Saving the earth

Alex Coolman

COSTA MESA -- The boa constrictor was writhing and the crocodile was

grumbling, but 9-year-old Clara Ritger was fascinated by a parrot.

That’s because the snake and the crocodile were mechanical beasts -- part

of the elaborate, theme-park decor at the Rainforest Cafe in South Coast

Plaza.

But the parrot was the genuine article. The bird was brought in for an

“Earth Month 2000” event that the restaurant, a worldwide chain, had put

together for children such as Clara.

“They couldn’t make it talk,” noted Clara, of Huntington Beach. “But it

tried.”

The environmentally themed event, which was intended to get students

involved in saving the earth, featured a variety of talks from

environmental organizations and a few lighter activities, such as

face-painting.

Tish Flynn, an education specialist from the Santa Ana Zoo, tried to

teach youngsters about the importance of endangered species.

“They will be listening -- if anybody listens -- to a program about the

value of these species,” Flynn said, manipulating a ring-tailed lemur

puppet that she used in the demonstration.

Munching on quesadillas in preparation for their work assisting with the

event, three Orange Coast College sophomores -- members of the school’s

Earth Club -- sounded long on good intentions and a little short on

information on what exactly they were expected to do.

“I think we help with crowd control for the little kids,” said student

Allison Willits.

The promotion also showcased a selection of environmentally themed art

prepared by Orange County schoolchildren, including some contributions

from Costa Mesa Girl Scouts troops.

Particularly entertaining was a piece from fourth-grader Jordan Smith,

who drew an anxious sloth worrying in a tree.

More verbal than the parrot that frustrated Clara’s expectations, the

sloth had a speech bubble coming from its snout that eloquently expressed

its plight.

“I’m a sloth,” it declared. “Save me!”