Samueltiger
Well-Known Member
How would you improve the Los Angeles Zoo in your own way
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens How would you improve the Los Angeles Zoo
- Thread starter Samueltiger
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Samueltiger
Well-Known Member
Personaly I would expand the zoo grounds
1. I would make a greater asia section to connect with the elephants of Asia I would use the play park and build a southeast Asia with false gharials,lar gibbons,otters,anoa, ( possibly malyan tapirs ),komodo dragons and more .
2. A new south America section themed of Peru or pampas with maned wolves,guanacos, and more
3. Demolish the roundhouses for a Tanzania wild reserve with lions,wild dogs,vervet monkeys
4. An outback section for kangaroos and wallabies
1. I would make a greater asia section to connect with the elephants of Asia I would use the play park and build a southeast Asia with false gharials,lar gibbons,otters,anoa, ( possibly malyan tapirs ),komodo dragons and more .
2. A new south America section themed of Peru or pampas with maned wolves,guanacos, and more
3. Demolish the roundhouses for a Tanzania wild reserve with lions,wild dogs,vervet monkeys
4. An outback section for kangaroos and wallabies
Lori Patton
Well-Known Member
I would like to see the following changes:
- Lengthen the operating hours in the summer from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Ensure that the animals are in their exhibits during zoo hours
- Refurbish and populate all empty exhibits
- Reinvest into the Children's Zoo and refurbish cave to include cave-dwelling species (e.g. bats)
- Reduce food and gift shop prices
- Reintroduce key animals back into the zoo -- lions, bears, hippos, etc.
- Redesign zoo map to include more detail and be more aesthetically pleasing
- Add air conditioning to the Desert LAIR -- it is uncomfortably hot and stifling
- Enable viewing of the California condors
- Add a mid-afternoon time for the World of Birds Show
- Reduce the tram price by half after 1 p.m.
- Double the size of the giraffe yard
- Design a free-flight aviary for the Steller's sea eagles
- Add koalas to the Australia house (formerly the Koala House)
- Replace all glass viewing windows that are too grimy to see the animals well (i.e. orangutans)
- Focus on the animals instead of so many adult-oriented evening events featuring alcohol
Samueltiger
Well-Known Member
Very nice and yes I would prefer a larger children's zoo over a California area tbh it could be a nature lands area to teach guests about our planet while having ecosystems like
Oceans featuring species like: penguins,sea otters,fish,crabs and a sea bird aviary
Desert trail could be a area to hold species like: bobcats, prairie dogs, roadrunners, badgers and a better home for fennec foxes
A jungle area having cool creatures like: sloths, tamarins, prevots Squirrel,loris, capybaras
I can go on and on
Lori Patton
Well-Known Member
@Samueltiger , this is a great thread you have started. I wish the zoo would listen to what regular visitors want instead of some planning commission. By the time I found out about the master plan it was too late to make any comments. I read the report and don't like the new visitor pathway that is being planned -- it appears sunken in and that people will be walking at a lower level than the rest of the zoo. I like to look out at the horizon and not see things from a vantage point that blocks my view. Also, I think it's a total waste of money to redesign the entrance in order to level the elevation gain. The plan calls for eliminating the stairs and accessible ramps at the entrance so that everyone will walk on the same path in some ill-advised idea of equality. I like having the option of both -- when I have more time I take the ramps so I can look at the native garden and birds at the feeders and when I'm in a hurry I prefer to go up the stairs. Lot of visitor attractions have both stairs and/or ramps or elevators at the entrance (e.g. the Getty) and I don't think anyone is bothered by this or feels left out. Why does everyone have to enter the same way? What a bottleneck that will be!
