Orange County Zoo Orange County Zoo
- Thread starter Talli
- Start date
Talli
Well-Known Member
This small zoo is located in the Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California. It costs $3-$5 to get into the park (depending on the day of the week) and $2 to get into the zoo.
Most of the species are native to California. The exhibit design is primarily black chain link fencing, which makes photography a pain, but some attention has been paid to landscaping. The smaller mammals have so many places to hide that I never did find the coati or raccoon. There is also a small contact area/petting zoo. A building in the middle is currently closed - I think for refurbishment. It normally would display a few reptiles and owls along the outside. There is also a free cell phone audio tour, which I didn't try.
Here's a list of current species:
Coyote
Ocelot
Botcat
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Mule Deer
Coati
Raccoon
Beaver
Black Bear
Turkey Vultures
Island Fox
Collared Peccary
Mountain Lion
Redtailed Hawk
And in the Children's Zoo: Dove, Pheasant, Rabbit, Chicken, Goat, Sheep, Pot Bellied Pig
Most of the species are native to California. The exhibit design is primarily black chain link fencing, which makes photography a pain, but some attention has been paid to landscaping. The smaller mammals have so many places to hide that I never did find the coati or raccoon. There is also a small contact area/petting zoo. A building in the middle is currently closed - I think for refurbishment. It normally would display a few reptiles and owls along the outside. There is also a free cell phone audio tour, which I didn't try.
Here's a list of current species:
Coyote
Ocelot
Botcat
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Mule Deer
Coati
Raccoon
Beaver
Black Bear
Turkey Vultures
Island Fox
Collared Peccary
Mountain Lion
Redtailed Hawk
And in the Children's Zoo: Dove, Pheasant, Rabbit, Chicken, Goat, Sheep, Pot Bellied Pig
chrisbarela
Well-Known Member
Could be something really special
This zoo is practically in my backyard. It is very small, though I do not believe that that should mean small in quality. I do think that the zoo suffers from 2 things - lack of budget and lack of imagination. I really do not intend this to be a bash on them at all - budget effect everything with a zoo including what you can do with your exhibits (the imagination part). I think that if they could get someone who can really get the community behind improving this zoo and getting some sponsors then this could be a jewel. And with a better budget they can improve the exhibits to make them intriguing and exciting for guest and animal. As it is right now, there is a lot of unfinished exhibits and areas in a state of construction / undeveloped.
I wish them well and hope things improve.
This zoo is practically in my backyard. It is very small, though I do not believe that that should mean small in quality. I do think that the zoo suffers from 2 things - lack of budget and lack of imagination. I really do not intend this to be a bash on them at all - budget effect everything with a zoo including what you can do with your exhibits (the imagination part). I think that if they could get someone who can really get the community behind improving this zoo and getting some sponsors then this could be a jewel. And with a better budget they can improve the exhibits to make them intriguing and exciting for guest and animal. As it is right now, there is a lot of unfinished exhibits and areas in a state of construction / undeveloped.
I wish them well and hope things improve.
I have never been there, but based on the web and photos I have seen, it is not very good. The other zoo in Orange County, Santa Ana Zoo, is also small and not very good (although they are better now with the new pampas exhibit, based on photos on this site).
It is just ironic (and very sad) that the home of Disneyland and Knotts and several other tourist attractions, that are very good, is home to two very tiny and outdated zoos. I mean Orange County is one of the top tourist draws in the United States and they can't even get one good zoo.
I know this will never happen, but it seems to me the best plan would be for those two zoos to merge and try to make one better zoo for the visitors and residents of Orange County, California.
It is just ironic (and very sad) that the home of Disneyland and Knotts and several other tourist attractions, that are very good, is home to two very tiny and outdated zoos. I mean Orange County is one of the top tourist draws in the United States and they can't even get one good zoo.
I know this will never happen, but it seems to me the best plan would be for those two zoos to merge and try to make one better zoo for the visitors and residents of Orange County, California.
chrisbarela
Well-Known Member
I agree with your reply - in Orange County they should be able to get public support, business sponsors and funding from the city. Both zoos could be doing more to attract local businesses to financially support improvements. Another local attraction - a hands-on science museum in Anaheim is able to get great attention and funding from local businesses and the place is always packed. People have to practically stumble into the OCZoo.
The last time I was there, which was not long ago, there were renovations being done on the inside of that exhibit and those animals were taken off display, did it appear those areas were finished now? Those animals are usually quite active and not difficult to spot on my visits.
I also recall that the building across from the mountain lion exhibit (which was renovated over the summer) is getting some work done too, it houses reptiles and a tarantula on one side and owls on the other.
Both Zoos have suffered enormous budget cutbacks over the past several years. OC Zoo was supposed to open a Seal Cove exhibit some years ago and even had the animals on hold at Sea World San Diego for a time before the project was scrapped, it would have been a multimillion dollar exhibit before funding fell through.
Santa Ana was supposed to get a Jaguar exhibit years ago but the city of Santa Ana has mercilessly cut it's zoo spending as well. I am privy to other inside information but suffice it to say considering what they have gone through the Santa Ana Zoo has fared quite well given the state of their funding. Elements of the city government itself are under investigation for various reasons. That they were able to add Giant Anteaters, Camels, and provide a more spacious new area for 4 guanacos and 5 rheas is pretty cool.
OC Zoo is operated by the County Parks dept, and Santa Ana by the city government. Disney and Knotts are owned by companies with money to spend. It's not difficult to see why the Zoos can be considered underwhelming. But the Zoo has done some really good things including multipe Golden Lion Tamarin births and Crested Capuchin births over the past couple of years which one would not expect from one of the smallest and underfunded AZA accredited zoos. OC Zoo at least has had a big facelift lately and is much nicer than it was even 3 years ago.
