This is an attempt to list every species on exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo during my visit on 7-22-15. I am arranging the list by the current visitor map, although there are no longer zone designations (such as geographic areas) or numbered exhibits in which to organize the zoo; however, there are certainly smaller sections with named exhibit complexes in several areas. I am including species for which there is a sign on each exhibit; I am not including education animals that have no permanent exhibit, such as those in the show at World of Birds Theater. This is not intended to be a full account of the collection. Also, species on exhibit are sometimes moved, so some that were there one day may have disappeared from public view the next. This list may be of more interest to those already familiar with the zoo since I am not arranging the species by animal type. I will list each zone in a separate entry in the thread for clarity, but please note that the zone names are NOT on the current map and are my own descriptive names in order to organize what is a large confusing cartographic layout. This tour will generally be a counter-clockwise route. I use the term C-House for the round exhibit shelters that are so prevalent from the original zoo's 1966 opening. Each one is a C-shape, where visitors enter the center through the opening to view the exhibits that surround them and occupy the rest of the round open-air structure, viewed through wire containment panels in most cases. The number of exhibits in each one varies from 1 to 4, and I will try to list the species in counter-clockwise direction upon entering (left to right). ENTRY PLAZA AREA: (3 Exhibits) This area is the zoo's only entry and has a few exhibits before the International Marketplace is reached, which contains shops and dining. Sea Life Cliffs: This complex has two pool yards with underwater viewing for pinnipeds; the two pools are at different levels so I assume they are two different exhibits. Both exhibits contain: Grey Seal Harbor Seal Small yard dominated by pond next to International Marketplace: American Alligator
CHILDRENS ZOO: (23 Exhibits) This complex is the renamed and slightly refurnished area that opened as Adventure Island in 1990 or so. This route will roughly follow a clockwise direction from the entry arch. Pool yard with rocky cliffs and waterfall: Empty (drained) Muriels Ranch: I will count this domestics petting complex with several paddocks as 1 exhibit and I did not note the breeds; I saw goats, sheep, horse and goose although I did not enter. Yard with pop-up viewing bubbles for visitors: Black-tailed Prairie Dog 4 Desert Trail outdoor rocky enclosures: Each contains 1 species: Greater Roadrunner Empty Yellow-billed Magpie Empty (This is the largest one that held Cougar in the past) 3 Desert Trail small indoor wall exhibits in cave exploring building: It appears that about 4 former exhibits are abandoned inside, with several having educational displays about caves instead. The 3 that remain each contain 1 species: Axolotl Tarantula (unidentified) Scorpion (unidentified) 3 Desert Trail medium indoor wall exhibits in the other cave building: It appears that 5 former reptile terrarium wall exhibits have been abandoned in this room, but the three larger exhibits contain 1 species each: African Hedgehog Short-eared Elephant Shrew Mexican Beaded Lizard Animal Care Center outdoor yard: Black Duiker Red-flanked Duiker 9 Animal Care Center indoor rooms behind glass: These are listed from the first exhibit at the front to the last exhibit next to the outdoor yard. A few have multiple species: Linne's Two-toed Sloth Harris's Antelope Ground Squirrel Three-banded Armadillo Larger Malayan Chevrotain Prevost's Squirrel Panay Cloud Rat Red-rumped Agouti Empty (Nursery Room that had just held Barn Owl) Harris's Antelope Ground Squirrel Meerkat Panay Cloud Rat
ENTRY PATH AFTER CHILDRENS ZOO: (5 Exhibits) This area includes the long path after the Children's Zoo has been passed and the adjacent hillside with the walk-through aviaries. Small rocky yard: Meerkat Pond and grassy sloped yard: Chilean Flamingo Greater Flamingo Waterfall pond and small island: Empty (apparently this has contained Black-necked Swan recently) Large Walk-through Aviary 1: Greater Flamingo Nicobar Pigeon Purple Swamphen West African Crowned Crane White Crowned Robin Chat White-faced Whistling Duck Large Walk-through Aviary 2: Closed (introducing new species)