Samueltiger
Well-Known Member
Thanks this thread has been on my mind
nationalzoolover
Member
Speaking as a disabled person who listens to mobility aid users, as long as the ramps are in the front of the building/area and not through a different entrance then the rest of the public, that's grand
Tigeanderson
Well-Known Member
I would improve the zoo by adding in a major exhibit complex called Scotland land of the highland tiger and in this exhibit complex guests will encounter Species from Scotland that are both present now and ones that will be returning to Scotland in the future and species in the complex include Capercaillie, Common European Adder, Scottish red deer, White tailed sea eagle, Scottish Crossbill, European lynx, European bison, European beaver, European pine marten, Northern Gannet and the centerpiece of the complex is a 360• exhibit for the Scottish wildcat aka highland tiger however besides wild animals there would be interactive stuff about cryptological creatures of Scotland like the Loch Ness monster and the scenery for the complex would be based on the Scottish highlands and famous Scottish castles like Edinburgh Castle and Sterling castle but guests will also have the opportunity to do something that no other zoo that I am aware of does and what the zoo will do is there would be an area where guests both young and old can create their own tartans and also create their own Scottish crest badge and also guests will be able to eat Scottish food like fish and chips and other Scottish foods and while eating guests would get a view of the exhibit containing the bison and red deer and they would also be able to hear and watch and possibly learn to play the bagpipes or drums and also watch highland dancing however there would also be a section for Scottish domesticated animals like the highland cattle and Shetland pony and with the Shetland pony guests will be able to ride them through a fake mine where there would be screens with pictures of how the Shetland pony saved the lives of children and what I mean by that is back during the Industrial Revolution kids were sent into the mines in Scotland but then in 1850 the pony’s were sent in the children’s place.
Lori Patton
Well-Known Member
@nationalzoolover -- Yes, the ramps are in the front central section of the Entrance Plaza just to the right of the stairs. Visitors have the option of going up the steps, which are separated into three tiers, or walking up the ramps immediately to the right. The ramps wind through a lovely native garden with a waterfall, trees, and several bird feeders. While people with mobility issues often use the ramps, they are also heavily used by families with strollers. I usually choose the ramps so I can look at the birds and plants. The Entrance Plaza was opened in 2005 at a cost of over $20 million, which included the Sea Life Cliffs exhibit and Children's Discovery Center. The Discovery Center featured the California Condor Rescue Zone, which was closed during the pandemic and never reopened. In my opinion, the Entrance Plaza is one of the best improvements the zoo has ever made and there is no reason to alter it.
That's never going to happen, and for good reason. There are a variety of arguments for why this is a horrible idea, the chief of those being that it is so much better for animal welfare to allow animals the choice of being off-exhibit.
Again, this not going to happen. Prices in good zoos are the way the way they are because zoos need the money. It's not like you're going to a restaurant that charges you ridiculously high prices because they're fancy. Every penny charged is spent supporting the zoo's conservation-driven mission.
Well if it's a room themed like a desert ecosystem, then it makes perfect sense for it to be hot and I don't know why that would even be a complaint.
This is another thing that's never going to happen. Suggesting a decreased focus on evening events for adults shows a complete lack of understanding about zoo finances and how zoos both interact with and engage their community.
It's really hot in the LAIR, like stiflingly hot. Like, I wanted to spend as little time in there as I could because I was sweating so much. Not saying it needs to be cold in there, but some AC would be very nice.
PaleoZooLogic
Member
While I can see the appeal (today was my first time visiting in over 15 years) of maintaining the Children's Zoo, I do think retheming it to showcase California's wildlife is a good idea. I've had memberships to the San Diego, San Diego Safari, and the Living Desert zoos and none of these zoos have an exhibit area focused specifically on the state's native wildlife.
Sure there's Oakland Zoo's California Trail and San Diego Zoo's Elephant Odyssey is comparable, but in my opinion there isn't a zoo in Southern California that has a space showcasing the local flora and fauna yet.
Lori Patton
Well-Known Member
The California Living Museum (CALM Zoo) in Bakersfield is dedicated exclusively to the state's native wildlife and plants. The smaller Orange County Zoo also focuses on southwestern flora and fauna.
