Dozens of children in attendance at both the 11:00 a.m. show in Prescott and the 2:00 p.m. show in Hope could barely contain their enthusiasm to ask questions and give pets as McDaniel brought out first a kinkajou from South America who hung onto McDaniel’s clothing as if it were occupying a tree, a chinchilla named Henry—“the softest creature on earth,” McDaniel said—a boa constrictor, a fox, a Gila Monster and, finally, a toddler kangaroo, called a joey, which he allowed to take a few jumps between the aisles of sitting children.

McDaniel travels throughout Arkansas and Texas educating children about exotic pets.  As he brings each creature from their respective kennels, he provides factual context, like that the kinkajou’s lengthy tongue is used to reach deeply into nectar-containing flowers and that the animal is called the “honey bear” because of its skill in using its tongue to eat the honey in bee nests.

All told, about 100 children today saw the exhibition and most lined up to pet the kangaroo and chinchilla after the hour-long show had finished.