Perhaps now that Praha will be getting monkeys from China, LA is going to make a second attempt to acquire them.
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Los Angeles Zoo News 2017
- Thread starter Coelacanth18
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Perhaps now that Praha will be getting monkeys from China, LA is going to make a second attempt to acquire them.
Around 2000, 5.5 came to Sylvan Heights Bird Park at the same time some went to Slimbridge WWT. Sylvan Heights' seem to have spread to Livingston-Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy, Pinola Conservancy (closed to the public), and likely other private keepers before making its appearance in AZA zoos. They can now be seen at Busch Gardens Tampa, Fort Worth Zoo, (apparently) Columbus, and soon, LA. Probably a few others that slipped under the radar. Not sure about the situation in Europe.
Los Angeles Zoo certainly has a lot of rarities and many species that are not commonly displayed in American zoos. I typed out a list from the zoo's website but can anyone confirm whether ALL of these species can be seen during a typical visit...thanks!
Greater One-Horned Rhino, Mountain Tapir, Sichuan Takin, Okapi, Calamian Deer, Lowland Anoa, Black Duiker, Chinese Goral, Southern Gerenuk, Peninsular Pronghorn, Chacoan Peccary, Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby, Red Uakari, Giant Otter, Panay Cloud Rat, Lowland Paca, Short-Beaked Echidna, Double-Wattled Cassowary, Sarus Crane, African Crowned Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Harpy Eagle, Hawaiian Short-Eared Owl, Greater Roadrunner, West African Green Mamba, South American Bushmaster, Fly River Turtle, Chinese Giant Salamander and Sonoran Toad.
Greater One-Horned Rhino, Mountain Tapir, Sichuan Takin, Okapi, Calamian Deer, Lowland Anoa, Black Duiker, Chinese Goral, Southern Gerenuk, Peninsular Pronghorn, Chacoan Peccary, Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby, Red Uakari, Giant Otter, Panay Cloud Rat, Lowland Paca, Short-Beaked Echidna, Double-Wattled Cassowary, Sarus Crane, African Crowned Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Harpy Eagle, Hawaiian Short-Eared Owl, Greater Roadrunner, West African Green Mamba, South American Bushmaster, Fly River Turtle, Chinese Giant Salamander and Sonoran Toad.
I've never seen the owl. Apparently it was part of the bird show, but is no longer there from what I'm told. The echidna is very hit or miss; there is one in with the koalas that is sometimes out, but I see it very rarely. The rhino is very old and is sometimes inside her barn. Nobody I know has ever see the cloud rats. Don't know if the pacas are still at the zoo or where they are. Ditto the crowned and fish eagles (they may be there, don't know where).
Besides a few that don't seem too showy, most of these species can be seen. I only know one person who has seen the Panay cloud rats, as they are unfortunately not in a nocturnal exhibit. The echidna (a rare subspecies- Kangaroo Island) as well as the paca aren't always extremely visible but aren't impossible to see. The most confusing is the Hawaiian short-eared owl: does not seem to be in the bird show nor on exhibit. Besides that, the rest are in exhibits and generally easy to see.
When you say Sonoran Toad, do you mean Incilius alvarius also known as the Colorado River Toad? Or do you possibly mean Anaxyrus retiformis, the Sonoran Green Toad?
I have been to Los Angeles several times in the past 2 years and I've never failed to see an echidna. In fact, per my most recent visit they have two. They have historically alternated between the outdoor koala exhibit and the nocturnal house.
The lowland paca is on exhibit (in RotA, with the howler monkeys) but it's always in a den box so you can't really see it (except occasionally a foot).
The rhino is actually the oldest of her species in North America (possibly the world, would need to double-check). She's hit-or-miss these days.
Can't guarantee the uakaris, but you can see the enclosure from the RotA path and more often than not you can catch a glimpse of one.
Don't get your hopes up about the cloud rats; you won't see them.
I've actually found the anoa to be hit-or-miss, but I usually go late in the day so maybe that's why. Also, I have never seen the sarus cranes despite visiting the enclosure multiple times (again, perhaps because I visit too late).
All of the others except the short-eared owl (and possibly the crowned eagle, which I don't recall) should be no problem.
The lowland paca is on exhibit (in RotA, with the howler monkeys) but it's always in a den box so you can't really see it (except occasionally a foot).
The rhino is actually the oldest of her species in North America (possibly the world, would need to double-check). She's hit-or-miss these days.
Can't guarantee the uakaris, but you can see the enclosure from the RotA path and more often than not you can catch a glimpse of one.
Don't get your hopes up about the cloud rats; you won't see them.
I've actually found the anoa to be hit-or-miss, but I usually go late in the day so maybe that's why. Also, I have never seen the sarus cranes despite visiting the enclosure multiple times (again, perhaps because I visit too late).
All of the others except the short-eared owl (and possibly the crowned eagle, which I don't recall) should be no problem.
Thanks for the help @DavidBrown and @jayjds2 and @Coelacanth18 ...much appreciated! I can scarcely wait until I'm at the Los Angeles Zoo again in mid-July, as my only previous visit was way back in 2008. It seems to me that all the best sections (LAIR buildings, Rainforest of the Americas, reopened Australia House, Elephants of Asia) are all new since my visit.
Los Angeles Zoo is obviously a major American zoological facility and I'm thrilled to see the recent developments. However, there are 20+ "roundhouse exhibits" from the 1960's that we all know are mediocre at best, plus many large mammals (tigers, lions, bears, hippos with no underwater viewing, giraffes, etc.) in enclosures that could use significant upgrades. It is quite a contrast from a zoo like North Carolina or Saint Louis where one would be hard pressed to find anything that needs to be dramatically altered. Anyway, Los Angeles has the lure of Mountain Tapirs, Red Uakaris and other delights that I hope to see plus a new Master Plan on the immediate horizon...and LAIR looks to be awesome.