I'm not opposed to the L.A. Zoo having a California section, but I am against it replacing the Children's Zoo. Now that the zoo has closed the goat and sheep contact yard, the closest zoo for children to interact with farm animals is about an hour away in Santa Ana. Incidentally, there used to be a petting zoo elsewhere in Griffith Park, but it was shut down by the City Council due to animal rights activists. Since the zoo has been slowly closing exhibits in the Children's Zoo over the last few years, there has been a loss of a dozen species with no signs of replacement. At this point it's also unlikely that the zoo's master plan for the California section will be realized because the zoo is currently being sued by the Friends of Griffith Park over the expansion plans. The zoo's plan involves removing oaks and chaparral in the park, which would destroy the habitat for native wildlife. If you're interested in seeing some native Southern California animals the next time you visit Los Angeles, I recommend taking a few hours just to explore Griffith Park itself, which lies in the easternmost remnant of the Santa Monica Mountains. I routinely see mule deer, coyotes, other small mammals, and a plethora of birds (especially in the adjacent L.A. River), including Canada geese, mallards, grebes, raptors, herons, ibises, egrets, black-necked stilts, woodpeckers, and a variety of songbirds.
PaleoZooLogic
Member
I have to check out those zoos out sometime, especially Santa Ana's.
I heard about the Friends of Griffith Park situation but haven't gotten around to read more on it, especially the zoo's master plan, which I'd love to look into more.
I'll definitely check out Griffith Park next time I'm in LA.
What times of day / locations within the park do you recommend checking out in order to see the deer, coyotes, and other mammals?
Lori Patton
Well-Known Member
I've seen the deer in multiple places around dusk in Griffith Park along Zoo Drive and at the Bird Sanctuary. Forest Lawn Cemetery is also adjacent to the park and deer frequently come down from the hills to eat the flowers! Down the road from the zoo is a golf course where I've seen multiple coyotes. I even saw one using the crosswalk connecting the upper and lower ends of the course that golf carts drive through! Last month there was a large coyote lounging on the greens while people were playing. It was the biggest coyote I ever saw and I had to do a double take to make sure it wasn't a wolf!
The ranger station also has taxidermized specimens of a striped skunk, gray fox, desert cottontail, opossum, raccoon, coyote, and bobcat. There was a famous mountain lion named P-22 that lived in the park, but it passed away in 2022. Earlier this year there was another cougar seen in the park, but I don't think it's been tagged yet. Griffith Park is over 4,000 acres with numerous hiking trails where many more animals can likely be seen, especially at dawn and dusk.
peruvianbirdie
Well-Known Member
I know it’s been awhile since anyone has posted on this thread, with the current state of the zoo, I was kind of hoping to bring this thread back to life and share my ideas. (Might be long so bear with me plz!)
Note these are the exhibits that I know of that are no longer in use:
I am shifting my focus on the zoo’s current empty exhibits and trying to find suitable/reasonable animals that might fit and be crowd drawers.
Let’s start off with the former pinniped exhibit by the LAIR: As much as I would love African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus) to be implemented in this exhibit (especially that they’re part of the master plan), this would mean the exhibit would have to have a renovated holding area and filtration which can be expensive. I feel like adding North American River Otters (Lontra canadensis) or Asian Small-Clawed Otters (Aonyx cinereus) might be a more reasonable option, plus they are charismatic and beloved by zoo visitors.
Ranger’s former exhibit: Admittedly seen as outdated for bears I’m thinking maybe Coyotes (Canis latrans) or the current Grey Wolves (Canis lupus) supposedly BTS. I honestly consider Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli) due to the cave/mountain work in the exhibit, though they aren’t that charismatic to general zoo visitors and the zoo already has a fair collection of rare ungulates.
Lion exhibit: Now this one is tricky because I think animals medium to small size are the most suitable such as:
-Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata)/ Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
-Aardvark
-Warthog
-Small ungulate or small primate
However my main concern is the moat (if an animal falls in) and a small species may be difficult to spot based on how far the land is from the moat/viewing area, this is why maybe something small like hyraxes and mongoose might not work.
But if the zoo is able create an area on the bottom of the moat and allow animals to go up and down I feel like it can make a decent Cheetah or Hyena exhibit.
And last but not least Elephants of Asia: Very recent (just yesterday!), I am still holding hope and believe Asian elephants will make a return so for that I wouldn’t want the complex to go through drastic changes. The obvious answer might be to move Marshall the Greater One-Horned Rhino there, though he is still young and not at breeding age yet. Some like me have also been wanting a bigger area for the Masai Giraffes, but then it does ruin the Asian theme. I’ll leave the speculation and choice to you all, I’m curious of your picks.
