Get Spotted at the Zoo! An ocelot is roaming for food and will soon have a comfortable home and plenty of food to call its own at Santa Ana Zoo. You're invited to an event where you can get up close and personal to some special animals. The Zoo's annual fundraiser on August 27, 2011 celebrates its 19th season with a Zoofari black-tie gala, "Get Spotted at the Zoo!" The glamorous evening includes valet parking service, a hosted bar, a fully catered sit-down dinner, animal encounters, live and silent auctions. Enjoy an evening under the stars with live music, dancing, and a special photo opportunity with a Zoo animal!

Time: 5:30pm to Midnight, Location: Santa Ana Zoo, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92701. Cost: $225. Phone: (714) 953-8555 x 10. santaanazoo.org/newsevec.htm

Some of our favorite zoo events are seasonal and fun. Most zoos in California offer Boo Zoo events during Halloween season, and some even have Christmas events with "Santa" treats and gifts to the animals in the zoo.

There are more than 15 zoos in California, and most host fundraisers to support special animal causes. Check out a zoo near you or visit one of these California zoos:

• Applegate Zoo, Merced - mercedzoo.com
• Charles Paddock Zoo, Atascadero - charlespaddockzoo.org
• CuriOdyssey, San Mateo (small zoo) - curiodyssey.org
• Chaffee Zoo, Fresno - chaffeezoo.org
• Happy Hollow Zoo, San Jose (small zoo) - hhpz.org
• Living Desert, Palm Desert - livingdesert.org
• Los Angeles Zoo, L.A. - lazoo.org
• Moonridge Zoo, Big Bear Lake - moonridgezoo.org
• Oakland Zoo, Oakland - oaklandzoo.org
• Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento - saczoo.org
• Safari West Wildlife Preserve, Santa Rosa - safariwest.com
• San Diego Zoo, San Diego - sandiegozoo.org
• San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido - sandiegozoo.org
• San Francisco Zoological Garden, San Francisco - sfzoo.org
• Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, Santa Barbara - sbzoo.org
• Sequoia Park Zoo, Eureka - sequoiaparkzoo.net
• Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo - sixflags.com