America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College is home to the Exotic Animal Training and Management program, which is considered the most unique programs across the United States.

Moorpark is the only community college in the country that offers the possibility to manage and train exotic animals: there are only 50 spots available every year.

Students from all over the world apply here, such as Alexa Van Leeuwen, a 25-year-old second-year student from Australia.

“I looked at different training schools across the world but this program can help with many medical things,” Van Leeuwen said. “I absolutely love using the training for the medical procedures so that the animal actually participates in its own health care.”

During this program, students will perform tasks such as giving animals injections, take care and nurse sick animals. Also, students will be required to euthanize some rats, rabbits, or pigeons as food for some of the other animals.

By the end, students will be able to work in almost any situation where animals are present.

Another thing that makes this program special is having the zoo right on campus, according to Zoo Operations and Instructional Lab Technician Mara Rodriguez.

“Here [at Moorpark College], the students walk right out of their classrooms into their labs on campus,” Rodriguez said. “They don’t need to go to another facility in order to do an internship.”

Students who want to join must complete an application for Moorpark College and a separate application for the EATM program. To get the program’s application, please download and print it online from http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/teaching-zoo/applying-to-the-eatm-program.

Prior to applying, the following five prerequisites must be completed: general or introductory biology or zoology course with a lab, freshman college English composition, a public speaking course in speech or communication or an acting class, a safety and/or first aid type course and intermediate algebra math course or higher math course.

The program will only accept applications from Dec. 1 through Jan. 31. Any applications received before or after these dates will be returned or not accepted, according to the program’s website.

In addition to the application, these documents must be received in the EATM office by Jan. 31, or the application will not be reviewed.

Prospective students will also be required to attend an EATM Applicant Informational Meeting and orientation. These meetings will usually occur in March or April. Information concerning the AIM meetings will only be sent to those students who have all the requested application materials on file with EATM by Jan. 31.

The program itself is two years long and students have to work every day with the animals.

“This program is a very large commitment and it is also a challenge because we have to work seven days a week with the animals,” Van Leeuwen said.

The zoo has a wide variety of animals, from birds to big cats and even a Galapagos tortoise. All of the animals have diverse backgrounds and come from all over.

“A lot of times we would get calls from other animal facilities or people that have animals as pets that either are not allowed to keep them anymore because they were kept illegally or just can’t take care of them,” Rodriguez said.

Clarence, the 93-year-old Galapagos tortoise, is one of those animals. He lived at the LA Zoo from 1991 until 2001 when he was moved to America’s Teaching Zoo.

This program is not for everyone because it’s a big commitment. But, the students that come to work hard will gain a lot of experience, be more comfortable around animals and become more successful, Rodriguez said.

Many students hope that this training will help them in their future careers such as Jake Goldrath, a 24-year-old second year student from Long Island, New York.

“I plan to go out of the country and go to facilities that are going to need help with knowing proper design of enclosures and how to feed animals correctly,” Goldrath said. “I want to be that person that makes a big difference and I think Moorpark can help me in doing that.”

Graduates of this program work around the world and in many different settings such as the movie industry, Las Vegas shows, zoos, and theme parks.