I am back from a wonderful trip to California, and back with a new review/species list for the second zoo I visited (first one was the San Francisco Zoo : https://www.zoochat.com/community/threads/san-francisco-zoo-species-list-july-8th-2023.488003/). My second zoo stop was the Los Angeles Zoo on July 13th 2023. I was joined by a German friend and his partner for the rest of the trip. English is not my first language, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes.
The day was sunny and hot, and every bit of shade provided by either foliage or man-made structure was very much welcomed. All the people we talked to, staff and volunteers alike, were friendly, always willing to answer our zoo-nerds' questions, and obviously liking their work. Like in San Francisco, the zoo was not too crowded and so we were able to visit every section during our visit. However, the various loops confused us at first and we had to trek back our way a couple times before getting the hang of it.
Our visit started by spending a little time close to the Entrance (Seal and Sealion, Meerkat, American Alligator and 2 species of Flamingo), a random collection but nice exhibits. The previous Trumpeter Swan pond was empty, with no sign of work around it. Right after that, we took the left path, leading us to The Lair. This is definitely one of the highlights of my visit. Such an amazing display of reptiles and amphibians, with informative up-to-date boards on the species housed and beautiful exhibits! Coming from Canada and my friends from Germany, it was a joy for us to see many species exhibited in outdoor enclosures, including an impressive American Desert open-top enclosure where we had to play a Reptile version of “Where’s Waldo?” and a marshy habitat where we watched Gharials basking alongside Painted Batagur.
After that, we went through the Australian section where a very determined Short-beaked Echidna was digging a hole (lifer!!) in its shared enclosure with Koala and Tammar Wallabies. I also saw the best Rhinoceros Hornbill enclosure ever, which is a very large aviary shared with Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies. The Nocturnal House offered 2 beautiful and large habitats to its Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats, but I couldn't help but feel it could also house other marsupial or Australian species since it has the space for it.
The Southern Loop followed, with a very interesting selection of ungulates and a group of African Wild Dog (see the species list below) intersected by small aviaries and roundhouses. One of those exhibited Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies on the right, an empty exhibit in the middle and (drumroll) Rüppell’s Fox on the left… but after the morning visit there and the late afternoon one, I have to confess they eluded us splendidly. However, this section started a trend of exhibiting some species in enclosures that while being beautiful were on the smaller side for the animals in it (in my opinion).
Next stop was the Campo Gorilla Reserve and Orangutan habitat, where a nice volunteer spent a good 10-15 minutes sharing interesting information and anecdotes about them. After that, we quickly made our way around the left side of the Elephant exhibit, reaching the Giraffes/Okapis/Chimps/various primates section in the northwestern portion of the zoo. The male Giraffe was an impressive dark buck and clearly on the hunt for a mate that day. While he was unlucky during the time we watched him, let’s just say he was very ready and insistent about it… One of the Okapis also seemed to be pregnant. Once again, I couldn’t help but feel some of the enclosures in this section were on the small side, especially the Giraffe’s, the Okapi’s and those of the bigger primates. In addition, the whole section between the Southern Loop and the Giraffes/Okapis/etc. was still closed-off as announced in the Los Angeles Zoo 2023 news tread.
Next, we walked along the northernmost trail at the zoo, a section showcasing a strong selection of ungulates, but also has many empty enclosures. I couldn’t shake a lingering feeling of “grief” going through the last enclosures, seeing species (or seeing their signs) that seem to be on their way out in North American zoos (ex. Chinese Goral, Tufted Deer, Calamian Deer). My biggest deception was to miss the Calamian Deers that were either hiding very well or were off-show that day. I couldn’t find a staff member or volunteer close-by to ask if they were still at the zoo, but if anyone has the answer, please tell me.
After that, we went through the Asian section, first down the Raptors/Gibbons/Takin trail down to the Elephant exhibit, then making our way up to the Northern Trail and down again to see the second part of the Asian section : François’ Langurs (amazing enclosure) ; Sumatran Tiger ; Markhor ; Sarus Crane ; Snow Leopard ; a the Pheasant/Binturong/Cockatoo/Hornbill roundhouse.This section has many empty exhibits without signs of work around, but I can confirm the former Hippo habitat is showing work in progress to become a Greater One-horned Rhino exhibit (as it was announced in the LA Zoo 2023 news tread).
Next stop was the whole South America section. We visited the older parts of it first. This subsection has an inviting atmosphere, a kind of “old charm” with its paddocks, roundhouses and surrounding vegetation. Seeing a Mountain Tapir was a huge highlight, and all the primates in this section were very active during our visit. After that, we followed The Rainforest of the America trail, a well-designed section with lush foliage and dynamic information signs. Most species were no-show during our visit (I blamed the heat), but I had seen most of them in other zoos. A very active trio of Howler Monkey and a lively pair of Giant Otter more than made up their absentee neighbors. However, missing the Paca was the third big disappointment of my day (right after the Calamian Deer and the Rüppell’s Fox).
