GIBBON CENTER TO LET IN PUBLIC.Byline: Amy Raisin raisin, in botany and cooking raisin, dried fruit of certain varieties of grapevines bearing grapes with a high content of sugar and solid flesh. Although the fruit is sometimes artificially dehydrated, it is usually sun-dried. Darvish Staff Writer SAUGUS - Less than a dozen miles from the shopping malls and busy streets of Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, , 32 gibbons Famous people named Gibbons include:
tr.v. en·dan·gered, en·dan·ger·ing, en·dan·gers 1. To expose to harm or danger; imperil. 2. To threaten with extinction. apes native to Asia - swing from branches and ropes inside roomy enclosures. This is the largest group of the agile primates Primates The mammalian order to which humans belong. Primates are generally arboreal mammals with a geographic distribution largely restricted to the Tropics. in the western hemisphere Western Hemisphere Part of Earth comprising North and South America and the surrounding waters. Longitudes 20° W and 160° E are often considered its boundaries. , and the director of the Gibbon gibbon, small ape, genus Hyloblates, found in the forests of SE Asia. The gibbons, including the siamang, are known as the small, or lesser, apes; they are the most highly adapted of the apes to arboreal life. Conservation Center has been guarded about publicizing pub·li·cize tr.v. pub·li·cized, pub·li·ciz·ing, pub·li·ciz·es To give publicity to. Noun 1. publicizing - the business of drawing public attention to goods and services advertising the center in the nearly 30 years since he founded it. But an upcoming fund-raiser will offer the public a chance to see the magnificent creatures up close. ``This one here, we had to put a tarp around her enclosure because she likes to moon the other gibbons, and it's really very disruptive,'' said Alan Mootnick, an Encino native who founded the center in 1977. ``But she has the most beautiful voice.'' Gibbons make a loud, birdlike song to claim their territory. Like human voices, no two gibbon voices are alike. Mootnick said an estimated 2,000 gibbons remain in the wild. The center is the only facility in the world devoted exclusively to gibbons. The apes are housed in family enclosures until they reach adulthood, when they are removed from their family of origin and placed with a mate - much like the behavior of gibbons in the wild. After years of welcoming students, scientists and others interested in touring the facility, the center could use some upgrading. Ph.D. candidates and volunteers who work at the center are joining Mootnick in planning to erect guard rails around the enclosures for the safety of the gibbons and visitors. ``The purpose of this place is to save the species,'' Mootnick said. ``I have been more private about the center in the past, but that's because I'm very protective of these gibbons. This is a great place for people to learn more about these animals.'' Mootnick has been independently studying primates since his childhood. He said he became fascinated with the apes as a young boy watching Tarzan on TV. ``I wanted to have my own zoo when I was 9 years old,'' the 53-year-old said. ``I had a rabbit, a dog, lots of pigeons. I loved animals.'' Breakfast with the Gibbons, a fund-raiser to help get the guard-rail project going, will be held on Saturday at the center. Admission is $30 for adults, $15 for children 3 to 12 years old, and free to children under 3. Guests will enjoy a continental-style buffet breakfast, a guided tour guided tour guide n → visite guidée; what time does the guided tour start? → la visite guidée commence à quelle heure? and a lecture about gibbons. There will be a silent auction, as well. Auction winners may pay for items with cash or checks only. Amy Raisin Darvish, (661) 257-5254 amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO: Gibbon fund-raiser from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Gibbon Conservation Center, 19100 Esquerra Road, Saugus. For information visit, www.gibboncenter.org or call (661) 943-4915. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Alan Mootnick founded the Gibbon Conservation Center in Saugus, where a fund-raiser will be held Saturday. David Crane/Staff Photographer Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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