MOM who lives in a A
ZOO
Talk about living out your wildest dreams! North County mom, Karla Majewski is living her passion and purpose; and, she’s doing it alongside her family and her furry friends. MomsTown sits down for a zoo-side chat with Karla and her critters.
Q: KARLA, YOUR COMPANY IS CALLED PACIFIC ANIMAL PRODUCTIONS. WHAT DO YOU DO? We are an educational and outreach company that brings fun, engaging, and entertaining wildlife programs to schools, libraries, birthday parties and now we have gone virtual so we can truly meet you where you are, if that's in your backyard or in another state.
Q: HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? In 1987 I was working at San Diego “Wild Animal Park’ aka Safari Park. I loved the idea of introducing early learners to nature. The park, at the time, was doing educational programs for older students but not for preschoolers. That is when I had the idea to start a business that enabled us to offer our hands-on educational experiences with unique animals for all ages.
Q: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO HAVE THIS WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE?
The answer is simple but powerful. If we, and our children, do not understand animals and plants and how we are all connected, then no amount of conservation will make a difference to our planet.
Q: HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO GROW
YOUR WILDLIFE BUSINESS?
Being a small “mom start-up” business has allowed us to coexist with the Sea Worlds and Zoos in our southern California area. We don’t compete with those larger organizations, but rather, we are filling niches in the educational community of animal conservation and awareness.
Q: WHAT KIND OF DAILY CHALLENGES DO YOU ENCOUNTER?
Animal care is 24/7, every holiday, days and all nights here at our ranch. We care for more than 100 animals and more than 30 different species. Pet owners know what it takes to buy the food, clean the water, pick up the messes and keep up on the veterinarian care and keep your fur baby exercised and the best part— loving on them — then you times that by a hundred and you get the magnitude of living at a zoo. I, along with my dedicated staff, personalize the care and attention for each animal with the best care team ever.
Q: HOW HAS COVID AND THE RECENT CLOSURES OF
EVENTS AND GATHERINGS IMPACTED YOUR BUSINESS?
My team was a five-member crew. The cancellation of events forced us to downsize. My husband, Mike, our Zoo manager, Jennifer Warden, and our social media and marketing woman, Jessica Malley, run the show. Both Jennifer and Jessica are also accredited zookeepers and hold degrees in animal care and handling.
Q: WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PART OF OWNING PACIFIC
ANIMAL PRODUCTIONS?
I have cherished the time and our ability to operate a zoo (ranch) in Fallbrook, CA. We’ve been here for 33 years. We have raised our family here and they have been alongside us for all of the ups-and-downs, ins-and-outs of running a family business and a small zoo. This experience has given our sons, now 30 and 26 years old, the opportunity to understand responsibility and animal care. As adults, they have told us on numerous occasions how this business has influenced their love of nature, hiking, and exploring our world. I must say, they have grown into amazing men!
Q: HOW HAS THE BUSINESS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?
When we first started, we had completed 15 presentations with 12 exotic animals that were placed with us by different agencies as rescue animals. As we continued into the 1990s we were averaging 325 shows a year. We were at our high in 2019, traveling to five states and conducting more than 1000 conservation programs annually.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE? With the change in our hands-on to Covid-19 practices we have pivoted. We have expanded to virtual animal conservation and nature concept shows for students, birthday kids and friends, scouts, libraries, museums and we’re expanding internationally. When we are cleared again for in-person events, we will do both hands-on and virtual events.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE MOMS TO KNOW? We are available NOW! Our virtual programs are available to help teach your kids about animals and conservation. Children are welcome to join our P.A.C.K. (Pacific Animal Conservation Kids) membership. It’s free to join.
Q: WHAT FINAL TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR MOMS? Keep children connected to nature! Most young three-year-olds can easily identify 10 consumer products advertising signs immediately and yet have no idea what animals live in their own backyard habitats?
Sign the kids up for P.A.C.K. membership at http://pacificanimalproductions.com It's FREE and fun for the kids. MOMSTOWN • JAN 2021
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