By JOHN LAWSON
The sight of dead animals can cause even the strong-stomached to cringe, but employees and patrons of the Monte L. Bean Museum are taking a second look at the dead animals featured in its new exhibit.
Donald Cox, who has hunted and collected the animals from all over the world and is especially known for the many species of sheep he obtained, said he chose to donate the specimens to the Bean museum because of the reputation the museum has in caring for special exhibits.
Cox has been a hunter since 1939, and has collected many species from Africa and North America. During that 58 year period of time, Cox has acquired 330 different species.
“We have actually had friends of Donald Cox come in and comment on how impressive the display is because there are a couple of animals that not many of them had ever seen before,” said Jesi Taylor, a secretary at the Bean Museum.
Cox, who is an advocate for hunters said, “Who more than hunters are more sensitive and caring about the universal need to preserve what God has bequeathed?”
Museum patron Cameron Field, 8, from Orem said, “I think the deer are the best. I never have seen them that big before.”
Another visitor to the museum, Lynn Sorenson, from Provo said, “I think these types of set ups are good because you don’t see these types of animals everyday. It is a good way for people to see the animals and learn about how they live.”
The purpose of this exhibit is to help the teaching process and the learning process.
“It is our obligation to help in preserving the endless variety of the plant life, sea animals and animal life with which we have been blessed,” Cox said.
The exhibit is expected to run through the end of summer at the Bean Museum, which is open weekdays 10-9 and Saturday 10-5.