RAINFOREST OF THE AMERICAS: (13 Exhibits) This is the zoo's newest exhibit complex, opened in 2014 (except the Jaguar exhibit opened this year). This route will follow the sole designated exhibit path. Large netted flight enclosure: Harpy Eagle Medium terrarium/aquarium room: Emerald Tree Boa Peacock Bass Larger terrarium/aquarium room: Armored Catfish Bucktooth Tetra Cardinal Tetra Dwarf Cichlid Peacock Bass Piraya Piranha Red-bellied Piranha Rocky stream and pond yard: Empty (normally holds Giant Otter, but closed and drained for maintenance) Rocky yard with raised island in center: Central American Tapir Cotton-top Tamarin? (I did not see a sign for them but found out later they should be there) Medium netted enclosure: Black Howler Monkey Lowland Paca Medium netted enclosure located behind fence and far from walkway: Red Uakari Medium netted enclosure: Crested Oropendola Medium room pond exhibit behind glass: Dwarf Caiman Mud Turtle South American Slider 2 small wall terrariums: Each contains 1 species: Marine Toad Goliath Bird-eating Spider Medium netted enclosure: Keel-billed Toucan Large netted enclosure: Jaguar
FORMER SOUTH AMERICA AREA: (19 Exhibits) This area is vintage LA Zoo, and still retains the geographic theme of South America even though it is no longer designated as such on the visitor map. This route will begin at the C-House entrance closest to Rainforest of the Americas, proceed left to the C-House on the dead-end path, then begin again at the first C-House and proceed right in counter-clockwise direction to the former Eurasia area. C-House with 3 exhibits and visitor entry on each side, near Rainforest of the Americas: This is the only C-House with a visitor walkway entirely through the middle. It has 3 exhibits, each contains 1 species: Great Curassow Andean Condor Red-and-Green Macaw Large walled yard: Giant Otter Walled yard: Maned Wolf C-House with 2 exhibits on dead-end path: Each exhibit contains 1 species: King Vulture Crested Screamer Rocky yard: Aldabra Tortoise C-House with 3 exhibits: The first two exhibits contain 1 species, the third contains 2 species: Crested Capuchin Geoffroy's Spider Monkey Black Howler Monkey Spotted Paca Medium netted enclosure: Squirrel Monkey C-House with 3 exhibits: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Red-legged Sereima Giant Anteater King Vulture Walled yard: Mountain Tapir C-House with 3 exhibits: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Empty Blue-billed Curassow Blue-billed Curassow
FORMER EURASIA AREA: (24 Exhibits) Some African animals and a North American one have intruded in the geographic theme of this area. The route will begin adjacent to the former South America area and run roughly counter-clockwise to include animals in the former Hillside area exhibits along the back road, then return to end at the only newer-era exhibit in this area (for Francois's Langur) and adjacent to Elephants of Asia (a separate thread entry). C-House with 1 exhibit: Snow Leopard Large moated yard: Sumatran Tiger Bowl-shaped grotto: American Black Bear Walled yard: Indian Rhinoceros (animal can travel behind Hippopotamus exhibit to the other exhibit for its species) Walled yard with large pond: Hippopotamus Walled yard: Indian Rhinoceros (animal can travel behind Hippopotamus exhibit to the other exhibit for its species) C-House with 4 exhibits: African Crowned Eagle Empty Empty Empty 6 hillside yards: These large chainlink-fenced steep enclosures run along the back road of the zoo; several of them have gaps in between which once featured even more similar exhibits. The ones nearest to the former Eurasia area each contain 1 species: Calamian Deer Visayan Warty Pig Japanese Serow Tufted Deer Central Chinese Goral Central Chinese Goral C-House with 2 exhibits: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Stellar's Sea Eagle African Fish Eagle C-House with 2 exhibits: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Siamang Mustached Guenon C-House: Access to this one was closed off so I am not sure how many exhibits are within, I will count it as 1. Large walled yard: Takin (unspecified, but website says Sichuan Takin) Bowl-shaped rocky yard near pedestrian bridge: Tadjik Markhor Large netted enclosure viewed from boardwalk and temple room: This is the only new exhibit in the former Eurasia area, and I am not sure whether to include it in Elephants of Asia since it has more in common with that complex than its neighbors. It contains: Francois's Langur
ELEPHANTS OF ASIA: (3 Exhibits) This newer large complex replaced some of the older Africa area/pachyderm yards and the Reptile House, as well as a few exhibits in the former Eurasia area. 2 medium netted yards: Each yard contains: Sarus Crane Large connected yards: Since the various gates were open between these several yards and there is only 1 inhabitant, I will consider this 1 exhibit. There are 3 main viewing areas around the perimeter of this large exhibit that occupies the center of the zoo, adjacent to the former Africa, Eurasia, and South America areas. It contains: Asian Elephant
