Bringing a zoo near you

Cindi Cavallini’s love for animals took the Huntington Beach native to Moorpark College, home of America’s teaching zoo and later to a career as an animal trainer with the circus.

Now an animal trainer for Pacific Animal Productions, Cavallini will bring her passion for wild animals to Huntington Beach children at the Central Library Wednesday.

“It’s kind of a shame that a lot of children might not get to zoos and certainly won’t get to see a lot of animals in the wild, so we bring the animals to them,” Cavallini says.

Pacific Animal Productions is a private zoo founded by Cavallini’s friend and Moorpark roommate Karla Majewski. The Fallbrook-based zoo isn’t open to the public, but rather takes its animals to its audiences.

With more than 200 animals under Pacific Animal Productions’ care, educators are able to design animal shows to cater to all ages and interests.

Cavallini said the animals under their care are donated. They often come from other zoos or are confiscated and cannot be cared for by a regular humane society.

“Some people get exotic animals that they’re not supposed to have and they have to give them to people who are licensed before they get in trouble,” Cavallini said. “That’s where we step in.”

Pacific Animal Productions Marketing Director Emily Dickens said that outside of being in the wild, the animals under the zoo’s care have the highest living standards.

Cavallini said all the animals are well-suited to people. The zoo does shows not only at libraries, but at parties and fairs as well.

Pacific Animal Productions will bring a fennec fox, monkey, chinchilla, kinkajou and hedgehog to Surf City kids. She will also bring a sampling of insects.

Senior Librarian Mary-Pat Gonzales said the educational part of the program is not only fun for the children, but it encourages curiosity.

“Besides the cuteness of the animal you get a lot of information, it’s done in such an entertaining way, the kids learn and have fun,” Gonzalez said.

Children get to see and touch exotic animals while Cavallini tells them about their habits and habitats. Dickens said the goal is to spark an interest among children in the natural world.

“We get kids excited about wildlife and excited about the environment,” Dickens said.

There is a difference after all between seeing a capuchin monkey on TV and actually getting to see a live one.

“We want each show to give each person in the audience a special experience that they’ll take home and will make them feel good about animals,” Dickens said.

Cavallini said she thinks libraries are great venues for teaching kids about animals, because there is even more information readily available for them.

“We always encourage them: ‘Hey you’re here, check out a book.’”

WHAT: Pacific Animal Productions

WHEN: Wednesday 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

WHERE: Tabby Theater, Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave.

COST: $3 for children, $5 for adults.

INFORMATION: (714) 375-5107, www.pacificanimal productions.com.