SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - From fish to bats, insects and even a fruit-loving monkey, the Effie Yeaw Nature Centre went batty, ape and bananas for its recent open day.

Nature Fest is the center’s largest annual event, drawing more than 700 visitors to the Carmichael facility. Creatures great and small were paraded.

A 500-pound alligator called Spike and a lemur named Darwin were introduced by Gabe Kerschner, who runs an animal sanctuary in Placer County. His rescued animals are stars of television and hundreds of school programs.

Newcomer this year was a kookaburra called Kona. The Aussie export entered Kerschner’s menagerie when neighbors of the previous owner complained of raucous morning calls.

“He’s not called the laughing kookaburra for nothing,” Kerschner said.

Nature Fest supporters also viewed a regional lineup: including cooing doves, native raptors, a racoon and a rattlesnake.

For information on Effie Yeaw Nature Center events, visit www.sacnaturecenter.net.