Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Los Angeles Zoo News 2024

The male snow leopard was born at and came from ABQ BioPark Zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His late father Azeo was born at Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg so it's possible that zoo "owns" the LA male even though he's never spent any time there.

 

@Coelacanth18 , the L.A. Zoo website lists seven poison frogs in its collection: Poison Frogs - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Neither of the turtle species you mentioned are listed on the website nor is the Bruce's green pigeon (I've never seen any of these animals at the zoo either). I refer to the website's animal list frequently as it has a lot of the same information as the signage and that way I can read about the animals at home instead of spending my zoo time looking at the signs. One caveat is that the website isn't always current, but it's still a good guide.

 

Thanks @Lori Patton. While admittedly LA has a more accurate, updated and comprehensive species list on their website than most US zoos, when it comes to minutiae it's generally more useful to ask the regulars here than rely on the website. To give just a few examples: the Ruppell's Sand Fox is not on the website, there is no mention of having Somali Ostrich (just regular), and although Chuckwalla is on there it is listed as Sauromalus ater while the zoo has had two different species (varius and klauberi) for many years rather than ater.

As for the dart frogs specifically, they indeed list those seven species - and yet one of the photos on that page also shows Ranitomeya imitator, which is another dart frog I've personally seen unsigned in there multiple times. There's also definitely been unsigned Anthony's for some time now. Meanwhile I have never seen the Blessed and I don't think the Yellow-banded either, so I was skeptical as to whether the zoo still held them. There's also no photos in the LA Zoo gallery of either species.

Also a quick note for anybody who gets confused: the website lists Ranitomeya variabilis as "Splash-back" which is a name usually applied to Adelphobates galactonotus. The zoo sign calls it Variable, though.

 

I had a good time at LA Zoo last week - RE the Calamian deer, they are apparently generally only visible in the first two hours of the day. From about midday, they tend to retreat to the back of the exhibit by the shelter, where the angle makes them impossible to see. I got lucky first thing and then nothing later on.

 

They should still have both of them in the collection; however, I have only ever seen the Roti Island snake-necked on any of my three visits in the last year.

They are, indeed, down to just the Somali now.

They should have dyeing, golden, green-and-black, mimic, phantasmal, R. uakarii, variable, and yellow-and-black. The blessed seem to be gone, and it is my guess that the Anthony's you think you are seeing are actually the phantasmal.

They are completely gone now. I believe it has been within the last year that they've gone out of them. I was able to spot one once last year.

 

Thanks @Kudu21! I only learned recently that the zoo had a rare kind of Ostrich, and until this most recent visit I'd never bothered to photograph them during my visits

Re: the Mary River turtle, the last transaction report noted that the zoo was taking back a male they had loaned to another facility, so it does seem like they are a holder (unless the one that was on loan was the only one they have). It's just odd because I don't know anyone who's seen them, and there are no photos of it in the gallery either. The Roti Island I remember seeing in the past, just not recently.
Of note, I also didn't see a lungfish in there this past visit. Lot of stuff missing for a tank that is not that hard to search!

I was told that all "Phantasmals" (Epipedobates tricolor) in captivity are actually Anthony's (E. anthonyi), which is why I assumed it was that - but yes, I'm sure we're talking about the same frog.

 

It's frustrating that neither they nor Dallas sign their Somalis, as I am sure there are many people in your same boat!

They should have several females as well as the male. It is odd that seemingly no one has ever seen one though because as you note, it should not be a difficult exhibit to see everything in! It makes you wonder if they've just been permanently moved off-exhibit for some reason.

Gotcha! That is interesting to learn then!

 

I've seen the Mary River Turtles during my visit in 2022

 

How many zoos in North America keep Somali Ostriches?

 

Just Los Angeles and Dallas, 0.1 each.

 

They're much more rare than I thought, I am quite surprised by this.

 

I mean... it ain't that much of a surprise considering lack of interest + legislation protecting certain industries. Same reason why we aren't importing pure reticulated or Rothschild's giraffes.

 

That is correct. From what I understand, the Somali ostrich is not as common in the ostrich industry as South African, Masai, or crossbred animals are, as they are apparently not as good for meat production?, but they are definitely around and available. Both of the Somali ostriches currently in zoos in the US came from the same ostrich farm.

 

I visited the zoo today and saw several things of note. First, there was a sign indicating that one of the chimpanzees is injured and is being monitored by zoo staff. I don't know which one as I saw several and none had any apparent injuries. There was also a sign that it is currently breeding season for the Steller's sea eagles so their habitat is not being cleaned as often. The new shade structures in the elephant yard are starting to take shape, but it looks like there's still quite a bit of work to be done. I also saw a young goral on the hillside habitat -- not sure of the age, but definitely not full-grown.

Although it was a weekday, it was still quite crowded due to many schools being closed for spring break. The zoo looks beautiful this time of year with blooming aloes, clivia, bromeliads, redbuds, and cherry trees. It was so nice to see the animals grazing on the fresh, green grass -- Billy the elephant, the giraffes, and the ostrich were all enjoying it!

 

Hi Lori, You'll be happy to hear that the flamingos were only off-exhibit for a few days while a plumbing issue in their exhibit was fixed. They are back out on exhibit, and as happy and noisy as usual.

 

I can confirm that the new baby B&W colobus monkey is a male and he's adorable! He was born in December. He's getting his grown up coloring now. Mom was super-protective of him for the first few months, but now is letting him play with his older half-brother, who is just the most amazing "parkour" expert I've ever seen. The two of them together are just the cutest.

 

It is a definite no-brainer that protecting domestic industry in black crossbred and South African ostrich over both the Somali (blue-necked) or North-African red necked ostrich.

It should really make for a re-think of national USFWS ex situ conservation policy to unblock issues with importing/exporting these ostrich, giraffe and a few other ungulate species.

 

Any news of when the Cape Vulture exhibit Opening?

 

There are 2 desert bighorn sheep calves visible on exhibit.

There is also a spotted thick-knee chick on exhibit with its parents in the mixed bird species exhibit across from the former Gorilla Grill (currently being converted to a Pink's Hot Dogs).