride the train or the carosel, wich is jim dandy except that we are a familiy of 5. Otherwise I feel we paid enough for the pass. I agree it's a fluke what happend to him. I sill am someone who would rather air on the side of caution than not.
@Joniel20 (195)
• Philippines
22 Aug 09
yea I agree.It was an accident.Stingrays are dangerous/..
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
21 Aug 09
I've touched a stingray before, yes! Sharks have an amazing texture to their skin too as it's kind of like a smooth grade sandpaper. I've touched dolphins as well as snakes and a number of other reptiles, birds and mammals like koalas, kangaroos and even a wombat! What a wonderful experience for you and your Daughter!
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 Aug 09
I've touched sharks at the Mall of Americas Underwater World aND THEY ARE LIKE A SCRATCHY LEATHER AT TIMES TO THE TOUCH. i LOVED OIT. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
21 Aug 09
That's fantastic you got to experience this Grandpa Bob! Sharks are such a misunderstood creature and it's so sad that man's fear of them is leading to their demise. I wish everyone could have the chance to do what you've done so they could realise how fascinating they are!
@agv0419 (3022)
• Philippines
22 Aug 09
Actually here we eat the stingray. I want also to go to Ocean Park here in the Philippines but the entrance fee is very expensive. There many big fishes you can see there. It is amazing and wonderful to see the colorful fish there.
1 person likes this
@comfort55 (1574)
• India
22 Aug 09
Once on our trip to Hong Kong, we had gone to see dolphins dancing. It was a beautiful training which they exhibited. In between they would go to the spectators at random. When they came to me, I pet them, it was a wonderful experience.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Aug 09
Hey! That is nice ;) Dolphins are so beautiful . That would be something to see and talk about . They are so friendly and graceful ;)
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
21 Aug 09
They have stingray exhibits where you can touch at the Long Beach and Monterey Aquariums. Very cool. Maybe my coolest animal encounter was in the Galapagos where I got to stroke a tortoises throat (they like it lol).
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
21 Aug 09
It's not like they can run from you if they DON'T like it!
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Aug 09
and the fact that it was in an enclosure is entirely beside the point!
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
22 Aug 09
I have touched sting ray and dolphins in Seaworld. They have these open to public pool where you can see and touch them. I have touched snakes in a temple. I dont like it.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Aug 09
Cool! I miss seaworld I was only there once as a kid and loved it! I love most sea creatures so that was a nice place to go . I would love to see a sea turtle now that would be cool.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
22 Aug 09
Steve Irwin - Photo of Steve Irwin who died from a stingray.
Nope I haven't ever touched one. My niece has a few years ago but after what happened to Steve Irwin I don't know if I want to anytime soon. I know it was a freak accident but I am to big of a scardy cat. But it is awesome that your daughter was able to experience it. My niece loved it and had a awesome time doing it.
@lovein (345)
• India
22 Aug 09
Touch is not a term related to your education, nor mine. tought by teachers or elders. So it is not good to know anything about touch. Thanks
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
22 Aug 09
That sounds neat. I have never touched one of those before. I have been to an aquarium before and seen them though. We went to the Newport Aquarium in Kentucky. We seen alot of ocean animals but never got to touch any.
• India
22 Aug 09
Must Have Been A Good Experience .. - Your Daughter Must Have Felt Good ..
I Don't have Any Clue About Touching An Exotic Animal .. But I Can Feel Your Words .. Must Have Been Really Quite An Experience .. Your Daughter Would Have thoroughly Enjoyed The Experience .. Great To Hear About This .. Have A Good Day ..
• United States
22 Aug 09
Oh yes, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has an exhibit that you can touch the stingray as it is passing by, I did it about 3 years ago and it was really great . I have an old memory of touching an exotic animal, when I was in fourth grade, we had an assembly on how people abuse exotic animals when they have them as pets, and also how animals were used for fur and leather trade. But they had a little alligator, with its jaw strapped, and it was a baby so its tail could do anything, but I got to touch and pet it I will never ever forget that, it was like nothing I have ever felt and I felt extreme pride when I went home and told my older brother, whom I had a sibling rivalry with, and told him that I had touched an alligator and he never had .
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
23 Aug 09
Hello! When I went on a family vacation about 20 years ago to Va beach we went to a Marina Zoo where there had all sorts of animals like that . My brother and me also touched one . We also I remember seeing starfish and seahorses and I love them both . Sharks kinda scare me and I have been wanting to go to the local zoo to see the sharks. Maybe before summer ends
• United States
21 Aug 09
I haven't touched a sting ray but I saw one when I was snorkeling in Jamaica once. I had been out checking out the reef.. it was beautiful! Then I decided to go back to the shore as my friend was waiting there. I went across a real deep area of water. I saw something move on my left side and when I looked it was a ray coming up to the surface of the water! I just watched in awe as it was beautiful!
@faridii (79)
• Pakistan
22 Aug 09
No i didn't experienced yet i wish to touch them. actually animals make me scare some times.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 Aug 09
Here in Minnesota at the Mall of AMerica they havew Underwater World. It copsts a bit but it's a huge aquarium you walk through with fish etc all around you including above you etc. Then at the end, they have a oetting area with sharks, stingrays,crabs etc to touch. I went recently with my neice and nephew and neice. The 5 year old neice loved being able to touch the sea life. I had done this here before and still enjoyed it as the place changes quite often actually with new sealife etc added to all areas. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
• United States
21 Aug 09
This sounds pretty nice. I like it when people go out of their way to do thing with their family like this. Something education, stimulating, something to engage their children's curiosity. I don't think I every had much direct contact with exotic animals except that a friend of mine once had a basement full of reptiles, snakes, and spiders. He was an odd sort of person.
• United States
21 Aug 09
Unfortunately, I can't remember with certainty if I have ever touched one or not. But I don't think I ever have though. I've only been two a zoo twice in the past ten years (both times to take my nieces) but petting the animals was not allowed. I think the only zoo I have been to that allowed petting I went to as a kid years ago.