A few of us had a brief discussion about the LA Zoo lion exhibit over one of Blackduiker's lion photos in the LA Zoo photo gallery.
The LA Zoo lion exhibit is very small and old compared to modern lion exhibits and after the elderly lioness in it passes, it seems unlikely that this exhibit would be used for lions anymore.
The LA Zoo has been engaged in an ambitious renewal project since 1998. This building program has helped modernize the infrastructure of the zoo and allowed for a new entrance and education complex, seal exhibit, great ape exhibits (chimps, gorillas, orangs), a new Asian elephant exhibit, an Asian monkey exhibit (originally golden monkeys but langurs at the moment), and upcoming new reptile/invertebrate complex, and South American rainforest complex. Not all of these exhibits have been universally hailed as excellent, but there seems to be consensus that they are all at least good and that the LA Zoo is a much better zoo than it was before 1998.
My question for the LA Zoo regulars here, professional zoo designers, and anyone else with an interest in the LA Zoo, is what exhibits need to be replaced in the next wave of LA Zoo renewal. Who knows when it will happen, but we have to at least start dreaming of the future so we can work to make it happen.
My 2 cents is that they need to build:
1. African animal complex with new exhibits for lions, hippos (originally part of the 1998 plan but dropped because the ele exhibit got complicated), giraffes and zebras, and black rhinos.
2. New bear exhibits. The LA Zoo once had an excellent bear collection with most species represented. It is good for the animals that they are no longer there because the exhibits were old and sucky, but having at least one bear species in a modern exhibit would be great. There are currently only American black bears that are wild rescue animals. They are in an old retrofitted exhibit. I don't see polar bears happening here because of expense of building a new aquatic exhibit of needed scale, but who knows? A good grizzly bear exhibit would be good.
3. New Asian rhino and tiger exhibits.
4. A California condor exhibit. One of the LA Zoo's legitimate claims to greatness is that they helped save the California condor, and continue to support the wild population through captive breeding and health care of wild condors with lead poisoning. There are now condor exhibits at San Diego and Santa Barbara. LA needs one too.
Given economic realities these exhibits probably wouldn't be finished until the 2020s at least, but have to start somewhere.
The LA Zoo lion exhibit is very small and old compared to modern lion exhibits and after the elderly lioness in it passes, it seems unlikely that this exhibit would be used for lions anymore.
The LA Zoo has been engaged in an ambitious renewal project since 1998. This building program has helped modernize the infrastructure of the zoo and allowed for a new entrance and education complex, seal exhibit, great ape exhibits (chimps, gorillas, orangs), a new Asian elephant exhibit, an Asian monkey exhibit (originally golden monkeys but langurs at the moment), and upcoming new reptile/invertebrate complex, and South American rainforest complex. Not all of these exhibits have been universally hailed as excellent, but there seems to be consensus that they are all at least good and that the LA Zoo is a much better zoo than it was before 1998.
My question for the LA Zoo regulars here, professional zoo designers, and anyone else with an interest in the LA Zoo, is what exhibits need to be replaced in the next wave of LA Zoo renewal. Who knows when it will happen, but we have to at least start dreaming of the future so we can work to make it happen.
My 2 cents is that they need to build:
1. African animal complex with new exhibits for lions, hippos (originally part of the 1998 plan but dropped because the ele exhibit got complicated), giraffes and zebras, and black rhinos.
2. New bear exhibits. The LA Zoo once had an excellent bear collection with most species represented. It is good for the animals that they are no longer there because the exhibits were old and sucky, but having at least one bear species in a modern exhibit would be great. There are currently only American black bears that are wild rescue animals. They are in an old retrofitted exhibit. I don't see polar bears happening here because of expense of building a new aquatic exhibit of needed scale, but who knows? A good grizzly bear exhibit would be good.
3. New Asian rhino and tiger exhibits.
4. A California condor exhibit. One of the LA Zoo's legitimate claims to greatness is that they helped save the California condor, and continue to support the wild population through captive breeding and health care of wild condors with lead poisoning. There are now condor exhibits at San Diego and Santa Barbara. LA needs one too.
Given economic realities these exhibits probably wouldn't be finished until the 2020s at least, but have to start somewhere.
Whether the zoo builds a plethora of fantastic animal habitats all around the 20+ roundhouse exhibits is besides the point, as the c-shaped monstrosities will surely remain for a number of years before they are hopefully bulldozed into oblivion. 
