ANIMALS STAR IN MOORPARK COLLEGE BENEFIT.Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer While Moorpark College's sixth annual Spring Spectacular festival was held over the weekend primarily to raise money for the college animal care and training facilities, it also gave the public a chance to learn more about endangered wildlife. "It's animal education," said Mara Rodriguez, education coordinator for the college's Exotic Animal Training and Management program. Rodriguez stressed that the annual event is the college zoo's largest fund-raiser each year. She said the first day's activities Saturday attracted well over 1,200 people and raised $4,500. The event also is scheduled to run next weekend. "We use it as an opportunity to raise money while giving the public a broader perspective on endangered wildlife. Plus, it's good for people to understand just how much time and money is needed to run this type of facility." Mike Osborn, an inspector with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, set up at the festival Sunday a display of confiscated con·fis·cate tr.v. con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing, con·fis·cates 1. To seize (private property) for the public treasury. 2. To seize by or as if by authority. See Synonyms at appropriate. adj. fur coats, crocodile purses and intricate ivory carvings. "The more animals we buy, the more they die," said Osborn, focusing on endangered species endangered species, any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities. In 1999 the U.S. government, in accordance with the U.S. . "People learn that extinct means forever," Osborn said. Estelle Hekkers, who attended the festival with her granddaughter, Jasmine, was pleased that the event was geared so children could understand the importance of preserving wildlife. "(Jasmine) may be only 3 years old, but she understands this the best way a 3-year-old can," said Hekkers, a Northridge resident. Other youngsters were proud that they learned something new. "Extinct means they're not living anymore," said 6-year-old Ryan Newcomb. "It means no way, not there, like the dinosaurs." Established as a major at Moorpark College Moorpark College is a California-state funded community college located on a 134 acre (542,000 m²) property reclining on a hill in Moorpark, a town in Ventura County, California. in 1974, EATM EATM Exotic Animal Training Management not only teaches students animal training and modern zoo keeping techniques - including nutrition, restraint and veterinary procedures - it also shows students how to present educational shows using animals. Animal training procedures taught at the school range from techniques applicable to confined zoo animals to methods used in the movie industry. Courses in public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most and the planning and administration of animal parks are also offered. The goal for the festival this year was to raise $25,000 - compared to $20,000 in 1995 - which will help cover feeding for the zoo's 150 animals. Money raised will also pay for the zoo's improvement projects. Activities included live shows with an olive baboon The Olive Baboon (Papio anubis), also called the Anubis Baboon, is a member of the family Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys). The species is the most widely spread of all baboons: it is found in 25 countries throughout Africa, extending south from Mali to Ethiopia , a sea lion sea lion, fin-footed marine mammal of the eared seal family (Otariidae). Like the other member of this family, the fur seal, the sea lion is distinguished from the true seal by its external ears, long, flexible neck, supple forelimbs, and hind flippers that can be , a kangaroo and a camel. In addition to performing with the animals, students walked the zoo's grounds with creatures docile enough to carry, like a turkey vulture turkey vulture or turkey buzzard Species (Cathartes aura) of long-winged, long-tailed vulture (family Cathartidae), about 30 in. (75 cm) long, with dark plumage, whitish beak and legs, bare red head covered with whitish bumps, and a 6-ft (1.8-m) wingspread. and 7-foot-long red tail boa constrictor boa constrictor largest of all snakes; squeezes its victims in a deadly grip. [Zoology: NCE, 317] See : Deadliness . Mick Deluca, who lives in Newbury Park, attended the event with his three young daughters because he thought the experience would help them better understand exotic animals and nature. "We've always been interested in animals, and this is a close resource for them to learn," Deluca said. "This gives them a different perspective on animals than what they would normally learn from books or TV." EATM student Ginger Heck said the live shows, though entertaining, are also staged to send a message. "It gives them an awareness about conservation, and how important it is to take care of the environment," said Heck, 23. "We try to gear the shows so everyone can get the message we're trying to express." ZOO FESTIVAL MOORPARK - America's teaching zoo at Moorpark College is celebrating its 6th annual Spring Spectacular festival, featuring animal shows, behind-the-scenes tours and informational booths. The festival, which started over the weekend will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 16 and March 17 on the Moorpark College campus, 7075 Campus Road. Money collected from admissions goes directly to the feeding and care of the zoo's 150 animals and to projects for improving the zoo. The resident animals include endangered species and nonreleasable wildlife such as a one-year-old mountain lion, a tiger, baboons, a kookaburra kookaburra (k  k`əbûr'ə), common name for a squat, long-tailed Australian kingfisher, Dacelo navaguinae. and a sea lion. For more information, contact Mara Rodriguez, (805) 378-1441. CAPTION(S): PHOTO[ordinal indicator, masculine]CHART Photo (1--color in SIMI SIMI Sea Ice Mechanics Initiative SIMI Search for Intelligent Monkeys on the Internet SIMI Students Islamic Movement in India SIMI Society of Irish Motor Industry SIMI Smallholder Irrigation Markets Initiative edition only) Dani Ballew, right, and Moorpark College classmate Tom Roach hold a 7-foot-long red tail boa constrictor for a family to pet. (2) Madison Woolfe of Calabasas feels the fur of a leopard endangered by poaching poaching: see cooking. . The animal program fund-raiser also runs next weekend. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News Box ZOO FESTIVAL (ran in SIMI only--see text) |
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