FORMER AFRICA AREA: (29 Exhibits) This area retains its geographic theme with one exception. The route will begin at that exceptional complex (Red Ape Rainforest) and proceed in a counter-clockwise direction up to the former hillside exhibits area and then meander along the South edge of the zoo to Campo Gorilla Reserve. Red Ape Rainforest: This newer complex is near one of the large viewing areas for Elephants of Asia and continues the Asian theme. The exhibit has 3 sections, 2 of which were closed for renovation. It contains: Bornean Orangutan Chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains: This newer exhibit complex is composed of two exhibits; one is a large rocky-walled yard including several viewing shelters for visitors, while the other is a large and highly unnatural house-shaped cage. Both contain: Chimpanzee 5 hillside yards: These adjacent medium-to-large chainlink-fenced yards are located on the back road of the zoo in the former hillside exhibit area nearest to the former Africa area. Each contains 1 species: Red River Hog Ostrich Lesser Kudu Lesser Kudu Black Duiker C-House with 2 exhibits: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Madagascar Radiated Tortoise Ring-tailed Lemur C-House with 2 exhibits: Each exhibit contains the same species: Serval C-House with 2 exhibits: Each exhibit contains the same mix of 2 species: Mandrill Red-crowned Mangabey C-House with 2 exhibits: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Coquerel's Sifaka Empty C-House with 2 exhibits: Each exhibit contains the same species: Kikuyu Colobus Monkey C-House: Looking at the map after my visit, I think I missed this one, so I will count it as 1 exhibit. It is the one closest to the intersection of the Maasai Giraffe exhibit and Chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains. Walled yard: Okapi Large walled yard: Maasai Giraffe Large walled yard: African Lion C-House with 2 exhibits: Each exhibit has 2 species, with the duiker in both: Black Duiker White-crested Turaco Black Duiker Ross's Turaco Walled yard: Gerenuk Bowl-shaped grotto: Nubian Ibex Walled yard near pedestrian bridge: Mountain Bongo Yellow-backed Duiker Campo Gorilla Reserve: This newer complex has 2 rocky yards that contain: Western Lowland Gorilla
FORMER NORTH AMERICA AREA: (21 Exhibits) This is another vintage LA Zoo area, although its geographic focus has been mostly obliterated! The route will be a counter-clockwise direction around this simple loop path, starting at the Gorilla Grill. Walled yard: Grevy's Zebra C-House with 3 exhibits: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Cape Rock Hyrax Fossa Bat-eared Fox Walled yard with tall rocky buttes: Desert Bighorn Sheep C-House with 2 exhibits: Each exhibit contains 1 species: North American River Otter Empty 7 medium-to-large fenced yards: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Peninsular Pronghorn Peninsular Pronghorn Lowland Anoa Babirusa Speke's Gazelle Chacoan Peccary Empty Medium fenced yard viewed from rocky path alcove: African Wild Dog C-House with 3 exhibits: The first two contain 1 species while the third contains 3 species: Red-tailed Hawk East African Crowned Crane Roseate Spoonbill Scarlet Ibis White Ibis Curved small aviary structure with 3 exhibits: Two of the exhibits contain 2 species while the middle one contains 1 species: Congo Peafowl White-cheeked Turaco Violaceous Turaco Black-headed Weaver Spotted Thick Knee
FORMER AUSTRALIA AREA: (12 Exhibits) This area remains (mostly) true to its geographic roots. The route will run counter-clockwise from the single entrance to the loop path. Tall netted enclosure in center of loop path: Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby Walled yard that has been divided into 2 yards: I believe these are the exhibits that will contain Tasmanian Devil. Currently they are: Empty Empty Fenced yard: Double-wattled Cassowary Walled yard: Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby C-House with 3 exhibits: Each exhibit contains the same species: Komodo Dragon Australia House: This recently re-opened nocturnal house has 2 large interior yards separated by a low wall. The first contains 1 species while the second contains 4 species: Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat Brush-tailed Bettong Short-nosed Echidna Sugar Glider Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby (unsigned) Walled yard: Koala Tammar Wallaby Western Gray Kangaroo Walled yard: Koala Short-nosed Echidna Tammar Wallaby
LAIR: (51 Exhibits) This area was once called Aquatics, but most of it was demolished; however, two of its old exhibits remain and are currently empty. Replacing most of the area is The LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles), a two-building complex and this route follows the path through its main building, then outside, then through the Desert LAIR building, then back outside. 