Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Los Angeles Zoo News 2020

So to start the new year and decade.

‘The L.A. Zoo is excited to announce its first hatching of 2020 and a *first-time* reproduction for us! The fringe-limbed tree frog is rarely seen in nature and we've been working for two years in hopes of egg fertilization. It will take several months for the tadpoles to grow into frogs, after which they’ll settle into an exhibit at the Rainforest of the Americas area of the Zoo.’

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=653346425202150

Any idea what species of fringe-limbed tree frog it is?

 

Latest animal transactions: https://www.lazoo.org/wp-new/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/01.2020-Animal-Transactions.pdf

December meeting minutes: https://www.lazoo.org/wp-new/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Dec-2019-Commission-Minutes-FINAL.pdf

 

Seems like 2 of the Congo peafowl chicks didn't make it.

The meeting minutes seems to imply that ticket prices might be going up again. I wish they could get more money from the city instead; the prices are already pretty high, although not dissimilar from other American zoos its size.

 

It's nice that now Palawan Palm Vipers or Schultz's pit viper are joining the zoo, given the success of the Lair's Snake breeding program.

The animals at the Zoo that are native to the Philippines include Visayan Warty Pig, Grey's Monitor, and Calamian Deer any others did I miss?

For the painted Terrapins, since the zoo has females that live with Gharials the addition of two males could start a breeding program for this endangered turtle species.

 

Hard to say... I know one or two species are or were around in US and Costa Rican zoos, but I have to look up which and were.

 

Anyone heard about the baby gorilla? Getting a little concerned...

 

I got word and the species of the Fringe-limbed Tree Frog is (Cruziohyla craspedopus) are there any zoos that have this species?

 

Ah, but that a completely different type of tree frog than the ones I was thinking of! This one is actually the Fringed Tree Frog. Fringe-limbed Trees Frogs are Ecnomiohyla spp.

I don't know about the US, but according to Zootierliste three instutions in Europe keep Cruziohyla craspedopus and no surprising is that Manchester Museum is one of these. Cruziohyla spp. are high on my amphibian whish list, but I'm reluctant to traveling to Manchester just for a couple of frog species.

For the record: Henry Vilas Zoo kept Ecnomiohyla fimbrimembra off show and the last known individual of E. rabborum lived in Atlanta Botanical Gardens untill it died. El Valle in Panama had a ex-situ program for E. miliaria and Arenal Eco Zoo in Costa Rica kept a unspecified Ecnomiohyla.

 

I expect to be in Los Angeles for some days in May/June and I'm considering to visit the zoo as I have some free time (at least an afternoon). I will probably stay in Long Beach and as the hotel looks awesome (the Queen Mary), it seems a quite off part of the city. I won't rent a car, so how is transportation in Los Angeles? Is public transport or a taxi a good option (regarding time and costs) between Long Beach and the zoo?

 

On cost alone, I wouldn't bother with taxis. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are cheaper and should take the same amount of time. That will be your fastest option, but the exact price can vary widely by traffic; Long Beach and Griffith Park are on opposite sides of the LA basin so in heavy traffic it could be an hour or more and cost quite a bit.

I'm not sure about buses; my understanding is that they are cheap but not particularly fast. However, consider taking a short Uber/Lyft to the Metro's Blue Line in Long Beach and use the Metro to make your way up to Studio City or Highland Park, then take another short Uber/Lyft drive to the zoo. It costs ~$3 one-way with unlimited stops, and it'll save you from getting stuck in most traffic.

 

An endangered gorilla was born at the Los Angeles Zoo!!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nb...e=y&akdevice=androidphone&sslEnabled=true&amp

 

Ndjia had her baby yesterday.

 

Fantastic!

 

Update: the baby is adorable. N’Djia is very protective, so you have to be patient. Fortunately, Kelly is very curious and very protective of them both, so when he gets close, she'll move between hiding places and you can get a glimpse

 

"A Zoo animal care staff are excited to confirm our baby gorilla is a female! Over the coming months, guests can expect to see N’Djia continue to carry her baby against her chest until the baby is strong enough to hang on N'Djia's back"

 

The A Line (or Blue Line) light rail goes from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles. From there you can catch a single bus straight to Griffith Park. I have not been to Los Angeles since they added the new light rail lines, but I did once take the bus from downtown to Griffith Park. Here is their website: LA Metro Home | Go Metro

 

Latest animal transactions: https://www.lazoo.org/wp-new/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/02.2020-Animal-Transactions.pdf

January meeting minutes: https://www.lazoo.org/wp-new/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Jan-2020-Commission-Minutes-FINAL.pdf

 

The first AZA zoo to exhibit Palawan palm vipers is very cool news.

Construction on Phase I of the master plan tentatively starting in 2024... less cool.

 

It will be great if it can start in 2024. They need to pass a bond initiative or find some other major source of funding to pay for the projects, so hopefully that is not overly optimistic. One of their stated goals at the master plan workshop was to get a major exhibit complex done by the 2028 Olympics.

It is good to see that Australian lungfish is coming back to the LAIR after the previous one died of old age.

 

And it’s even more exciting that the Victoria Crowned Pigeons are coming back when was the last time they were here?

Also it’s best to be Patience even though we’re four years away from the phase 1 perhaps it might start earlier?

and the major exhibit complex might be the California area?!