Another thing I would like the zoo to add is BTS/Animal Experiences and animals I feel would fit are:
Note these are the exhibits that I know of that are no longer in use:
I am shifting my focus on the zoo’s current empty exhibits and trying to find suitable/reasonable animals that might fit and be crowd drawers.
Let’s start off with the former pinniped exhibit by the LAIR: As much as I would love African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus) to be implemented in this exhibit (especially that they’re part of the master plan), this would mean the exhibit would have to have a renovated holding area and filtration which can be expensive. I feel like adding North American River Otters (Lontra canadensis) or Asian Small-Clawed Otters (Aonyx cinereus) might be a more reasonable option, plus they are charismatic and beloved by zoo visitors.
Ranger’s former exhibit: Admittedly seen as outdated for bears I’m thinking maybe Coyotes (Canis latrans) or the current Grey Wolves (Canis lupus) supposedly BTS. I honestly consider Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli) due to the cave/mountain work in the exhibit, though they aren’t that charismatic to general zoo visitors and the zoo already has a fair collection of rare ungulates.
Lion exhibit: Now this one is tricky because I think animals medium to small size are the most suitable such as:
-Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata)/ Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
-Aardvark
-Warthog
-Small ungulate or small primate
However my main concern is the moat (if an animal falls in) and a small species may be difficult to spot based on how far the land is from the moat/viewing area, this is why maybe something small like hyraxes and mongoose might not work.
But if the zoo is able create an area on the bottom of the moat and allow animals to go up and down I feel like it can make a decent Cheetah or Hyena exhibit.
And last but not least Elephants of Asia: Very recent (just yesterday!), I am still holding hope and believe Asian elephants will make a return so for that I wouldn’t want the complex to go through drastic changes. The obvious answer might be to move Marshall the Greater One-Horned Rhino there, though he is still young and not at breeding age yet. Some like me have also been wanting a bigger area for the Masai Giraffes, but then it does ruin the Asian theme. I’ll leave the speculation and choice to you all, I’m curious of your picks.
Another thing I would like the zoo to add is BTS/Animal Experiences and animals I feel would fit are:
- Greater One-Horned Rhino
- Masai Giraffes
- Giant River Otters
- Sumatran Tiger/Jaguar/Snow Leopard
- California Condor
- Flamingos
- Aldabra Tortoise
Lori Patton
Well-Known Member
These are all great ideas, @peruvianbirdie -- fixing up the empty exhibits is exactly what the L.A. Zoo should be doing considering the City's budget crisis.
As you mentioned, smaller otter species would work well in the former aquatics section by the LAIR. In fact, many years ago there were otters in this area (not sure of the exact species, but I have a photo from November 2000). That empty exhibit by the gharials just cries out to be filled with something. I wouldn't mind giving the space to the tomistomas -- I think their current area is way too small! Also, the courtyard between the two LAIR buildings needs more reptiles. The only animal I've seen there for the past few years has been a desert tortoise. I remember when the area opened in 2012 and there were several more species on exhibit.
Going around the zoo counter-clockwise, I would also like to see the Australia house have more nocturnal species. It's unbelievable all that space is just being used by two wombats. Originally, there were multiple koalas inside back in the mid-'80s as well as other small mammals (and even birds if I recall correctly). The Tasmanian devil exhibit has been empty for ages and I've only ever seen one animal in the Dragons of Komodo roundhouse (it's supposed to be used for breeding with a male and female kept separately on the left and right sides and the central outdoor area for mating).
As for Animals of the Drylands, that large, empty area where the addax pair used to be was formerly for Bactrian camels. The zoo definitely needs to put some more hoofstock there. Also, since the lowland anoa passed away, that space has been empty as well. The nearby roundhouse, which is being wasted to display some interpretive signage on pronghorns, should be holding animals. In 2012 there was a Channel Islands fox there along with other interesting species. Since the zoo holds so many animals behind-the-scenes, there is really no excuse for so many empty exhibits.
Moving on to the Africa section, the former lion enclosure should be a top priority. Since it doesn't meet the current standards for big cats, maybe it could be used for smaller cat species. Perhaps the servals could be relocated there, which would open up their roundhouse for something else. Also, I miss the free-ranging peacocks! They used to roam around the zoo and were always fun to see. Peacocks are ubiquitous at the L.A. Arboretum and there is no reason they shouldn't be strutting around the zoo anymore, too.
