"The serval did not want to go into her crate. The spotted cat's name was Naomi, she had just been weighed, and now it was time to do as she was told. "C'mon - in your crate," urged Thomas Barber, a student at Moorpark College. Naomi, held on a leash by student Trinity Astilla, was the picture of lithe, feline elegance as she slunk around a dusty enclosure, briefly hopping atop her crate - but not into it."
"Home to 120 animals representing 110 species, the zoo is one of two such collegiate facilities in the country - the other is Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Gainesville, Fla. - and draws students from California and beyond who are looking for a career working with animals. The program traces its roots to 1971, when the community college began offering a class in exotic animal studies, expanding to a full-fledged major three years later."
Naomi, a serval at Moorpark College's Teaching Zoo, resisted entering her crate while students practiced behavior training under instructor guidance. The Teaching Zoo houses about 120 animals representing 110 species and operates as one of only two collegiate zoos in the country, attracting students seeking animal-care careers. The program began in 1971 and expanded to a major by 1974. Students perform hands-on tasks including preparing and feeding food, weighing animals, and running demonstrations for visiting children. The two-year major admits about 60 students annually from roughly 150 applicants, with about 45 graduates each year, reflecting program rigor and time demands.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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