According to a former employee with Santa Ana, this was examined some time ago.
The problems are:
a)Who has to move, especially given that both facilities have put a fair amount of money into renovating existing exhibits in recent times. Likely OC Zoo would be the one to move since it was smaller, Santa Ana does not necessairly have the space for that entire collection at the moment, it would require a lot of exhibit construction.
b)Are there any animals in the OC Zoo collectionnot in line for the plan at Santa Ana? Will OC Zoo's ZAA accreditation vs. Santa Ana's AZA accreditation be an issue?
c)What would the cost split be between the city of Santa Ana and county of Orange? Both sides are looking to reduce expenses as much as possible and taking on more dollars is not in line with what either want to do.
The good news is that things are improving at both Zoos slowly but steadily, for the animals as well as the human employees and guests.
You presume the city/county has money that it does not necessarily have, especially Santa Ana which does not get the income from the major tourist attractions like Anaheim.
As for the businesses? They could be there, but the join problem of bureaucratic red tape and the fact that the Zoos are still small make it less attractive.
Name one thing.
You mean the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana? Just off the 5? I love that place, lots more since they opened up Science of Hockey.
It's in a great location, they have lots of corporate sponsorships (They are officially the "Taco Bell Discovery Science Center") and their location gives them heaps of free advertising (I mean you can see their building, the giant Cube,and a Nasa rocket all from the northbound freeway heading towards Disneyland). They have been very successful, they aren't nearly as dependent on municipal funding like the Zoos are though. I know I sound redundant but it really all boils back down to how much the government is willing to pay.
Talli
Well-Known Member
I like both zoos - would either make my top 10 list, probably not, but they seem to be doing a good job with the resources they have. I'll post photos when there's a gallery for OC.
The exhibits with coati and raccoon didn't seem to be under construction - the work was being done on the building with the owls and reptiles.
I guess I don't usually think in terms of going after more government funding since my home zoo - Phoenix, doesn't get any. Whenever I'm traveling in Calif., the news about local government finances is pretty dismal. I know my nephew had to move to another state since he was working in a city or county field.
Are there animal displays in that big cube science museum? I've driven past it several times... Also - has anyone been in the Nature Center next to the OC Zoo? Does it have animals?
The exhibits with coati and raccoon didn't seem to be under construction - the work was being done on the building with the owls and reptiles.
I guess I don't usually think in terms of going after more government funding since my home zoo - Phoenix, doesn't get any. Whenever I'm traveling in Calif., the news about local government finances is pretty dismal. I know my nephew had to move to another state since he was working in a city or county field.
Are there animal displays in that big cube science museum? I've driven past it several times... Also - has anyone been in the Nature Center next to the OC Zoo? Does it have animals?
Ok, it's been a couple of months since I was last there and I remember both of those animals as being off exhibit while crews did some serious work on the inside. Maybe it was just bad luck.
Do not be surprised if Santa Ana Zoo has been privatized within the next 12-18 months, which might eventually be what is needed for the Zoo to develop further.
There are no permanent Animal Exhibits there, they have had temporary ones in the past featuring insects and reptiles.
No live animals there.
cloudedleopard
Well-Known Member
OC and Santa Ana
I personally rate OC Zoo #5 and Santa Ana #8-#12. Part of SA Zoo is crap, like the admission- $10 and $7! SA was worth $5 each. The camel exhibit is a disgrace. I have visited Columbus Zoo's Heart of Africa and seen the camels, which have a palace compared to Santa Ana. OC was #5 and the top zoo for native wildlife in my opinion. The size was perfect, all the animal exhibits (except the rabbits and the burro) were good, and the admission was only $2 each. We spent 20 minutes at OC and we walked around the shrubby area and caught a lizard with a stick under a trash can. We went to the nature center next to OC Zoo. It had artifacts from animals and a wall displaying the periods of the history of CA. My local nature centers all have animals. OC Zoo is similar to one of our local nature centers because both OC and the nature center have rescued native wildlife. OC had no gift shop and I only realized I could get a patch for completing the scavenger hunt much later! I kept the tickets from OC. OC's rabbit hutches were barren and small and the burro exhibit was just hard ground, dust and the burro itself. I rate OC #2 for spotting native wildlife with the Living Desert #1. Spotting native wildlife means seeing native wildlife in the wild, such as a lizard running, instead of the exhibits of native wildlife.
I personally rate OC Zoo #5 and Santa Ana #8-#12. Part of SA Zoo is crap, like the admission- $10 and $7! SA was worth $5 each. The camel exhibit is a disgrace. I have visited Columbus Zoo's Heart of Africa and seen the camels, which have a palace compared to Santa Ana. OC was #5 and the top zoo for native wildlife in my opinion. The size was perfect, all the animal exhibits (except the rabbits and the burro) were good, and the admission was only $2 each. We spent 20 minutes at OC and we walked around the shrubby area and caught a lizard with a stick under a trash can. We went to the nature center next to OC Zoo. It had artifacts from animals and a wall displaying the periods of the history of CA. My local nature centers all have animals. OC Zoo is similar to one of our local nature centers because both OC and the nature center have rescued native wildlife. OC had no gift shop and I only realized I could get a patch for completing the scavenger hunt much later! I kept the tickets from OC. OC's rabbit hutches were barren and small and the burro exhibit was just hard ground, dust and the burro itself. I rate OC #2 for spotting native wildlife with the Living Desert #1. Spotting native wildlife means seeing native wildlife in the wild, such as a lizard running, instead of the exhibits of native wildlife.
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