Los Angeles Zoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Los Angeles Zoo

A summer crowd at the L.A. Zoo
Date opened	November 28, 1966; 58 years ago (November 28, 1966)
Location	Los Angeles, California, United States
Land area	133 acres (54 ha)
Coordinates	34°08′53″N 118°17′02″W / 34.148146°N 118.28388°W / 34.148146; -118.28388
No. of animals	1,400
No. of species	270+
Memberships	AZA, WAZA
Major exhibits	Campo Gorilla Reserve, Chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains, Red Ape Rainforest, Sea Life Cliffs, Elephants of Asia, The LAIR

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a huge 133-acre (54-hectare) zoo in Los Angeles, California. It first opened its doors in 1966. The city of Los Angeles owns the zoo, including all its land, buildings, and the amazing animals that live there. It's a fun place to learn about wildlife and plants from all over the world!

History of the Los Angeles Zoo

The Los Angeles area has had a few zoos over the years. The first one, called Eastlake Zoo, opened way back in 1885. Later, the Griffith Park Zoo opened in 1912. This second zoo was located about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of where the current zoo is today. You can still see some parts of the old zoo if you visit Griffith Park!

The Los Angeles Zoo we know today opened in its current spot on November 28, 1966. This land used to be an airfield before the zoo was built.

In the early 1990s, the zoo needed some big repairs and updates. City officials approved a large plan to fix these problems and create better homes for the animals. The zoo worked hard to improve, and by 1998, it started opening many new and exciting exhibits. These new areas were designed to look more like the animals' natural homes.

Exciting New Exhibits Over the Years

The zoo has added many cool new areas for its animals. In 1998, the "Chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains" exhibit opened. This was followed by the "Red Ape RainForest" in 2000, and a special home for Komodo dragons. In 2001, the "Winnick Family Children Zoo" opened, which is perfect for younger visitors.

More recently, the "Sea Life Cliffs" (where you can see sea lions) opened in 2005. The "Campo Gorilla Reserve" opened in 2007, giving gorillas a fantastic new habitat. "Elephants of Asia" opened in 2010, and "The LAIR" (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles) opened in 2012. These new exhibits help the zoo provide the best care for its animals.

Famous Animal Escapes

Sometimes, animals at the zoo have gotten a bit too adventurous! In 1979, a clever wolf named Virginia escaped several times. She would climb trees and fences to get out! Once, she even hid in Griffith Park for a whole month.

Another famous escape artist was Evelyn, a gorilla. She managed to get out of her enclosure about five times! In one well-known event, she used some long vines to pull herself out. She explored the zoo for an hour before being safely returned. The zoo later built the "Campo Gorilla Reserve" in 2007, which was specially designed to keep the gorillas safe and happy in their home.

Explore the Zoo's Exhibits

Botanical Gardens: A Plant Paradise

In 2002, the Los Angeles Zoo became a certified botanical garden. This means it's not just about animals, but also about plants! The zoo's official name changed to the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. All around the zoo, you can find 15 different collections of plants. There are over 800 different kinds of plants, with more than 7,400 individual plants in total! It's like visiting a giant garden and a zoo at the same time.

Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains

This one-acre (0.4-hectare) exhibit opened in 1998 and is home to chimpanzees. The area looks like a hillside with rocks, palm trees, and even a fake termite mound. There's a waterfall next to a tall rock where the leader of the chimpanzee group can watch over everything. Visitors can see the chimpanzees through glass windows or across moats.

Campo Gorilla Reserve

One of several viewing locations within the Campo Gorilla Reserve

The "Campo Gorilla Reserve" opened in November 2007. It's a 1.5-acre (0.6-hectare) home for western lowland gorillas. You can watch these amazing animals through large glass windows and from other special spots. In January 2020, a baby western lowland gorilla was born here, which was very exciting because it was the first gorilla born at the zoo in over 20 years! The exhibit has lots of plants like palms, pomegranates, and ferns.

Elephants of Asia

This large exhibit, which cost $42 million, opened in 2010. It was designed to be a wonderful home for Asian elephants. The main elephant area is 3.8 acres (1.5 hectares) and includes a huge barn for medical check-ups. The exhibit is divided into sections that represent different countries where elephants live, like Thailand, India, and China. You can learn about elephant conservation and their role in different cultures.

As of May 21, 2025, the Los Angeles Zoo's last two Asian elephants, Billy and Tina, moved to the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma. This means the "Elephants of Asia" exhibit is currently empty while the zoo decides on its future plans for elephant care.

The LAIR: Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles

"The LAIR" (which stands for Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles) opened in 2012. This $14 million indoor and outdoor exhibit focuses on amazing herps (reptiles and amphibians) and creepy crawlies.

