24 Thursday, April 10, 1997 Pahrump Valley Gazette
And you thought your house was a zoo
By: Linsey Lowes
As I knocked on the door, a voice said, "Come in!" I
entered the room and stood, looking around to see where
the voice had come from. "Pssst, C'mere,' the voice said
as I swivelled my head some more. "Hey, you, c'mere"
and I turned to notice a huge red parrot. As I approached
he asked, "Got a cracker? CRACKER?!?" That's when I
realized that I was alone in the house.
When I looked to the direction of the opening door, I
wasn't prepared to see a cougar walk into the house, fol-
lowed by Ginger Licot, our paper's freelance graphic de-
signer. '€l'here you are," Ginger said closing the door be-
hind the cat's four foot tail. "I thought I saw your car
outside?' We went in to her studio, crammed with com-
puters and synthesizers. I was surprised to see the huge
cat jump up on the sofa, lay down, and snuggle into the
pillows. "What's that noise?" I asked skeptically, "Char-
lotte," she said, pointing to the cat. "Uhm, what's she
doing?" Crossing over to plop on the couch next to the
cat, she replied, "Purring!" To myselfI thought it sounded
more like an engine revving, but, as the cat crept up on
her lap and nuzzled her neck, I realized that purring it
must he.
We took a wonderful tour of the compound, where I was
Charlotte the cougar and friend on the studio sofa
introduced to some more cougars, lions, tigers, lynx, bobcats, servals, wolves, a
slew of multicolored parrots, falcons, and last but not least, Archimedes, an enor-
mous Eagle Owl with bright orange eyes. Peacocks were nestled in the tree
branches, with their long, brilliantly colored tails draping almost down to the ground,
mewing loudly to each other and the world at large.
Oasis Exotics, the 15 acre non-profit facility, located off Homestead, near the Double
Eagle Casino and Pacific Sod, is home to approximately 130 exotic animals. A
good portion of the animals are adopted, rescued, or boarding. Some animals
were placed there by the Department of Fish and Wildlife or Animal Control.
Receiving no funding, the money comes from donations of food, building supplies
and volunteer workers. Everything earned through Ginger's freelance graphic
design customers goes to feed, house, and provide veterinary care for the residents
of the small zoo. Income is also derived from Ginger's and the animal's perfor-
mances, live and on film. Additionally, Ginger, and resident trainer Don Groner,
train other people's animals for their exhibitions, mostly educational performances
at other zoos and animal parks.
Although the facility is not open to the public, it's possible to make a pdvat ap-
pointment to meet the animals, photo sessions for yourself or photo club, or infor-
mation on volunteering, as well as graphic design services. For more information,
you can call the folks at Oasis Exotics at (702) 727-9085.
"Woltle"
F,-o00 A Zoo
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