Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Latest Animal Activities

polar bear said:
The Zoo announced on its Facebook page that several of the komodo hatchlings are now on exhibit in the Children's Zoo.

Also, when I was at the zoo on Sunday, the male and female servals were together in the exhibit and sleeping near each other in the same corner of the exhibit.
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Here is the press release of the komodo dragons going on exhibit: Press Room - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Great to hear that the servals are now together! Hopefully we'll get some kittens soon!
 
Blackduiker

Here is the zoo's press release of not only the baby Harbor Seal, but also the newborn Masai Giraffe, Chacoan Peccaries and a baby male Calamian Deer; possibly the first of its kind ever born here.

Press Room - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

And in other news, the fall issue of the zoo's quarterly magazine Zoo View, which I just received in the mail today, reports on the zoo's current attempt at acquiring a Chinese Giant Salamander, for display in the soon to open Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles (LAIR) facility. Also mentioned is the zoo having two False Gharials (also known as the Malay Gharial). A species I was totally unaware of L.A. having, though as to them formerly exhibiting False Gavials and their whereabouts is still a mystery to me.

And for fellow Mountain Tapir fans, the good news is this quote taken from the same recent issue of Zoo View:

"After several years of working with wildlife authorities in both the United states and South America, the L.A. Zoo and the Cali Zoo have accomplished what once seemed impossible. This fall, a pair of mountain tapirs (Sedona, a female born here in Los Angeles, and Inko, the male born at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo) will be sent to the Cali Zoo to establish what we hope will be the beginnings of a successful breeding and education program in Colombia. We are excited about the prospect and look forward to our continued partnership with Cali Zoo for the preservation of this and other species."
 
Good news about the tapirs, i guess... But wouldn't the real impossibility lie in importing new blood, instead of exporting them back to south america? Or is this just to create an opening to do so in the future?
 
Thanks for the info Blackduiker!

Good news in that the zoo is still trying to acquire Chinese Giant Salamanders. I knew about the zoo trying, but that was a year or two ago, so I didn't know if it was still going on. I'm just wondering from where the salamanders would come... Regarding the False Gavials, that is news to me also. I had no idea the zoo had them. Does it mention if they are planned to be exhibited in the reptile house?

Also great news in the birth of the Calamanian Deer, especially when the zoo's pair is relatively old.

And, I have no idea about the Mountain Tapir project. I knew the zoo was working with the Cali Zoo in trying to either import or export tapirs, but that is about it. All I'm hoping is that the phasing out of this wonderful species is just a rumor...
 
I am so HAPPY for the Calamian deer breeding at LA Zoo and the planned (and to be set in motion after many years of proposals) relocation of a breeding pair of mountain tapir to Cali Zoo in Colombia.

I seem to recall one of the Colombian Zoos has a lone individual too ...
Must recheck ISIS ... :D
 
I recall an older zoo map from Los Angeles earlier this decade with false gavials on the list of animals exhibited in the reptile house.
 
Weren't False Gavials (aka Tomistomas) part of that large shipment of illegal herps that was seized and given to the LA Zoo years ago?
 
Blackduiker

The Gavials are still a mystery, in this case we're now talking about the zoo having a pair of False Gharials. And to the experts, what is the difference between Gavials and Gharials? Or are they one and the same? The Gavials were a part of the large illegal shipment, and were exhibited in the old Reptile House for several years, but they were eventually taken off exhibit. And there is only mention of the zoo now possessing a pair of False Gharials, nothing about them being exhibited in the new LAIR facility.

The Mountain Tapir pair going to Colombia is probably a gesture of good will. Hopefully the beginning of an eventual exchange program. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
 
It was recently confirmed by a zoo staff member that the False Gavials, once on exhibit in the old reptile house, are on loan to another institution, but still owned by the Los Angeles Zoo. No word yet as to whether they'll be brought back to be exhibited in the new facility.

I also believe these are separate from the pair of False Gharials mentioned in the most recent issue of Zoo View. Though this is only an assumption. Maybe that will be cleared up soon.
 
Blackduiker said:
And to the experts, what is the difference between Gavials and Gharials? Or are they one and the same?
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The short answer is that Gavial is the name many western-european languages give to this animal (which is also in their latin name), the english/US seem to have changed this into Gharial. It's the same animal (allthough gharial is not the same as the false Gharial ;))
 
Interesting story here. Gharial is the correct name. Ghara is the Hindi word for pot referring to the males pot-like swelling on its nose. Gavial only came to us because someone wrote the name down wrong or couldn't read their own hand writing.
 
Also, False Gavial, False Gharial, Tomistoma, and Malayan Gharial are all names for the same species, Tomistoma schlegelii.
 
Blackduiker

mstickmanp said:
Also, False Gavial, False Gharial, Tomistoma, and Malayan Gharial are all names for the same species, Tomistoma schlegelii.
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So then that explains why on my recent visit to the Saint Louis Zoo, their two exhibit signs list them as False Gharials, but on the ISIS website, they are referred to as False Gavials. :eek:

Then somewhere out there, LA still has two of their False Gavials (Malay Gharials) on loan. ;)
 
Off-topic reply: genetics has shown that gharials Gavialis (1 species) and gavials are related. Conventional theory had them assigned within the true crocodilians. That is now obsolete.

Back on topic: when will the mountain tapir leave for Cali in Colombia?
 
Blackduiker

Kifaru Bwana said:
Off-topic reply: genetics has shown that gharials Gavialis (1 species) and gavials are related. Conventional theory had them assigned within the true crocodilians. That is now obsolete.

Back on topic: when will the mountain tapir leave for Cali in Colombia?
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The article states that the mountain tapirs will leave for Cali "this fall."
 
Blackduiker

There are now 6 of the 22 baby Komodo Dragons on exhibit in the Winnick Family Children's Zoo Animal Care Center. 11 of these babies will be sent to the Columbus Zoo, the owners of Buru the father, while the mother, Lima, belongs to the Los Angeles Zoo. The remaining 11 will eventually be sent on loan to other institutions throughout the U.S. and abroad. Based on SSP recommendations. This according to the most recent issue of Zoo Scape.

Although some were announced in prior posts, the following are from the period of August 1-31.

Recent Animal Activities

Births and Hatchings:

0.0.2 Chacoan Peccary
0.1.0 Masai Giraffe
0.0.1 Red-rumped Agouti
9.13.0 Komodo Dragon

Arrivals:

0.0.1 Brush-tailed Bettong
3.3.0 Mexican Leaf Frog
0.0.2 Gaboon Viper (Toledo Zoo)

Departures:

0.1.0 Koala (Palm Beach Zoo)
0.0.1 Diamond Python (Buffalo Zoo)

There were also clutches of eggs laid by a Speckled Racer and Blunt-headed Tree Snake. The hatching of these species eggs would represent firsts for the Los Angeles Zoo.
 
Thanks for the news Blackduiker!

Hopefully the zoo will exhibit Blunt-headed Tree Snakes in the new Reptile house.
 
Blackduiker said:
There are now 6 of the 22 baby Komodo Dragons on exhibit in the Winnick Family Children's Zoo Animal Care Center. 11 of these babies will be sent to the Columbus Zoo, the owners of Buru the father, while the mother, Lima, belongs to the Los Angeles Zoo. The remaining 11 will eventually be sent on loan to other institutions throughout the U.S. and abroad. Based on SSP recommendations. This according to the most recent issue of Zoo Scape.
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Maybe some zoos in Australia? :D (just joking)
 
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