TRAVEL TALES : THIS STAFF'S READY ... ... WHEN CATS TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE.

Byline: Shawn Wylie Special to the Daily News

When the mother of Anju, an endangered wild cat, wouldn't care for the 3-day-old properly, the staff at the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound's Feline Conservation Center took over.

Becoming a wild cat's ``mother'' isn't unusual for the center's staff. Sometimes female wild cats react poorly toward their first litter, said Sandy Masek, the facility's general manager.

``We're used to taking over,'' said Masek. ``If the mother rejects the baby or is incapable of caring for it, like she's not lactating enough, then we have to intervene.''

Visitors can watch the little cats - and the adults, too - at the center, located in the Kern County community of Rosamond, about 75 miles north of the San Fernando Valley. The outdoor compound at the facility, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the breeding of exotic feline species, is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Wednesdays, for escorted tours that begin every half hour. There is no admission charge.

More than 50 wild cats from more than 15 species of felines are on display, among them an ocelot, Asian leopards, jaguars, jaquarundi, bobcats, a Eurasian lynx and a Gordon's wild cat.

Tiny Anju, an Amur leopard (her feline family originated in the Amur River Valley in Russia) born March 29, has blossomed under the center staff's care and is chomping on sirloin steak and chicken. Her mother also is on display at the center.

Anju will be on display for a special Aug. 24 event, and by September will be on daily display with the rest of the exotic cats.

There are fewer than 50 Amur leopards remaining in the wild and about 200 in captivity, said Joe Maynard, the organization's president. The facility's prime function is to breed endangered and exotic wild cats. Zoos from the U.S. and around the world contact the center, mainly through a computer database, to find a mating partner for one of their cats. Zoos from Russia, Germany, England, Finland and France have used the service.

For example, Anju's father, Gigant, was flown to the center from a zoo in Finland to mate with her mother, Solstice, who was flown in from a zoo in Canada.

The big cats' romance moves slowly to let the male and female become comfortable with each other. The first few weeks, they spend time in adjacent cages, then they're put in a cage together.

Cameras in the cages monitor the resulting births, which generally occur 68 to 120 days later, depending on the breed. Some of the cubs in the litter remain at the center, and others go back to zoos where their parents live or to other zoos.

In 1995, nine exotic cats were born at the center and survived, including jaguars, black Asian leopards, an Amur leopard and fishing cats, native to South Asia, with partially webbed front toes for catching fish.

This year, two litters of fishing cats were born. One litter failed to survive because of their mother's poor care. ``The cage had to be altered, so she (the mother) got upset and neglected to care for them after birth,'' said Maynard.

But the second litter, a male and a female fishing cat born May 30, later named Bandit and Shara, survived and will also be on display at the Aug. 24 event.

Many people back the center's cat-breeding efforts.

``I support what they're doing here because it's more for educational purposes than entertainment,'' said visitor and longtime member Grace Kirkness, 70, of Newhall. ``They're trying to save these animals.''

Becky Cavan, 21, of Rosamond, came to visit the center two years ago and decided to donate some of her time. As a volunteer, she leads tours, cleans cages and feeds the animals.

``I wanted to learn more (about the cats),'' said Cavan. But after a while, she says, ``you form a bond.'' She plans to be a veterinarian, specializing in big cats.

Visitors can't get as close as the volunteers do, but can see the animals in their cages from about four feet away. The cages are equipped with logs, toys and a den. The newest cages also have grass, trees, a small pond and a sprinkler system to help the animals stay cool in the sweltering desert heat.

On Location

The Exotic Feline Breeding Compound's Feline Conservation Center is at 3718 60th St. W., Rosamond.

The center has two upcoming fund-raising activities planned.

A self-guided twilight tour is scheduled from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 24 for adults only. Admission is $15 per person. Visitors also can go into the ocelot's cage and have their photo taken with the big cat. Reservations are required.

The seventh annual Fabulous Feline Follies - featuring a dinner, dancing and a silent auction - will be from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at the center. The theme is ``The Little Big Cats.''

For more information on either event, and to make twilight tour reservations, call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

Photo: (1) Anju, a baby Amur leopard, is being care d for by the staff at the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound's Feline Conservation Center in the Kern County community of Rosamond.

(2) 1995, nine exotic cats, including Jesse the jaguar, were born at the center and survived. More than 50 wild cats from more than 15 species of felines are on display at the center.

Box: On Location (See Text)