If you've ever wondered where the people who work in zoos learn their trade, one of the top places in the world is right here in SoCal.

When was the last time you got to pet a porcupine, hold a hedgehog in your hand, or be three feet from a lion? Well all of those things are possible at America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College.

It's a living, breathing classroom with animals from around the world, including a 90-year-old Galapagos tortoise named Clarence with the face of a mini dinosaur.

Clarence is one of more than 125 animals that Zoo Operations Staff Member Mara Rodriguez has come to know at America's Teaching Zoo over the 29 years that she's been here.

"When I was little I always dreamed of working with animals. So I researched, asked some trainers at a theme park here locally, where they got their experience to get their dream job, and they all said that they came to the exotic animal training and management program here at Moorpark College," said Rodriguez.

She got her degree here back in 1992 and then never left. 

"Every animal here in America’s Teaching Zoo is a teacher themselves. So we have the human teachers on two legs. And then we have the teachers with scales and feathers and claws and paws," said Rodriguez. 

The zoo is open to the public and as a field trip destination for local schools every week. Students both learn and work here. They're responsible for most of the care, feeding and well-being of the animals, under close faculty and staff supervision. 

It's apparent that they enjoy sharing their knowledge and affection for the animals with the children that are seated in the outdoor orpheum attending a class session featuring a donkey, a huge lizard, and some snakes.

Amber Miletta wants to be a marine biologist, but she's having fun with her assigned animal this semester, a donkey named 'Julian.'

"What I love is that we bring tons of people together and spread awareness about these animals and environmental conservation," she said.

Many of these animals were rescued from illegal or unsafe environments including two young tigers named 'Neil' and 'Karma.' 

For more information about visiting the zoo or attending the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program: http://zoo.moorparkcollege.edu/visitor-information/