Another huge wasted space is all the empty enclosures around the back perimeter of the zoo where the gorals and tufted deer are kept. If you look around on ZooChat, you will find some old maps of the zoo from the '80s and prior where every single one of those areas were filled with ungulates.
I agree that the former bear exhibit near the tiger needs to be repurposed. Maybe the whole thing should just be torn down and redone to house a different type of species -- I vote for red pandas!
Going down to the South America section, there is an enclosure for squirrel monkeys that has been empty for years with a "temporarily closed" sign. Incidentally, that squirrel monkey was transferred to the Moorpark Zoo so it could have an exhibit animal. If the L.A. Zoo is going to give another zoo one of its animals, there should be an immediate plan to replace it.
As for the Rainforest of the Americas, there are several underutilized and/or empty enclosures. In the walkway around the faux tree where the reptiles are, the fringed leaf tree frog has been missing for years. What is so hard about getting a frog? The howler monkey enclosure is atrocious -- I can't believe it passes inspection as it is very small. Plus, the monkeys are only on exhibit for part of the day. The exhibit should be expanded to include the former uakari space a little further back on the hill. Also, the aquarium has very limited fish species -- there are many more signed which are no longer there.
The aviaries are really lovely, but I often see rats running around and getting into the bird food. I'm not sure if the upper aviary has reopened, but it should be prioritized if it hasn't. Regarding the Elephants of Asia exhibit, that is a disaster as far as I'm concerned. $42 million down the drain for an exhibit that lasted only 15 years! At this point, I would just turn it into an African savannah exhibit for the giraffes and other safari animals. I know it's not the current geographical theme, but those poor giraffes have been in the same small enclosure since the zoo opened in 1966. Maybe if they had a bigger area there could be a larger herd and Zainabu could keep one or two of her offspring as would occur in the wild instead of being bred every year and having her babies taken away.
Finally, the Children's Zoo is a huge missed opportunity that the current zoo management has systematically worked to dismantle. Let's start with the caves. Once that was a beautiful area with a waterfall on the outside and nocturnal animals inside. Every child loves to explore caves and they were expertly designed. Over the years, no creatures were left but two axolotls and now even they have been moved. The Adventure Theatre (so named because decades ago the Children's Zoo was called Adventure Island) has been left idle since the pandemic, thereby missing a golden opportunity for animal presentations and shows. The small enclosures around the perimeter of the caves, which once housed African pygmy falcons, porcupines, and roadrunners, have been covered up with signage. Muriel's Ranch contact yard has been closed with the goats only on exhibit for half the day. Why can't there be farm animals out for the whole day even if there isn't a petting zoo? The zoo sent away its last two hens, but if you listen carefully, sometimes you can hear a lonely rooster crowing at the top of the hill over the theater. The former Desert Trail building that formerly held reptiles has been closed since the pandemic and never reopened. Finally, the old prairie dog exhibit, which was covered over with a pollinator garden, should be housing animals -- I think groundhogs would be a fun choice! Many years ago, before there were prairie dogs, this was the meerkat exhibit and that is why there are those plastic bubbles for kids to poke their heads up and look out on the mound. In fact, if you walk through that tunnel behind the exhibit, there is even an empty ant farm!
Regarding the animal encounters you mentioned, I agree wholeheartedly. There used to be giraffe feedings, the Flamingo Mingle experience, and two World of Bird shows per day. I have a printed map from 2018 and there were multiple animal talks daily. There is also a small amphitheater by Sea Life Cliffs that is never used anymore. The California Condor Rescue Zone, which featured a live video cam of the condors, was located in the Children's Discovery Center and has also been shut down.
Instead of animal rights activists protesting to shut down the zoo, we zoo enthusiasts should be protesting to improve the zoo! Angelenos deserve a world-class zoo in the second largest city in America and instead we have had to watch our beloved zoo slowly deteriorate. Now with the elephants gone, at least half of the zoo is empty! It's time to start writing our local politicians to make them hold zoo management accountable and save the zoo before it's too late!