ANIMAL ACTION; SHOW SPOTLIGHTS TRICKS, TALENTS OF CRITTERS AT FAIR.

Byline: John Huddy Daily News Staff Writer

Holly Lowas had her Mojo working - her capuchin monkey, Mojo, that is.

Wide-eyed animal lovers sitting in for the Exotic Animal Encounter show at the Ventura County Fair on Wednesday were entertained by two parrots, a screeching macaw, a tarantula named Fluffy and a nine-foot albino Burmese python, among others.

Mojo, being a monkey, was one of the more animated creatures, sticking out his tongue, grinning and otherwise playing for the crowd.

``We've had good reactions from people who watch the show,'' said Lowas, an animal trainer for the show. ``Even if the people don't like the animals, they're still being entertained.''

Isaac Arrizon enjoyed the largest of the animals - the Burmese python.

``I've had snakes before, so I wasn't nervous around the python,'' said the 16-year-old Arrizon, who held the slithering snake in his arms, amid gasps from nervous onlookers.

The albino Burmese python, a native of Southeast Asia, can reach lengths in excess of 16 feet, weighing as much as 250 pounds, said Lowas, fearless as she gripped the yellow and white snake.

Other animals in the show, like Conrad the macaw, who was busy playing basketball for the children and parents in attendance, can live as long as 80 to 100 years.

The Exotic Animal Encounter was staged in Porker Flats, replacing the pig races held last year, fair officials said.

Lowas, a Sacramento native who studied at Moorpark College's Exotic Animal Training and Management program for two years, began working as a trainer for San Diego-based Kobert Animal Productions a little over a year ago.

``To successfully work with animals, you need to know how to work around them,'' said Lowas, who has always been an animal lover. ``It's like working with kids - you need to know how to read their behavior.''

Lowas' apprentice, 17-year-old Ojai resident Dana Dougherty, agreed. ``I've always loved animals - the job is easy for me because it's fun,'' she said.

As an animal trainer, Lowas explained that there is a good deal of work involved, particularly cleaning, feeding and watering animals, most of which require constant attention and care.

And she said that isn't even the hardest part of being a trainer.

``The hardest part of the job is when the audience doesn't respond the way you want them too,'' she said. ``Working with the animals is the easiest part of the job, by far.''

Judging by the smiles on the faces of audience members, Lowas and Dougherty didn't seem to have much of a problem getting people interested - like Sean and Michael Parizo, two cousins who have been coming to every show for the past three days.

``This is my favorite part of the fair,'' said 10-year-old Sean, who said his favorite animals were the monkey and the parrots. ``I'd like to train animals too when I get older.''

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4 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color in Conejo Edition only) (Ran in Conejo and Simi Edition only) Conrad the macaw slam-dunks a basketball at the Ventura County Fair.

(2--Color in Conejo Edition only) Holly Lowas holds Mojo, a capuchin monkey that performs in the Exotic Animal Encounter show.

(3--Color in Conejo Edition only) (Ran in Conejo and Simi Edition only) Kim Scott of Malibu nervously prepares to pet an African hedgehog named Mrs. Prickles on Wednesday at the fair.

(4) (Ran in Conejo Edition only) Ventura County Fair visitors hold Lucille, a Burmese albino python. The native of Southeast Asia is part of an exotic animal show at the fair.

Tina Gerson/Daily News