Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Los Angeles Zoo News 2024

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TinoPup said:
I guess I should get around to uploading my photos, as I saw all of this a few weeks ago but didn't know they were new things :) Addax are definitely up top. Do they even have bongo, like the signs say? I never saw any. Definitely saw a von der decken's, as well, and noticed mice in the wombat building (love that there's a whole wombat building!) There weren't any domestics in the children's zoo on my visit, the ranch area was empty and there was just one pig in the nursery yard that's signed for a bunch of much better species.
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They should have Bongo unless taken off exhibit during recent construction, it was part of the sectioned off area for the new cape vulture exhibit. I was able to see a couple of them 2 months ago from a small opening by the bridge near the red ape rainforests :)
 
Julio C Castro said:
They should have Bongo unless taken off exhibit during recent construction, it was part of the sectioned off area for the new cape vulture exhibit. I was able to see a couple of them 2 months ago from a small opening by the bridge near the red ape rainforests :)
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Dang, I didn't go down the orangutan path. They should probably take down the signs saying they're out by the hogs, then!
 
Cat-Man said:
I think the bongo area might be closed whilst they work on the new vulture aviary, but could be wrong.
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You are correct about the bongo exhibit currently being off view. The whole pathway up past the gorillas has been closed for quite some time. This has caused not only the bongos and yellow-backed duiker to be inaccessible, but also the gerenuks and the roundhouse with the black duiker, Lady Ross's turacos, and Von der Decken's hornbill. As Julio mentioned, it's possible to look into the bongo yard from the path by the orangutans, but it's still hard to see them. I tried once and wasn't able to see any myself. I'm really looking forward to the new Cape vulture aviary -- vultures are so captivating and I don't think I've ever seen that species before!
 
Lori Patton said:
You are correct about the bongo exhibit currently being off view. The whole pathway up past the gorillas has been closed for quite some time. This has caused not only the bongos and yellow-backed duiker to be inaccessible, but also the gerenuks and the roundhouse with the black duiker, Lady Ross's turacos, and Von der Decken's hornbill. As Julio mentioned, it's possible to look into the bongo yard from the path by the orangutans, but it's still hard to see them. I tried once and wasn't able to see any myself. I'm really looking forward to the new Cape vulture aviary -- vultures are so captivating and I don't think I've ever seen that species before!
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I'm really sad about missing the black duiker and calamian deer :( I love bongos but there's at least several places near me with them, and I got to see gerenuk at denver and the sdz parks on my trip.
 
TinoPup said:
I'm really sad about missing the black duiker and calamian deer :( I love bongos but there's at least several places near me with them, and I got to see gerenuk at denver and the sdz parks on my trip.
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You are not alone in missing out on the Calamian deer -- I've still never seen them and I have specifically gone to their exhibit near dusk in the hopes of spotting them! I even hung around that upper pathway almost an hour once and still no sighting! I did get to see the tufted deer though, which seemed like quite a coup since I haven't seen any pictures of them in the L.A. Zoo media gallery here. They are very skittish and it was all I could do to shoot a short video before they scrambled away!
 
Lori Patton said:
You are not alone in missing out on the Calamian deer -- I've still never seen them and I have specifically gone to their exhibit near dusk in the hopes of spotting them! I even hung around that upper pathway almost an hour once and still no sighting! I did get to see the tufted deer though, which seemed like quite a coup since I haven't seen any pictures of them in the L.A. Zoo media gallery here. They are very skittish and it was all I could do to shoot a short video before they scrambled away!
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Tufted are at least at several zoos in Ohio, and they were all out on my visits last year. I'm glad you got to see them on one of your visits, they're a neat species! The Calamian, though :(
 
Elena said:
The zoo has posted a tribute to Kaloa the male jaguar, who sadly passed away at the age of 22 1/2 years old earlier this month:

Farewell to Kaloa the Jaguar - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
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Oh no… I was on my way to the zoo today to see him. Kaloa holds a special place in my heart. I remember seeing him sleep the first time he came to the zoo, he was perched high up. He did live in a roundhouse while they developed the new Jaguar exhibit. I have so many photos of him and it feels like I lost a part of my family. I know his keepers and they must miss him so dearly. He was the reason jaguars are my favorite animals and people loved seeing him, I know he was old but it feels like he left a bit too soon. Rest in peace my handsome man :(
 
Julio C Castro said:
Oh no… I was on my way to the zoo today to see him. Kaloa holds a special place in my heart. I remember seeing him sleep the first time he came to the zoo, he was perched high up. He did live in a roundhouse while they developed the new Jaguar exhibit. I have so many photos of him and it feels like I lost a part of my family. I know his keepers and they must miss him so dearly. He was the reason jaguars are my favorite animals and people loved seeing him, I know he was old but it feels like he left a bit too soon. Rest in peace my handsome man :(
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@Julio C Castro you have done an amazing job of photographing Kaloa and Johar. Your jaguar images are some of the best I've ever seen -- you have a true artistic gift and your photos are a wonderful memorial to Kaloa.
 
Lori Patton said:
@Julio C Castro you have done an amazing job of photographing Kaloa and Johar. Your jaguar images are some of the best I've ever seen -- you have a true artistic gift and your photos are a wonderful memorial to Kaloa.
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Thank you so much Lori, I’ve got quite a folder filled with his portraits and really want to tribute him as much as I can. I miss the big guy and still have Johar with us to love on :(
 
Lori Patton said:
You are not alone in missing out on the Calamian deer -- I've still never seen them and I have specifically gone to their exhibit near dusk in the hopes of spotting them! I even hung around that upper pathway almost an hour once and still no sighting! I did get to see the tufted deer though, which seemed like quite a coup since I haven't seen any pictures of them in the L.A. Zoo media gallery here. They are very skittish and it was all I could do to shoot a short video before they scrambled away!
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@TinoPup Don't feel too bad, I've been a member for over a decade and have only seen them twice. I was briefly convinced they didn't exist and it was all an inside joke.
 
