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and bought 600 acres (2.4 km) of land to build a new ranch, naming it Africa U.S.A. Africa U.S.A. was a training compound and a provider of animals for
Hollywood. Some of its animals were Clarence, the cross-eyed lion; Judy, the chimp in
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In
January 1969, Africa U.S.A. was devastated by a powerful storm over Soledad Canyon which severely flooded the region and caused mudslides in the canyons. 20 of the 1,500 animals of the ranch were killed by the torrential flooding.
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Helfer bought out Marine World in 1972 when it went bankrupt and added a wildlife park and "jungle theater", renaming the park as Marine World/Africa U.S.A. This park was the predecessor of
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During these years, Helfer created what he called "affection training", which purported to replace the whip, gun, and chair of the old-school handlers with love, understanding, and respect.
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amusement attraction. When this park went bankrupt in 1977, he created another company and training park called "Gentle Jungle". The Gentle Jungle
Affection Training School was based in
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life stories of noted animals. He now lives in Los
Angeles and Kenya, where he leads safari tours with his company Eden International Safaris and Treks.
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and had one sister, Sally. In 1942, his mother left her husband Sam and moved with her children to
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In the 1990s, he began a successful career as a writer. Most of his books are
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in 1968. Ralph and Toni later divorced but remained best of friends.
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by the veterinarian, not Helfer. The matter was supposed to go to the
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African Safari: Kenya
Imagine Seeing So Many Animals--And So Close?
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134:. He also was a partner and chairman of a small theme park in
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violations. During this period, he owned the "human" chimp
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called
Enchanted Village, built on the site of the defunct
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Toni Ringo Helfer (d. March 20, 2012) published the book
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In 1981, Helfer wrote and produced the adventure film
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221:Tana Helfer played the role of Kristie in
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86:(originally named Bruno), the bear in
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424:Biography on HarperCollins web site
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227:and was the subject of the book
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446:TV Guide - June 22, 1968
330:History of Vasquez Rocks
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253:The Beauty of the Beasts
229:When you fight the tiger
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29:Marine World/Africa USA
19:(born April 9, 1931 in
136:Buena Park, California
112:, who appeared in the
469:Blog of Tana Helfer
287:- Orchard - 2002 -
148:Lion Country Safari
49:Hollywood Boulevard
407:The New York Times
160:Animal Welfare Act
144:Colton, California
108:". Helfer trained
350:- Duncan Strauss
200:The Gentle Jungle
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489:1931 births
106:Shore Leave
35:Early years
478:Categories
312:References
193:nonfiction
89:Gentle Ben
25:ethologist
274:- 1998 -
235:- 1984 -
206:- 1980 -
104:episode "
101:Star Trek
45:Hollywood
383:"Oliver"
344:Archived
216:TV Guide
168:overdose
116:logo as
95:Daktari
79:Daktari
41:Chicago
392:: 3–4.
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55:Career
410:- By
298:Zamba
285:Mosey
267:Modoc
178:Media
150:, in
110:Zamba
464:IMDb
390:News
302:ISBN
289:ISBN
276:ISBN
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237:ISBN
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156:USDA
462:at
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114:MGM
84:Ben
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