We then followed the southern limit of the Elephant exhibit down to the Zoo Grill to have a bite, and trekked our way back to visit the aviaries after. My friend and I spent an ungodly time watching the birds while his partner left to rest, while us “bird lovers” had our zoo-nerd moment. Both aviaries are beautiful, with an interesting collection of species. I confirm the Trumpeter Swan pair is still in the African one. The Asian/Australian aviary was a bit more interesting for me, with a number of lifers. Listening to the Black-collared Starling put on a show was a beautiful moment, same for watching an affectionate pair of Chestnut Teal interact together. While we caught a glimpse of the Harpy Eagle from the Rainforest of the Americas trail, having a closer look at them at the end of the aviaries was a breathtaking experience (those talons!).
We finally traced our way back to the Southern Loop to catch a glimpse of the Rüppell’s Fox (in vain) and see the Desert Bighorn Sheep herd that was off-show in the morning (it was a success). We could spot 3 babies resting close to their parents. By then, we were close to 4h30, so we rushed to the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo. Many of its enclosures were empty, either because the animals were back in their off-show quarters or just unoccupied at the moment. However, we had the chance to watch a very determined American Badger barreling up and down its enclosure, getting real close to the viewing areas in an inquisitive way.
All in all, the Los Angeles Zoo was a agreable experience. In my opinion, The Lair stands out as the best section of the zoo, followed by the aviaries and the Rainforest of the Americas trail! While I wish some of the off-show birds could be seen on-exhibit (see the species list below for information), the on-show collection is definitely interesting .The small size of some enclosures raised some concerns during my visit, but all the animals seem healthy and well-cared for. In addition to the close-off section where the new Cape Vulture aviary will stand, the number of empty enclosures around the zoo seemed heavy to me (ex. previous Trumpeter Swan pond close to the entrance, many enclosures in the Children’s Zoo and around the Tiger exhibit, all along the northern trail, etc.). Even so, I am not disappointed at all by my visit, and I am already planning to come back in 2-3 years to see the new developments.
It was also interesting to have the first take of my German friends on their experience. The LA Zoo was their first impression of a North American zoo, and they advised me not to generalize their perceptions/impressions. However, I think it can be interesting to share some of them with you (without creating a debate about it). They were surprised by :
I strongly recommend visiting the LA Zoo, but for those living afar like me would suggest waiting for the opening of the Cape Vulture exhibit in 2024 to see what the new section will be like. I hope you enjoyed the review. Feel free to ask questions and to comment. Photos qill eventually be posted in the gallery. The next 2-3 posts of this tread will be about the species list!
The day was sunny and hot, and every bit of shade provided by either foliage or man-made structure was very much welcomed. All the people we talked to, staff and volunteers alike, were friendly, always willing to answer our zoo-nerds' questions, and obviously liking their work. Like in San Francisco, the zoo was not too crowded and so we were able to visit every section during our visit. However, the various loops confused us at first and we had to trek back our way a couple times before getting the hang of it.
Our visit started by spending a little time close to the Entrance (Seal and Sealion, Meerkat, American Alligator and 2 species of Flamingo), a random collection but nice exhibits. The previous Trumpeter Swan pond was empty, with no sign of work around it. Right after that, we took the left path, leading us to The Lair. This is definitely one of the highlights of my visit. Such an amazing display of reptiles and amphibians, with informative up-to-date boards on the species housed and beautiful exhibits! Coming from Canada and my friends from Germany, it was a joy for us to see many species exhibited in outdoor enclosures, including an impressive American Desert open-top enclosure where we had to play a Reptile version of “Where’s Waldo?” and a marshy habitat where we watched Gharials basking alongside Painted Batagur.
After that, we went through the Australian section where a very determined Short-beaked Echidna was digging a hole (lifer!!) in its shared enclosure with Koala and Tammar Wallabies. I also saw the best Rhinoceros Hornbill enclosure ever, which is a very large aviary shared with Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies. The Nocturnal House offered 2 beautiful and large habitats to its Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats, but I couldn't help but feel it could also house other marsupial or Australian species since it has the space for it.
The Southern Loop followed, with a very interesting selection of ungulates and a group of African Wild Dog (see the species list below) intersected by small aviaries and roundhouses. One of those exhibited Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies on the right, an empty exhibit in the middle and (drumroll) Rüppell’s Fox on the left… but after the morning visit there and the late afternoon one, I have to confess they eluded us splendidly. However, this section started a trend of exhibiting some species in enclosures that while being beautiful were on the smaller side for the animals in it (in my opinion).
Next stop was the Campo Gorilla Reserve and Orangutan habitat, where a nice volunteer spent a good 10-15 minutes sharing interesting information and anecdotes about them. After that, we quickly made our way around the left side of the Elephant exhibit, reaching the Giraffes/Okapis/Chimps/various primates section in the northwestern portion of the zoo. The male Giraffe was an impressive dark buck and clearly on the hunt for a mate that day. While he was unlucky during the time we watched him, let’s just say he was very ready and insistent about it… One of the Okapis also seemed to be pregnant. Once again, I couldn’t help but feel some of the enclosures in this section were on the small side, especially the Giraffe’s, the Okapi’s and those of the bigger primates. In addition, the whole section between the Southern Loop and the Giraffes/Okapis/etc. was still closed-off as announced in the Los Angeles Zoo 2023 news tread.
