I haven't been there in over a year so I can't verify the current holdings. I'm also unsure how comprehensive or up-to-date the animal list on their website is.
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens African Crowned Eagle from LA Zoo
- Thread starter Westcoastperson
- Start date
I haven't been there in over a year so I can't verify the current holdings. I'm also unsure how comprehensive or up-to-date the animal list on their website is.
I haven't seen either the fish eagles or sea eagles on any of the monthly animal transaction documents so assumably both are still there.
Ok this is kind of dragging on and I doubt either of us will budge on where we stand so let's agree we have different ideas on what should have been done. The bird has been moved and there isn't much of a point in complaining online about it. I would just like if anyone has the answer why they moved the bird, what provoked them to do it (spacing issues, if it was on loan, or was asked for).
Mixing an African Crowned Eagle with a breeding flock of smaller Cape Vultures sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. I'm not sure how the eagle would fit in the world aviary because doing so would results in all of the other birds present to be eaten and visitors be attacked, or the aviary would close as a walkthrough and the zoo would lose all of the other birds already exhibited in them.
As noted, we do have some other African eagles in US zoos, though all have diminishing populations. There are probably less than a dozen African Fish Eagles and Bateleurs respectively and they're the most common ones. There are about four or so Martial Eagles left and they're all males afaik, and then there's a single Long-Crested Eagle. Sad as it may be, days are number for African eagles in US zoos, and American zoos aren't big on raptors so this is unlikely to change. African vultures are in much more dire need of protection and presence in the public eye, so it makes sense for LA and other zoos to focus their limited space on them, especially when LA is one of the few breeders of Cape Vulture which does not have a program overseas.
This has already been covered. Personally, I love African Crowned Eagles, and I think it's sad that we'll soon lose them from American zoos, but there isn't much value other than educational in keeping the bird. There are only 2.2 other eagles in US zoos afaik and neither San Diego nor Fort Worth seem to be breeding them. The fact of the matter is, however, that LA does not currently have appropriate housing available for such a huge bird and simply appears to no longer have an interest in exhibiting such an impressive animal in subpar conditions. There isn't room for the bird in the masterplan and there's no reason to hang onto the animals when they know someone who they trust to care for the bird better. Perhaps the animal was initially sent there as part of a training program to be used in the flight show, but in the end the zoo decided to move on from the species and if they think that's the best option for both the zoo and the bird, I don't get what the point is in attacking them for it. Besides, if you want to see an impressive African eagle at the LA Zoo, they already have the significantly more beautiful Bateleur in their flight show.
I'm not sure what month or year it was but I do remember reading an old transaction report that noted them sending away an African Fish Eagle. I'm not sure if they only had the one, however.
~Thylo
I'm very sorry if I came off as attacking the zoo it just didn't make much sense to me at the time, thank you.
I'm not sure either, but I only ever remember seeing one on exhibit.
The Los Angeles Zoo has the African Fish Eagle and Bateleur both seen during the bird show.
They had a African fish Eagle on exhibit next to the Steller’s sea eagle, but was sent to another zoo for breeding purposes.
Also they have three Steller’s Sea Eagles two on exhibit are the breeding pair and the other individual male is training for the bird show.
They had a African fish Eagle on exhibit next to the Steller’s sea eagle, but was sent to another zoo for breeding purposes.
Also they have three Steller’s Sea Eagles two on exhibit are the breeding pair and the other individual male is training for the bird show.
Do you happen to remember where that was?
A Stellers Sea Eagle in the show sounds interesting, I've never seen the bird show is it good?
Dallas Zoo
It was a good show before the theater renovations, but it’s slowly improving in time with the new show mostly showing bird behaviors, they do plan on doing guest participation with the birds back in the old show.
They include new bird stars like Earl the Barred Plymouth Rooster (a segment of bird’s ancestry from dinosaurs complete with Jurassic park music) and Hope the California Condor (the first and only individual of it’s species to be in a free-flight bird show and the reason people go see the show in the chances to see a real live California condor since the zoo doesn’t have an exhibit for them until the Vision Plan.)
Other than Steller’s Sea Eagle, new birds are being trained for the show including a Toco Toucan and a Von Der Decken’s Hornbill.