WILD TIMES ON CAMPUS ANIMALS A MOORPARK COLLEGE SPECIALTY.Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer MOORPARK - Early in the morning, on a low-rising hill overlooking 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. , two cougars walk around slowly, their soft, massive paws leaving little trace on the pebbled walkways. Walking slightly behind the cats, holding tight to their leashes, are students or administrators of the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program, taking some of their more than 150 charges out for exercise before the summer's high temperatures kick in. ``Actually, the animals that have it harder during the heat are us,'' said second-year student Megan Thomas as she led visitors through the carnivore carnivore (kär`nəvôr'), term commonly applied to any animal whose diet consists wholly or largely of animal matter. In animal systematics it refers to members of the mammalian order Carnivora (see Chordata). section of the educational complex last week. ``They have misters in their cages and shade and concrete floors, which keep them cool,'' she said. ``Most of them are from Africa, so they should be used to the heat.'' Students at the teaching zoo work with a wide variety of animals, from domestic dogs to the wildest baboons. Exposure to creatures of all climates on sea and land gives students valuable experience with every species' behavior and temperament, regardless of the weather. Taj, a 500-pound tiger, panted and yawned from a wooden platform right beneath a row of misters as Thomas walked nearby. Rising to greet her, he rubbed his face toward her hand pressed against the wire enclosure of the cage. As she stepped away, the tiger eyed the pool of water in a metal tank at the other end of the cage. ``Tigers are great swimmers,'' Thomas said. ``Our wolf and lion like to get wet, but the mountain lions, hyena or coyote coyote (kī`ōt, kīō`tē) or prairie wolf, small, swift wolf, Canis latrans, native to W North America. It is found in deserts, prairies, open woodlands, and brush country; it is also called brush wolf. don't.'' Cougars Sage and Spirit, rested from their morning strolls, made soulful noises at Thomas when she stopped on the walkway. The 100-plus degree heat that has stifled their human counterparts brings another set of problems for the animals - flies attracted to the oils in their fur get into their ears. Students use sprays and traps to help the animals keep insect-free and cool. But on a recent summer afternoon, the animals seemed to be taking it easy, napping near feeding time "Feeding Time" is the second sub-episode of Tom and Jerry Tales. Episode Summary Tom is working at a zoo run by Spike, who tells Tom not to feed the zoo animals. Jerry then starts to frame Tom for feeding them so he will get in trouble. with one eye open for their keepers. ``During the hottest part of the day, most animals will find a shady, cool spot and rest,'' said Michael Dee, general curator of the Los Angeles Zoo The Los Angeles Zoo founded in 1966, is a large zoo located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Zoo, located in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, is home to 1,200 animals from around the world. and Botanical Gardens A botanical garden is a place where plants, especially ferns, conifers and flowering plants, are grown and displayed for the purposes of research, conservation, and education. . ``We feed some of our animals fishsicles, or fish frozen into a ball with fruits and vegetables that cool off the animals while they enjoy the treats,'' he said. ``But any animals native to California or Africa should be used to the heat and adapt in their own way.'' Dee explained that the creatures most susceptible to heat would be some species of birds that find it difficult to cool down, such as Antarctic penguins. Even polar bears acclimate to California summers, spending more time under the water in their compounds. The Moorpark College complex, also known as America's Teaching Zoo, has inhabitants
The game is based loosely on the concepts from SameGame. from 115 species, many of them endangered. Students graduate with certificates in animal care, handling, training, behavior management behavior management Psychology Any nonpharmacologic maneuver–eg contingency reinforcement–that is intended to correct behavioral problems in a child with a mental disorder–eg, ADHD. See Attention-deficit-hyperactivity syndrome. and wildlife education. Along the way, they are required to give tours and public presentations, which adds a study of human behavior to their curriculum. The public is invited to tour the zoo on weekends, and students participate in outreach programs at Southern California schools and special events throughout their two years of study. Graduates have gone on to work in facilities such as the San Diego Zoo San Diego Zoo One of the world's largest collections of mammals, birds, and reptiles, located in San Diego, Calif., and administered by the Zoological Society of San Diego. The 100-acre (40. and Sea World, animal search and rescue programs or the entertainment industry. ``This program opens a lot of doors,'' Thomas explained. ``The different experiences you get are wonderful. You work with the animals, meet great people and make contacts in all sorts of places.'' Carol Rock, (805) 583-7604 carol.rock(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) At the Moorpark College Zoo in Moorpark, two mountain lions named Sage, right, and Spirit have shade over their concrete-floor cages plus a line of water misters to keep them cool in summer heat. (2 -- color) Moorpark College Zoo students Chris Jenkins, left, and Trevor Jahangard take a baboon baboon, any of the large, powerful, ground-living monkeys of the genus Papio, also called dog-faced monkeys. Five subspecies live in Africa, with one species extending into the Arabian peninsula. on a leash for a walk on the grounds. (3 -- color) A serval serval, medium-sized African cat, Felis serval, found S of the Sahara in scrub country close to water. The serval is lightly built with very long legs; it has a small head with large eyes and ears, set on a long neck. Its coat is yellow-orange with black spots. named Shava is one of the wild animals WILD ANIMALS. Animals in a state of nature; animals ferae naturae. Vide Animals; Ferae naturae. from 115 species kept at Moorpark College's teaching zoo in Moorpark. Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer |
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