2 former aquatics area yards with large deep pools: Empty (drained) Empty (drained) LAIR Main Building: Damp Forest : The first room of the building is a narrow passage with simulated exposed riverbank walls with 14 exhibits. Detailed tall terrarium on left side: Boelen's Python 7 small wall terrariums on left side: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Magnificent Tree Frog Giant Day Gecko Poison Dart Frogs (unspecified) Empty Temple Viper Green Tree Python Iranian Harlequin Newt 2 medium tall terrariums on right side, dominated by pools: Each exhibit contains the same species: Chinese Giant Salamander 4 small wall terrariums on right side: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Mossy-tailed Leaf Gecko Black-tailed Horned Viper Rowley's Palm Viper Armenian Viper Betty's Bite and Squeeze: This round room features 12 floor-to-ceiling medium terrarium exhibits, with a few dominated by ponds with underwater viewing. 8 terrariums on right side: Each exhibit contains 1 species except the third one contains 2 species: Bushmaster Mangshan Pitviper Rough-scaled Python Shingle-back Skink Cantil West African Green Mamba Fiji Island Banded Iguana Gaboon Viper Mata Mata 4 terrariums on left side: Each exhibit contains 1 species except the first one contains 5 species: Archerfish Australian Lungfish Australian Rainbowfish Fly River Turtle Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake Mexican Beaded Lizard Lance-headed Rattlesnake Behind the Glass: I will count this lab room as 1 exhibit since the average small terrariums inside on the shelves presumably change and move over time. The small terrariums were mostly simply labeled with scientific name, so the common names below may be questionable. On view near the window when I visited were: Arizona Mountain Kingsnake Armenian Viper (2) Banded Rock Rattlesnake (2) Mexican Palm Pitviper Sand Viper (2) Texas Rock Rattlesnake (3) Care and Conservation Room: This is the final room in the main LAIR building, with 3 exhibits: Wall shelf exhibit: Mexican Giant Horned Lizard Small room exhibit in corner: Gray's Monitor Small room exhibit with door to outdoor cage: Giant One-horned Chameleon Madagascar Radiated Tortoise Madagascar Spider Tortoise Outdoor path between LAIR and Desert LAIR: Exterior cage near exit to main LAIR building and previous exhibit: Burmese Star Tortoise Arroyo Lagarto: This outdoor rocky yard is surrounded by the path and contains: California Desert Tortoise Cape Rock Lizard Desert Iguana San Esteban Island Chuckwalla Santa Catalina Side-blotched Lizard Spiny Lizard Desert LAIR: The smaller building is a basic square shape with a skylit interior. 7 adjacent tall detailed terrariums on left side: Each exhibit contains 1 species except the second one which contains 2 species: California Kingsnake San Diego Gopher Snake Southern Pacific Rattlesnake Southwest Speckled Rattlesnake Baja California Ratsnake Sidewinder Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake Santa Catalina Island Rattlesnake 6 small wall terrariums on left side: Each contains 1 species: Desert Hairy Scorpion Sonoran Tarantula Rock Rattlesnake Tiger Salamander Sonoran Giant Centipede Sunburst Diving Beetle Medium tall detailed terrarium on left side: Gila Monster Sonoran Toad 2 adjacent tall detailed terrariums on right side: Each exhibit contains 1 species: Desert Rosy Boa Red Diamond Rattlesnake Medium tall detailed terrarium on right side: Cape Rock Lizard Spotted Chuckwalla Crocodile Swamp: The final exhibit along the LAIR path is an outdoor yard dominated by a shallow pond that contains: False Gharial
SUMMARY: By my count, the total number of exhibits currently at Los Angeles Zoo is: 203 By my count, the total number of species in permanent exhibits is: 199 The number of species I counted can be broken down into the following categories: Mammals: 83 Birds: 35 Reptiles: 56 Amphibians: 8 Fish: 10 Insects and Arachnids: 7
You are correct that the empty exhibits in the Australia area are soon to be Tasmanian devil exhibits. The word on the street is that the empty pools in the LAIR area will soon be gharial exhibits. The empty exhibit next to the sifakas is the blue-eyed lemur exhibit - apparently new individuals are arriving soon (or are already behind the scenes?). Nice recap of the LA Zoo collection. Did you enjoy your visit?
Another great list geomorph! To compare, here is my species summary from my visit last June, which is very similar (although I only listed species I saw, not those signed but unseen): A species I missed last year was the Paca. You have them listed as Lowland Paca and Spotted Paca, but I think they are the same species. The roundhouse with them was under renovation on my visit, and they had not eyt added them to the Howler Monkey exhibit (which is a very good idea). I think the oddest thing about LA is its minimal bird collection, it must be one of the few major general-collection zoos with such a relatively poor bird collection in comparison to mammals and reptiles.
Great list! Last time I was there, there were at least three different species of poison dart frogs: Phyllobates terriblis Dendrobates leucomelas and multiple morphs of Dendrobates Tinctorius
Very nice job! I went to the zoo last week and wrote down a list of my own and noticed some differences. I will post it as soon as I can.
