Moorpark College students, alumni, and community members gathered to sing “Happy Birthday” to the 500-pound, 90 -year-old tortoise named “Clarence.”
He traveled from the Galapagos Islands in 1927 aboard the vessel “Albatross II.” He made several stops from the Houston Zoo where he lived until 1999 before ending up in the Los Angeles Zoo until 2011. He was then relocated to his permanent home at America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College.
As part of the 23rd annual Spring Spectacular, Kris Romero, the assistant zoo operations manager, described it as a “big party”. Spring Spectacular is an annual fundraiser that helps them pay the $100,000 it costs for the medical and food expenses, for more than 150 animals.
“It’s like a big carnival celebrating the zoo and all that we do here, all of our collection,” said Romero. “Every hour we have a 45 minute scripted show, with dancing, music, and singing.”
The fundraiser features unique vendors, games, food, and live animal shows.
Participants enjoyed a wide range of animal shows. The main show was titled “Zoo Vision.” It was about a zoo guard who fell asleep on the job. An animal then escaped. The guard started to check the security camera and got distracted watching TV. When he watched the television the “scenes” were of animals acting as characters on popular television shows. The show spoofed chess channel as well as popular shows like The Bachelor and CSI.
Robin O’Toole, guest at Spring Spectacular, said that she had a fantastic time with the animals.
“My favorite animal has been the snakes because my daughter got to hold them and she really gets a kick out of that,” said O’Toole.
Ashley Bartlift, first year in the EATM program, said that the money raised from this event will go to upgrading and improving the zoo.
“We had more people than we have ever had on a first day for spring spectacular,” said Bartlift.
Spring Spectacular continues this weekend; March 30-31 as well as April 6-7 starting at 10 a.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and children.