When you visit, you'll first see the "Oak Woodland Pond" with local wildlife. Inside the main building, the "Damp Forest" is home to colorful poison dart frogs and giant Chinese giant salamanders. You can also see cool snakes like the Mangshan pitviper and west African green mamba. There's even a special room where you can watch zookeepers caring for animals behind the scenes! Outside, "Arroyo Lagarto" has outdoor homes for Madagascar radiated tortoises and desert lizards. The "Desert LAIR" building features creatures from Mexico and Southern California, like the Gila monster. The exhibit ends with "Crocodile Swamp," an outdoor home for false gharials.

Red Ape Rain Forest

Three Bornean orangutans rest amongst bamboo sway poles and a creek.

The "Red Ape Rain Forest" opened in 2000. It's designed to look like a jungle in Southeast Asia and is home to Bornean orangutans. The exhibit is a large mesh area where the apes can climb on tall poles, branches, and vines. They can also wade in a shallow stream. Visitors walk through the exhibit on a special path, crossing a bridge over the stream and stopping at viewing areas to see the orangutans up close. You can also learn about traditional Indonesian stories here.

Rainforest of the Americas

A female jaguar resting in her habitat, August 2024.

Opened in 2014, the "Rainforest of the Americas" features animals from the tropical parts of North, Central, and South America. Here, you can see animals like the uakari monkey, southern black howler monkey, red-bellied piranha, keel-billed toucan, harpy eagle, giant river otter, emerald tree boa, cotton-top tamarin, Baird's tapir, and the powerful jaguar. It's a vibrant exhibit full of life!

List of Animal Species

As of 2022, the Los Angeles Zoo is home to many different kinds of animals!

Conservation Efforts

The Los Angeles Zoo plays a very important role in helping to save endangered animals. One of its biggest successes is with the rare California condor. In the 1980s, there were only 22 condors left in the world! Thanks to breeding programs at zoos like Los Angeles, there are now over 430 condors.

The zoo is also one of the few places in the world where you can see the mountain tapir. It's the only zoo outside of Peru and Brazil that houses the red uakari monkey. The Los Angeles Zoo was also one of the first zoos to successfully breed echidnas and had the first Coquerel's sifaka (a type of lemur) born outside of its home country of Madagascar.

How the Zoo is Managed

The city of Los Angeles owns the zoo, its land, buildings, and all the animals. The people who care for the animals, maintain the grounds, teach visitors, and manage the zoo are city employees. Since June 2019, Denise M. Verret has been the zoo's director. She is the first African American woman to lead a zoo that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) is a non-profit group that helps support the zoo. GLAZA raises money for new projects and programs. They also manage the zoo's membership, organize special events, and run one of the largest volunteer programs for zoos in the country.

Gottlieb Animal Health and Conservation Center

The Gottlieb Animal Health and Conservation Center is a special 33,589-square-foot (3,120-square-meter) facility. It's located in a private area of the zoo. This center has a modern intensive care unit, a surgery room, and research facilities. It's where the zoo's veterinarians and animal care experts make sure all the animals stay healthy. In 2007, they treated 853 animals, from tiny spider tortoises to huge Asian elephants!

Shows and Fun Activities

Daphne the hedgehog, part of the Animals & You Program

California Condor Rescue Zone (CCRZ)

The CCRZ is a cool play area for kids aged 6 and up. Here, you can learn all about how people are working to protect California condors. The area also has live webcams so you can see these amazing birds, even though they aren't currently on exhibit.

World of Birds Show

At the "World of Birds Show," you can watch birds of prey and other endangered birds perform incredible feats. Check the zoo's schedule for show times!

Animals & You Program

These are short, 15-minute presentations where you can learn about different animals. They happen at various stations in the Winnick Family Children's Zoo.

Winnick Family Children's Zoo

This part of the zoo is perfect for younger visitors! At "Muriel's Ranch," you can pet friendly goats and sheep. Brushes are available if you want to help groom these domestic animals.

Neil Papiano Play Park

The "Neil Papiano Play Park" is located in the upper part of the zoo. It has animal-themed climbing structures, big play areas, and a special section for toddlers. There are also water misters to keep you cool, grassy areas, and a large picnic spot. This park was designed so that all children, including those with special needs, can enjoy it.

Zoo Magnet Center

Magnet Center Campus

Right across the street from the Los Angeles Zoo is the North Hollywood High School Zoo Magnet Center. This special program started in 1981. It offers high school students a unique curriculum focused on animal studies and biological sciences. About 300 students from Los Angeles get to learn about wildlife conservation, animal care, biology, and how to protect the environment in a hands-on way, right next to the zoo!

See also

In Spanish: Zoológico de Los Ángeles para niños

• John C. Holland, a Los Angeles City Council member who was involved in discussions about the zoo's management.