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Reviewed by: Teresa Glass Science Special Education Assistant at Arleta High School
Location:America's Teaching Zoo
7075 Campus Rd, Moorpark, CA 93021
GPS Coordinates- Latitude 34.285558 Longitude -118.882041
Description: America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College started in 1990 as part of the Exotic Animal Training and Management program at Moorpark College. It was built on a five acre campus with several animal enclosures. New enclosures are always being constructed. the animal collection were acquired through donations, lending from other zoos and research programs. The present animal collection includes a spotted hyena, a lion, mountian lions, a Galapagos tortise, a bald eagle, a falcon, two hornbills, reptiles and various species of monkeys and apes. New animals are always being added if space can be found.Students in the Exotic Animal Training and Management program are required to be at America's Teaching Zoo most days, including weekends when we are open to the public. This requirement is in addition to the long hours and days spent working with and caring for the animals, and attending classes. Our Zoo has almost 200 different animals, and the students are responsible for most of the care, feeding and well-being of the animals, under close faculty and staff supervision. Responsibility is a key commitment to this program. Graduates of the EATM program are working all over the world, in many different situations involving animals. They are training dolphins and other marine mammals, doing conservation work, training animals for television and films, working at zoos and theme parks, and many other animal jobs.The Exotic Animal Training and Management (EATM) Program was established as a major at Moorpark College in 1974. Bill "Briz" Brisby, a Professor at Moorpark College, started the program with one animal - "Kiska", the wolf. Additional animals were slowly added, and the "Lower Compound" was constructed (located near the current football stadium), to house all the animals. This first compound was quite dusty, had no landscaping, and would flood in the rains. As the college made more of a committment to the program, a new location was found.
In 1990, the EATM Compound was moved to its current location, on a 5 acre site overlooking all of the Moorpark College campus. Animal enclosures were built, and new enclosures are always being constructed. The animal collection has gradually increased over the years as animals were acquired through donations and breeding loans from major zoos and research centers. This extraordinary collection has included exotic animals ranging from Marmosets to an Asian Elephant, Leopard Geckos to Alligators, Turacos to Emus. We currently have a Bengal Tiger, African Lion, Spotted Hyena, Mountain Lions, a wide variety of Primates, Birds, and many, many other exotic and endangered animals. New animals are continuously being acquired, as space arises.
As the animal collection grew, so did the program. New courses were developed and enrollment increased. The present animal collection, is maintained on a five-acre facility on the Moorpark College campus called "America's Teaching Zoo"
Audience: A middle school biology teacher would benefit from visiting this zoo because it shows how several types of animal species live. The zoo talks about the diets and defensed of these animals and presents several demonstrations explaining about the diet and habitat of several species.
Science Concepts Addressed:
Classification of various animal species and kingdoms.
Endangered species identification.
How organisms function in a community.
NGSS Standard
Students who demonstrate understanding can:
MS-LS1-4.
Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for howcharacteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively. [Clarification Statement: Examples of behaviors that affect the probability of animal reproduction could include nest building to protect young from cold, herding of animals to protect young from predators, and vocalization of animals and colorful plumage to attract mates for breeding. Examples of animal behaviors that affect the probability of plant reproduction could include transferring pollen or seeds, and creating conditions for seed germination and growth. Examples of plant structures could include bright flowers attracting butterflies that transfer pollen, flower nectar and odors that attract insects that transfer pollen, and hard shells on nuts that squirrels bury.]
The performance exp
tudents who demonstrate understanding can:
MS-LS2-2.
Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.[Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on predicting consistent patterns of interactions in different ecosystems in terms of the relationships among and between organisms and abiotic components of ecosystems. Examples of types of interactions could include competitive, predatory, and mutually beneficial.]
The performance expectation above was developed using the following eleme
Study Guide:
Photographs:
Sign that explains zoo philosophy of animal training. Scientific concept: zoology.
Porcupine going up ramp. Demonstrates affectionate training of animals. The animal is not forced to perform. part of animal husbandry.
Butterfly project of restoring endangered species of butterflies including the Monarch butterfly.
View of Moorpark College from Teaching Zoo
Primate sign next to Primate Section, Concept:Animal Classification
Zoo visitors can compare themselves to see if their arms match the wingspan of a condor or bald eagle.
Science concept: measurement, analogous structures.
Alligator at Zoo. Part of the reptile section. Concept:Species classification
Ira the two year old lion , one of the zoo'a most popular residents. His enclosure is in the carnivore section of the zoo.
Concept; species classification.
Bald eagle at zoo. Concept: Species classification
Resident of the primate section. Concept: species classification
African hornbill found in the bird section next to the reptiles. Concept: species classification.
For additional information: http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/current-students/teaching-zoo
Animal Training: Successful Animal Management Through Positive Reinforcement Paperback – July, 1999
Animal Training: Successful Animal Management Through Positive Reinforcement Paperback – July, 1999
by Ken Ramirez (Editor)
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