Event Adds Green to Jaguar Rain Forest

Animals were part of the fun at Zoofari 2000--Night of the Jaguar, the Santa Ana Zoo’s black-tie dinner dance.

At the eighth annual fund-raiser, staged by the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo on the zoo grounds Saturday, couples enjoyed hors d’oeuvres as they wandered past ponds dotted with black-necked swans.

Also on the party agenda: photo ops with a resident emu.

The martini bar proved about as popular as the newly installed Jack Lynch Aviary, which had its audience entranced by the seemingly choreographed moves of 11 playful ring-tailed lemurs.

Later, the 450 guests--clad in safari-inspired formal attire that ranged from pith helmets and spiffy Bermuda shorts to gowns splashed with leopard and zebra prints--gathered at tables on the lawn for an elegant buffet and dancing.

“We feel fortunate to have such large hearts in Orange County that care about supporting our little jewel of a zoo,” said Paige Kunkle, co-chair of the event with her husband, Jay, president of the Friends of the Zoo.

Proceeds of $125,000 will go toward the building of a rain-forest habitat for a South American jaguar--listed as highly endangered by the U. S. Department of the Interior--that is scheduled to open next year.

“It’s been inspiring to me to see the zoo develop habitats. . . . They add greatly to the comfort and enrichment [of the animals], and that’s very important to me,” said Kathleen Edman, who was honored at the event along with her husband, Chris, and fellow Newport Beach residents Tom and Debbie Newmeyer. “I’ve always had a keen interest in animals, especially exotic animals in captivity.”

For Tom Newmeyer, the zoo is a delightful place to bring children. “That’s what got us involved initially; we were interested in something local that would be educational and fun for our two sons,” he said.

“They call it their zoo now,” Debbie Newmeyer added.

Also on the guest list: animal conservationist Tippi Hedren and her daughter, Tracy Griffiths; Kelly Bozza; Roseanne Bye; Carol Carty; Curtis Farrell; Ron Glazier; Sue Kolbas; Dorie Levenson; Terese Oliver; Donna Swift; Bill and Donel Wiles; and Chris Wilkin.

The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park is at 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 953-8555.