Next, we walked along the northernmost trail at the zoo, a section showcasing a strong selection of ungulates, but also has many empty enclosures. I couldn’t shake a lingering feeling of “grief” going through the last enclosures, seeing species (or seeing their signs) that seem to be on their way out in North American zoos (ex. Chinese Goral, Tufted Deer, Calamian Deer). My biggest deception was to miss the Calamian Deers that were either hiding very well or were off-show that day. I couldn’t find a staff member or volunteer close-by to ask if they were still at the zoo, but if anyone has the answer, please tell me.
After that, we went through the Asian section, first down the Raptors/Gibbons/Takin trail down to the Elephant exhibit, then making our way up to the Northern Trail and down again to see the second part of the Asian section : François’ Langurs (amazing enclosure) ; Sumatran Tiger ; Markhor ; Sarus Crane ; Snow Leopard ; a the Pheasant/Binturong/Cockatoo/Hornbill roundhouse.This section has many empty exhibits without signs of work around, but I can confirm the former Hippo habitat is showing work in progress to become a Greater One-horned Rhino exhibit (as it was announced in the LA Zoo 2023 news tread).
Next stop was the whole South America section. We visited the older parts of it first. This subsection has an inviting atmosphere, a kind of “old charm” with its paddocks, roundhouses and surrounding vegetation. Seeing a Mountain Tapir was a huge highlight, and all the primates in this section were very active during our visit. After that, we followed The Rainforest of the America trail, a well-designed section with lush foliage and dynamic information signs. Most species were no-show during our visit (I blamed the heat), but I had seen most of them in other zoos. A very active trio of Howler Monkey and a lively pair of Giant Otter more than made up their absentee neighbors. However, missing the Paca was the third big disappointment of my day (right after the Calamian Deer and the Rüppell’s Fox).
We then followed the southern limit of the Elephant exhibit down to the Zoo Grill to have a bite, and trekked our way back to visit the aviaries after. My friend and I spent an ungodly time watching the birds while his partner left to rest, while us “bird lovers” had our zoo-nerd moment. Both aviaries are beautiful, with an interesting collection of species. I confirm the Trumpeter Swan pair is still in the African one. The Asian/Australian aviary was a bit more interesting for me, with a number of lifers. Listening to the Black-collared Starling put on a show was a beautiful moment, same for watching an affectionate pair of Chestnut Teal interact together. While we caught a glimpse of the Harpy Eagle from the Rainforest of the Americas trail, having a closer look at them at the end of the aviaries was a breathtaking experience (those talons!).
We finally traced our way back to the Southern Loop to catch a glimpse of the Rüppell’s Fox (in vain) and see the Desert Bighorn Sheep herd that was off-show in the morning (it was a success). We could spot 3 babies resting close to their parents. By then, we were close to 4h30, so we rushed to the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo. Many of its enclosures were empty, either because the animals were back in their off-show quarters or just unoccupied at the moment. However, we had the chance to watch a very determined American Badger barreling up and down its enclosure, getting real close to the viewing areas in an inquisitive way.
All in all, the Los Angeles Zoo was a agreable experience. In my opinion, The Lair stands out as the best section of the zoo, followed by the aviaries and the Rainforest of the Americas trail! While I wish some of the off-show birds could be seen on-exhibit (see the species list below for information), the on-show collection is definitely interesting .The small size of some enclosures raised some concerns during my visit, but all the animals seem healthy and well-cared for. In addition to the close-off section where the new Cape Vulture aviary will stand, the number of empty enclosures around the zoo seemed heavy to me (ex. previous Trumpeter Swan pond close to the entrance, many enclosures in the Children’s Zoo and around the Tiger exhibit, all along the northern trail, etc.). Even so, I am not disappointed at all by my visit, and I am already planning to come back in 2-3 years to see the new developments.
It was also interesting to have the first take of my German friends on their experience. The LA Zoo was their first impression of a North American zoo, and they advised me not to generalize their perceptions/impressions. However, I think it can be interesting to share some of them with you (without creating a debate about it). They were surprised by :
- The number of food venues, souvenir stalls and stores and entertainment all over the zoo (a surprise that grew stronger when we reached the San Francisco Zoo) ;
- The friendly and open attitude of the staff and volunteers around the zoo (according to them, German staff are not to be seen or heard) ;
- The confusing zoo map (“It should be clearer!”) ;
- The lack of clear indications on animal/keepers talks at the zoo (if there was any, when, etc.).
I strongly recommend visiting the LA Zoo, but for those living afar like me would suggest waiting for the opening of the Cape Vulture exhibit in 2024 to see what the new section will be like. I hope you enjoyed the review. Feel free to ask questions and to comment. Photos qill eventually be posted in the gallery. The next 2-3 posts of this tread will be about the species list!
