@Ian: probably this was a northern elephant seal. There are rescued animals that still show up in zoos occasionally. There is a marine mammal rescue facility near San Francisco that rehabilitates injured or orphaned sea lions and seals: The Marine Mammal Center : Home
People can visit their facility and get a tour. My mother-in-law is a docent there.
There are at least 2 really good places to see wild northern elephant seals in California. In Northern California about 45 minutes from SF there is the Ano Nuevo State Park: Año Nuevo SP
In Southern California there is an elephant seal colony literally just to the side of the Pacific Coast Highway near San Simeon and Hearst's Castle: FES Home
@Ian: probably this was a northern elephant seal. There are rescued animals that still show up in zoos occasionally. There is a marine mammal rescue facility near San Francisco that rehabilitates injured or orphaned sea lions and seals: The Marine Mammal Center : Home
People can visit their facility and get a tour. My mother-in-law is a docent there.
There are at least 2 really good places to see wild northern elephant seals in California. In Northern California about 45 minutes from SF there is the Ano Nuevo State Park: Año Nuevo SP
In Southern California there is an elephant seal colony literally just to the side of the Pacific Coast Highway near San Simeon and Hearst's Castle: FES Home
An article from the 1967 5th issue of Zoo View, details the capture of two yearling Northern Elephants Seals captured on Mexico's Guadalupe Island, a male and female. The Los Angeles Zoo waited months for a permit.
They can also be found off the Southern California Coast, on the Channel Islands National Park.
An article from the 1967 5th issue of Zoo View, details the capture of two yearling Northern Elephants Seals captured on Mexico's Guadalupe Island, a male and female. The Los Angeles Zoo waited months for a permit.
They can also be found off the Southern California Coast, on the Channel Islands National Park.
Their collection eventually included 1.4.0. I can remember the male reaching
quite an impressive size. I was very sad after they were no longer exhibited, and don't really remember why.
Their collection eventually included 1.4.0. I can remember the male reaching
quite an impressive size. I was very sad after they were no longer exhibited, and don't really remember why.
@Blackduiker: Do you think that the LA Zoo was a better zoo when it once had a more diverse collection even though the animals were in what would now be considered horrible enclosures, or do you think that it is better than it ever has been with the newer enclosures that feature fewer species, but much better environments for them? I would be very interested in hearing your perspective on this seeing as you have experienced it for its entire history.
I have been visiting the zoo since I move to LA in 1997 (and visited once before that in 1989). I remember seeing many animals in those visits that are no longer in LA (African elephant, polar bear, spectacled bear, Tasmanian devil, wombat, kiwi, dingo, grey wolf, sloth bear, spectacled bear, zebra duiker, etc.) I miss some of these species, but I do feel that the LA Zoo is a better zoo now than it has been in the past and I really like having it as my home zoo.
