Unusual animals at home at farm

Here's lookin' at you -- students and an ostrich eye one another with interest during a field trip to Eugene Pope's exotic animal farm near Nevada. --Justin Messner/ Herald-Tribune

Nevada, Mo. -- Leonard Pope of Nevada has been farming most of his life; however, it was only about 20 years ago that he became interested in exotic animals.

Seeing a Missouri rural magazine one day with an advertisement for an unusual animal sale, Pope drove to Cape Girardeau, Mo., where he purchased his first head of Watusi. This started him on the path of buying and selling animals not commonly found in this area, which has now lasted about two decades.

Watusi are medium-sized cattle with very large, wide horns. They are commonly used for breeding with beef cattle due to their lean, hearty build.

Over the years, Pope's collection grew to include llamas, ostriches, rheas -- even a lion, Antarctic fox and a bear at one point. Asked why he continues to engage in the care of exotic animals, Pope said, "Stuff like that just fascinates me. Just like those big ol' ostrich, I just love them big ol' birds."

Following some health problems Pope was asked by his doctor to slow down with his farm and stop handling younger, more aggressive animals. He explained that this did not go over well with him, saying, "I always said the hardest thing in life to do, is quitting something you like to do the best."

He did sell off many of his animals, but doing away with his entire stock of creatures does not appear to be an option at this point.

Pope has dedicated most of his life to these animals through good and bad markets and said that he always loved it whether it made him a living or not. He said, "a lot of people ask me how do you get rid of these things, well you have to find people. I do it because I like it, if I make some money, great, if I don't, great."

Having children from local schools come out to his farm and watch the animals, some they had never seen before, was also said to be a large reason for continuing the business.

At 82 years of age, Pope fells good about what he has done and offers no justification for his decisions.

"A lot of people think I'm crazy, but that's all right. I don't have to worry about them other people," said Pope.