LA Zoo

The Los Angeles Zoo

On Zoo Drive in Griffith Park
AAA Map: San Fernando Valley Area, Metropolitan LA
Map Reference: R 27-R28
Freeway Exit: Where the Hollywood Freeway and the Golden State Freeway meet.

entrance: LA Zoo

The current Los Angeles Zoo opened up in the early 1960s, and is in some respects pretty archaic when stacked up against other more modern zoos. The LA Zoo has recently weathered some controversy because of the deaths and injuries of some of the captive animals. The current leadership there, however, have made some strong moves towards fixing many of the problems which have existed at the Zoo, and visiting is once again more pleasurable than it is depressing.

The LA Zoo has had some luck in breeding endangered species, especially the California Condor which is now being reintroduced in the wild. And their primate breeding programs have also been successful, as have their luck with giraffes.

Giraffes, LA Zoo

Animators have long gone to the LA Zoo, both its predecessor and the current one, to do life sketching of animals. The current LA Zoo was used by Disney animators to do preliminary character sketches for The Jungle Book, Robin Hood and most famously, The Lion King...check out this plaque illustrating the creatures that were the models for Timon...

plaque at the Meerkat exhibit, LA Zoo

Like I said earlier, the LA Zoo has a lot of work left to do to bring it up to the standards set by places like the San Diego Wild Animal Park, but it's still worth visiting. Bring your sketch pad.

Mountain Lions, LA Zoo, c.1987

Other points of interest in the area: Autry Museum of Western Heritage, Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, Griffith Park Pony Rides, Traveltown, Live Steamers Railroad.

Admission: $8.25 for adults, $5.25 for senior citizens, $3.25 for children 2-12.

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