Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Los Angeles Zoo News 2014

It's a brand new year and these are the latest Zoo Commission Minutes from January 28, 2014.

Some of the highlights include:

ROA is 96.5% complete

ROA construction should be completed by late February or early March,
with a projected opening date in March or April

Jaguar exhibit bids should be completed within a month

Gray Kangaroos and a Two-toed sloth are now on exhibit

http://www.lazoo.org/about/commission/minutes/Jan 2014 Commission Meeting Minutes FINAL.pdf

 

A female Takin calf was born Feb 12th.

Sichuan Takin Born at LA Zoo - ZooBorns

 

I recently uploaded her photo in the Los Angeles Zoo photo gallery.

 

The Snow Days event was on February 22nd and 23rd. The zoo just released a video showing the highlights of those days.

Snow Days at the Los Angeles Zoo - YouTube

 

We are planning on visiting the LA Zoo on Thursday April 24 and Aqaurium of the Pacific on Friday April 25th if anyone of you So Cal Zoo Chatters would care to join us that would be great.

Team Tapir223

 

We have just been informed by the LA Zoo that the Rainforests of the Americas is opening April 29th so it looks like we'll be visiting the LA Zoo twice during our visit to Southern California

Team Tapir223

 

I'm planning to visit the following month, so I'm glad that RoA will be open then, looking forward to seeing that.

 

Sumatran tiger brother, Cinta and Kuasa, have moved to Hattiesburg Zoo.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/...sburg-Zoo-unveil-new-additions?nclick_check=1

 

http://www.lazoo.org/about/commission/minutes/February2014Minutes.pdf

 

According to the February Zoo Commission Minutes, the newly arrived jaguar pair are currently being held in the "former" snow leopard exhibit. And an older pair of non-breeding lions have recently arrived at the zoo. The jaguars are temporarily being held in the snow leopard enclosure pending completion of their new habitat awaiting construction. It is my guess that snow leopards will once again be put on display after the new jaguar habitat is completed???

 

Hubert and Kalisa, the lions from Woodland Park Zoo will be on exhibit March 28th.

 

Announcement for the GLAZA Members Only Preview for Rainforest of the Americas were made in the April issue of Zoo Scape. Those dates are Thursday April 24 and Friday the 25. Valid membership cards and photo ID are required. Opening for the general public is set for Tuesday the 29. Highlights for this 2.2 acre exhibit include Toucans, Tamarins, Red Uakaris, Baird's Tapirs, Giant Otters, Dwarf Caimans, Piranhas, Harpy Eagles, and Goliath bird-eating spiders to name a few.

 

The March Commission Minutes have been released:

http://www.lazoo.org/about/commission/minutes/March2014Minutes.pdf

 

The bird show is back! Press Room - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Some photos from the opening: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154017581125273.1073741847.242124560272&type=1

 

Wasn't the original plans for the bird show more ambitious than what eventually realized?

 

My understanding was that the main show set was decaying so they needed to completely rebuild it, which seems to be what they have done.

I haven't seen the new show yet, but the old show was quite excellent with engaging set-pieces (a ground hornbill came out and demonstrated snake-killing behavior, free-flying macaws circled the amphitheater in the best display of parrots I've ever seen in a zoo, a hawk swooped down from the hill above the theater and caught a simulated bird shot into the air) and a good conservation message.

If they can sustain that level of excellence in the new show then they will have realized quite an ambitious, high-quality undertaking once more.

 

And on occasion, even an Andean Condor in free flight, from the far away hillside, down to the stage area. Now that was breathtaking!

 

I was referring to the overall design of the stage set. I remember seeing concept drawings that were more thematic than the photos reveal. It kinda looks like a Southern California suburban home. Does anyone remember the concept art that I am speaking of?

 

Article about Takin-birth :
Los Angeles Zoo Welcomes a Takin Calf - ZooBorns

 

So the new zoo map including Rainforest of the Americas and the new Bird Show has been posted on the zoo's website:

http://lazoo.org/visit/zoomap/images/zoomap-apri2014.jpg

Surprisingly, the zoo did not change the map design to the same design as SD Zoo and Lowry Park Zoo like they with the RotA map.