Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens LA Zoo News 2012

Blackduiker

Kifaru Bwana said:
Not just in LA. I heard great things as to species being or intended to be exhibited there. It should no doubt be a vast improvement on the old building!

On another note:
Have you been able to find out what is the plan with the larger group of Peninsular pronghorn imported last year?
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I've seen two of them put on exhibit, but as to the others, no news yet.
 
I never thought about the Takins moving that exhibit, but that makes a lot of sense. The former Serow exhibit is perfect for Takin and like you mentioned, it could open the takin exhibit for the Sumatran Rhino!
 
Blackduiker

JBZvolunteer said:
The zoo has just announced LAIR will open on March 8, 2012.
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And having just returned from being at the L.A. Zoo today, it definitely looks ready for opening day; other than a few landscape plantings that are still going on. And the removal of plastic wrapping here and there. I will be uploading a few photographs taken today.
 
I'm really looking forward to the LAIR, perhaps more so than any of the other new LA exhibits (other than maybe the elephants).

What do we know so far about specific inhabitants? From news reports, species updates in the zoo commission minutes etc. we know that there will be:
Chinese giant salamander
False gharial
Australian lungfish

Any other confirmed species that others know of? There will be sections highlighting reptiles of the Southwest US (a traditional LA Zoo herp specialty) and frogs apparently.
 
Blackduiker

DavidBrown said:
I'm really looking forward to the LAIR, perhaps more so than any of the other new LA exhibits (other than maybe the elephants).

What do we know so far about specific inhabitants? From news reports, species updates in the zoo commission minutes etc. we know that there will be:
Chinese giant salamander
False gharial
Australian lungfish

Any other confirmed species that others know of? There will be sections highlighting reptiles of the Southwest US (a traditional LA Zoo herp specialty) and frogs apparently.
Click to expand...

Here is more information from the zoo's official website:

Press Room - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
 
DavidBrown said:
Any other confirmed species that others know of? There will be sections highlighting reptiles of the Southwest US (a traditional LA Zoo herp specialty) and frogs apparently.
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From what I've heard:

Chinese Giant Salamander
False Gharial
Poison Dart Frogs
Bushmaster
Australian Lungfish
Gila Monster
Mexican Beaded Lizard
Rosy Boa
Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle
Giant Horned Lizards
Gray's Monitor
Fiji Banded Iguanas
Mang Shan viper
Fly River Turtle
Green Mamba
Rattleless Rattlesnake (as well as other rattlesnake species)
I'm sure I've heard of more, but I can't remember...

I was excited about the False Gharial and Giant Salamander, but when I read that we will have Mang Shan viper I got even more excited. Ever since I saw it at the SD Zoo it has become my favorite snake/reptile of all time.
 
And today was the first I ever heard of them having Bushmasters. I also hope to see the Exuma Island Iguanas and Crocodile Monitor brought back.
 
I believe the Bushmaster will be in a mixed exhibit with Poison Dart Frogs and maybe another snake species. I haven't heard anything about the Exuma Island Iguanas or Crocodile Monitors. I was hoping for a King Cobra exhibit (isis doesn't show a king cobra at the zoo), but with only 60 species being exhibited, I'm sure we will lose a lot of our favorite species...
 
That looks like a fantastic exhibit -now all we need is two plane tickets over to California and the Sumatran rhino to go on-show and I would have an amazing California trip sorted :p - one day, it will happen :D
 
Blackduiker said:
A little more info about LAIR:

LAIR to Open March 8 at L.A. Zoo | SoCal Wild
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This sounds very promising.

I understand that the yellow-legged frogs need to be kept out of public view, but they should have at least one individual on display as an ambassador for their cousins. If nobody can actually see the animal and understand why breeding them is important it seems like a major lost conservation opportunity.

For that matter I don't understand why LA has not yet built a California condor exhibit seeing the major role that they continue to play in the recovery of the species. With condor exhibits in Santa Barbara and both San Diego zoos this seems like a major omission at LA.
 
Blackduiker said:
A little more info about LAIR:

LAIR to Open March 8 at L.A. Zoo | SoCal Wild
Click to expand...

This exhibit has been so ... expected and its imminent opening brings glee to everyone. Cannot wait to hear and see what rarities they have brought in. Nice to see they have a specific reptilian area for the South West!

Hope they bring their Cyclura (only ones of their species) back on display from San Diego ... Plus perhaps angonokas .... Who knows!!!
 
Blackduiker

DavidBrown said:
This sounds very promising.

I understand that the yellow-legged frogs need to be kept out of public view, but they should have at least one individual on display as an ambassador for their cousins. If nobody can actually see the animal and understand why breeding them is important it seems like a major lost conservation opportunity.

For that matter I don't understand why LA has not yet built a California condor exhibit seeing the major role that they continue to play in the recovery of the species. With condor exhibits in Santa Barbara and both San Diego zoos this seems like a major omission at LA.
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I agree on both points. And in the past they have always used the excuse of the species being highly endangered, and in a special breeding program. This is especially true with the California Condors. Though when things were much more a crisis situation for the species back in the 1970s, they still exhibited one lone male (Topa Topa), who is still living, in what is now the Cape Griffon Vulture aviary; built specifically for California Condors.

I wonder if the Houston Zoo, along with several other Texas zoos, have any of their Houston Toads on exhibit as well as a successful breeding program?
 
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