Fun Hullabaloo at the College Zoo

The deep howls of gibbon echo throughout a suburban neighborhood, high on a hill, surrounded by homes and schools. This is no rainforest, but America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, a home to hundreds of exotic animals.

It’s one of very few places in the county where children can celebrate their birthdays with wild animals.

Recently, Serena Lin, 7, celebrated a birthday at the zoo with her family and 30 guests. The excitement and energy of the children as they sat at a long table under a canopy made for a Disneyland-like atmosphere complete with images of Disney princesses adorning the cake and table. 

Serena’s father, Robert Lin of Thousand Oaks, said, “We thought that having the birthday party at the zoo would be educational and fun, too.”

Just before the children ate their goodies, they watched a 45-minute live performance of the animals presented by the students enrolled in the school’s Exotic Animal Training and Management Program.

The audience learned about the natural habitats, behaviors and diet of each animal.  This particular show starred a menagerie of animals including Mama, a llama; Delilah, a blue crane and Nick, a miniature horse.

Using visual and audible cues, the students typically present 10 to 15 animals in each show.  They give them positive reinforcement, often in the form of favorite treats, to encourage certain actions. When Delilah, the blue crane, entered the stage five students flapped their arms until the large bird joined the “dancing.”

During the year, the zoo is open to the public on weekends to view more than 200 animals on the 5-acre grounds. The students make a two-year commitment to intense education, training and caring for the animals and also to maintaining the zoo.

Second-year student Leah Albin trains and handles a raven, a monkey, a dog and a beaver. She has learned many lessons for working with animals.

“Ebony the raven is highly intelligent and she is very patient,” said Albin. “I’ve learned perseverance and about how bonds are formed.”

Zoo Operations Assistant Alisa Boyehar, one of eight full-time staff in the program, said the teaching zoo is considered one of the best in the world and has an enrollment limited to 100 students, 50 first-year and 50 second-year students.

“Each year we use a lottery system,"Boyehar said. "The students are chosen from there.”

According to Boyehar, the money received from the zoo entrance fees helps to cover the general operations costs.

On Saturdays and Sundays, the gates are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Show times are at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children and seniors. Moorpark College
is located at 7075 Campus Road. For more information visit the school’s Web site or call 805-378-1441.