Just got back from Volunteer work.

Notes:
-Trumpeter Swan Habitat is now named Swan Lake is now under construction which would last to June. The Eucalyptus Grove event area will be closed off to hold the construction vehicles and materials.

-Other than the Elephants receiving Shade Structures and Feeding Enrichment poles. I noticed the Giraffe’s have their own Shade Structure and feeding pole and California Sea Lion/Harbor Seal also has cable wires over the glass pool walls and a blue shade structure. I heard that the zoo plans to do the same for the Rhino Habitat. They would help provide shade for the animals in the Hot Extreme Summer Days. What other animals you think would like Shade Structures?

-I saw the Addax in their new Habitat moved next door to the Ostrich.

-The Cape Vulture Habitat will open near the end of March.
 
Hey everyone, just did a return visit recently and had some questions:

- Does anyone ever see the Mary River turtles or Roti Island snake-necked turtles in LAIR? They've been signed for a long time but I can't remember the last time I saw either.
- How many ostriches does the zoo have now? I only saw one and am wondering if it was the Somali; until recently the zoo had 1 Somali and 1 regular, but I think I remember the regular one is gone now?
- Does anyone know what poison dart frogs the zoo actually has? The RotA enclosure is signed for at least one species I've never seen (Blessed) and has never been updated for a couple of species I've consistently seen in there (Anthony's and Ranitomeya uakarii). The enclosure in LAIR is not signed for any species and seems to be a random species every time I go.
- I accidentally skipped the lowest of the four African primate roundhouses (which in the past has held the mangabey and gibbons); does anyone know what's in there currently?

And some non-question notes:

- I didn't see Bruce's Green Pigeon signed in the African aviary and they weren't on the most recent USDA report. Assuming they're for sure gone now (I'd never seen them before so they could have well been gone a long time ago).
- There is now a Mexican Jumping Pitviper (signed as Atropoides mexicanus) in LAIR, where the Green Vine Snake once was.
- There is now a sign for the Australian Wood Duck that lives with the roadrunner and quail (and now temporarily Masked Lapwings), explaining that she is under veterinary care for a limp caused by osteoarthritis (which is why she is housed in a flat enclosure).
- In related news, the roundhouse that normally held sifaka and the blue-eyed black lemurs is gutted and empty - I assume temporarily to address the structural issues noted by the USDA.
 
Coelacanth18 said:
Hey everyone, just did a return visit recently and had some questions:

- Does anyone ever see the Mary River turtles or Roti Island snake-necked turtles in LAIR? They've been signed for a long time but I can't remember the last time I saw either.
- How many ostriches does the zoo have now? I only saw one and am wondering if it was the Somali; until recently the zoo had 1 Somali and 1 regular, but I think I remember the regular one is gone now?
- Does anyone know what poison dart frogs the zoo actually has? The RotA enclosure is signed for at least one species I've never seen (Blessed) and has never been updated for a couple of species I've consistently seen in there (Anthony's and Ranitomeya uakarii). The enclosure in LAIR is not signed for any species and seems to be a random species every time I go.
- I accidentally skipped the lowest of the four African primate roundhouses (which in the past has held the mangabey and gibbons); does anyone know what's in there currently?

And some non-question notes:

- I didn't see Bruce's Green Pigeon signed in the African aviary and they weren't on the most recent USDA report. Assuming they're for sure gone now (I'd never seen them before so they could have well been gone a long time ago).
- There is now a Mexican Jumping Pitviper (signed as Atropoides mexicanus) in LAIR, where the Green Vine Snake once was.
- There is now a sign for the Australian Wood Duck that lives with the roadrunner and quail (and now temporarily Masked Lapwings), explaining that she is under veterinary care for a limp caused by osteoarthritis (which is why she is housed in a flat enclosure).
- In related news, the roundhouse that normally held sifaka and the blue-eyed black lemurs is gutted and empty - I assume temporarily to address the structural issues noted by the USDA.
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Roti Island Snake Necked Turtles were in display before, I’d say within the past couple years but didn’t see any at the LAIR during the last visit.

These are the ones I’ve seen: yellow banded, blessed, splash back, golden, dyeing, and green & black poison frogs. I’ve managed to see all pretty routinely between the ROTA and the LAIR, sometimes have missed the yellow banded so maybe they’re not always.

I’ve seen the female Somali, maybe the male passed away as he was older and I’ve not seen him in a while.

As for the roundhouses, I know I saw 3 being worked on in the Africa section. One near the top of the loop had Mandrills and directly across it was home to the servals. One of the roundhouse had white and black colobus monkeys. And up until my last visit where I saw it being worked on, the roundhouse closest to the Mahale Cafe had red crowned mangabey and white cheeked gibbons.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
No mention was made about what plans exist around parent/dam Mia (see October 2023 minutes).

I would imagine though she may be repaired through the AZA/SSP program with a suitable mate from the regional program.

Post #170 in the 2023 LA Zoo thread and reference to source (October 2023 minutes):
QUOTE
"Animal Updates
Director of Animal Programs, Beth Schaefer, provided Animal Updates: • Loans/Sales
o Male Snow leopard from Canada arrives as part of SSP.
o Female River Otter is going out on loan to Buenos Aires, Argentina for breeding, offspring planned to be released in the wild."
UNQOUTE

Source: https://lazoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Zoo-Commission-Minutes-10.17.2023.pdf
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Do you know what zoos the male leopard comes from?
 
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