I'll be there on Thursday, July 13th!
@Ituri The zoo lists Incilius alvarius on its website.
Los Angeles Zoo is obviously a major American zoological facility and I'm thrilled to see the recent developments. However, there are 20+ "roundhouse exhibits" from the 1960's that we all know are mediocre at best, plus many large mammals (tigers, lions, bears, hippos with no underwater viewing, giraffes, etc.) in enclosures that could use significant upgrades. It is quite a contrast from a zoo like North Carolina or Saint Louis where one would be hard pressed to find anything that needs to be dramatically altered. Anyway, Los Angeles has the lure of Mountain Tapirs, Red Uakaris and other delights that I hope to see plus a new Master Plan on the immediate horizon...and LAIR looks to be awesome.
I'll be there on Thursday, July 13th!@Ituri The zoo lists Incilius alvarius on its website.
A hippo exhibit with underwater viewing was part of the project plans for the 1998 bond and master plan, but it got cancelled when the elephant exhibit expanded in space and budget. A new lion exhibit was planned but got cancelled because of concerns that whole sections of the zoo need to be reengineered to meet ADA requirements. Expect them to be part of the new master plan. In the master plan public meetings and maps released so far it's clear that replacing the roundhouses and outdated large mammal exhibits is the goal of the new master plan.
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The Panay Cloud Rat is my personal white whale, and it's rather certain you won't see it. I go once every couple of months and despite always looking, I'm not certain it actually exists. I think LA has a few signed animals that don't exist (jerboa, most anything else in the cave exhibits that isn't a road-runner or axolotl). The Cloud Rat and the Sarus Cranes have always been a miss for me no matter what time of day I've visited. My experiences generally line up with @Coelacanth18. The only one on your list I don't see anyone else mentioned is the African Fish Eagle,which as far as I can recall can be seen in the bird show.
@Shellheart: The African fish eagle lives in the same roundhouse as the Steller's sea eagles, over by the siamangs and takin.
I'm fairly confident that the cloud rats *are* there, as there are three enclosures signed for them, two of which don't hold anything else. Probably those exhibits would have been re-purposed if the rats were gone. As for the jerboa, I have never seen it and I'm also skeptical of its existence. The state of that cave area (exhibit-wise) is quite sad.
Also, not sure when this happened but a previously empty enclosure in the Children's Zoo is now signed for North American porcupine.
I'm fairly confident that the cloud rats *are* there, as there are three enclosures signed for them, two of which don't hold anything else. Probably those exhibits would have been re-purposed if the rats were gone. As for the jerboa, I have never seen it and I'm also skeptical of its existence. The state of that cave area (exhibit-wise) is quite sad.
Also, not sure when this happened but a previously empty enclosure in the Children's Zoo is now signed for North American porcupine.
Now that you mention it, that does sound right. I think my brain must have blocked out the idea of having such a large bird in those dreadful things. I feel pity for them, but it's dwarfed by the feeling I get every time I see their Andean Condor in the roundhouse across from the Military Macaws.
I agree... my opinions about the roundhouses vary depending on the species held in them, but I would definitely rather see the raptors in more spacious enclosures. At least the harpy eagle has more room.
@snowleopard: In addition to those species, don't forget to be excited about other rare LA species: Tasmanian devil, southern hairy-nosed wombat, Indian gharial, tomistoma, Mexican giant horned lizard, Grey's monitor, buff-cheeked gibbon, red-capped mangabey, and babirusa. These species are very visible, and the devils are the most active I've ever seen! They are always romping around their enclosure.
Thanks for listing off some more rarities. Los Angeles Zoo is probably a contender for being one of the top 10 zoos in the USA in terms of its impressive animal collection, but probably a top 40 zoo if one were to rank it based on its overall list of exhibits. Either way I'll be there on July 13th if anyone wishes to meet a Canadian zoo enthusiast!
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
And I'll be there about a week before! I'm looking forward to it enormously, not least because, for a European, there is a certain glamour to LA, even if the zoo is not necessarily the world's best.
With your interest in zoo history you might also find the Old LA Zoo remains of interest while you are in Griffith Park. They are about a mile from the zoo.
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
Thanks David; I'm very much hoping to pop in to to the site of the old zoo. Is it fairly obvious where it is? I don't especially want to be wandering round the wilds of Griffith Park in the early evening.....
So I thought it was fishy that the master plan website didn't mention the June 24 meeting, but I decided to go at 7 PM anyway just to check. Doors were locked, no one was there. Still no mention of it on the website and no meeting video.
The Los Angeles Zoo has received a female 46 year old Asian Elephant named Shaunzi. She will be in quarantine for 30 days before being introduced to Tina and Jewl. A big move – Shaunzi the Asian elephant relocated to Los Angeles Zoo
There is a video of her on Facebook getting a hose down in one of the elephant yards where they do daily presentations.
There is a video of her on Facebook getting a hose down in one of the elephant yards where they do daily presentations.
I checked the website the other day and was similarly confused that no mention of the June 24 meeting (ever) on their Masterplan website. I would have expected some sort of a communique from Zoo Management before long: including its deferral and setting a new term date ... What happened???
Re: I am happy with the Asian elephant relocation from Fresno's Chaffee Zoo. It is the best possible solution for the newly lone female Shaunzi (after the recent loss of her longtime companion Kara) and provides her with continued socialisation with individuals of her own kind.