Wild things were on the prowl and feline fine at one of the fiercest events of the year-the L.A. Zoo’s annual Beastly Ball. The park has plenty of incredible creatures, but energetic trustee Betty White might be among the most awesome of all.
Since she wrapped up 180 episodes of “The Golden Girls,” the spunky actress has added a phenomenal 50 credits to her impressive resume, including turns on “Boston Legal,” “My Name is Earl” and her hit summer flick, “The Proposal.” As a longtime zoo trustee, she’s been a familiar face at the beastly bash. Malibu Seen marveled at her ultra active 87 years, but was quickly corrected.
“Oh, I’m not 87,” she said, looking quite pleased. “I’m 87 and a half!”
The evening’s other star was philanthropist Laura Wasserman, who was feted for her commitment to animals.
As the sun went down, safari-clad revelers snaked their way around the zoo’s lush grounds. The ball is an ambitious affair that mixes fun, food and animal education. When it comes to creating an imaginative party atmosphere, there’s nothing like checking out the graceful giraffes or hanging with the hefty hippos. Many stopped to admire a stunning Sumatran tiger that was lounging under a palm tree.
“They are known for their giant jaws and awesome paws,” we were told. “Their numbers are dwindling because of habitat loss and poachers. There are just four to five thousand left in the world.”
The zoo’s conservation programs make sure that big cats like the Sumatran are around for future generations to enjoy.
The critters come from all over the world-and so does the food-at this fling. When it comes to snacking, there are lots of choices to feed the hungry two-legged hoards.
Celestino Drago was busy whipping up a yummy Italian farfalle pasta with salmon in a creamy dill sauce, Bar Celona dished out a spicy Spanish Paella, and Typhoon offered Thai sausage cabbage wraps and chilled tofu.
There were imaginative and one-of-a-kind items at the live auction. Bidders pounced on a behind-the-scenes zoo adventure with Betty and a reptile outing with Guns N’ Roses rocker Slash. The fundraiser helps the Los Angeles Zoo continue its work as an educational resource and an international center for the conservation of endangered wildlife.
The event raised more than $1.2 million, and given the beastly state of the economy, that’s something to roar about!
Got a hot happening or cool event? Send the 411 to kimdevore@malibtimes.com.