Los Angeles Zoo: The Hidden Gem Of LA!
Los Angeles is known for many things like movie stars, great nightlife, some of the best shopping in the world, and traffic. One thing that is not known by many is that Los Angeles has a zoo! Living on the east coast I have never heard of the Los Angeles Zoo, but once I did my research online about them I knew I had to check them out! After spending 5 hours at the zoo, I knew that this was one of my favorite zoos and a hidden gem of Los Angeles!
Upon my arrival I was met by Kerry who is a Docent for the Los Angeles Zoo. If you don’t know what a docent is, they are a volunteer for the zoo that knows a ton of information about the zoo, animals, conservation and more! Kerry and I got into a golf cart and we were off for a fun filled day of education, animal interaction, and sight seeing.
Our first stop was to check out the Western Lowland Gorillas. These gorillas are usually known as silverbacks due to the color change on the back of the males as they mature. First thing I noticed about this exhibit and the zoo in general was how well they made their enclosures natural and accommodating for the animals. I have been to a ton of zoos who do not have hiding places, natural grass, streams of water and enrichment for the animals but the Los Angeles Zoo has a ton of it!
After spending some time with the gorillas, we went to view a keeper talk with the Asian Elephants. The Los Angeles Zoo loves their elephants and that shows! Their enclosure is one of the largest in the US, their are a ton of enrichment devices, multiple different yards for them to explore and even heated floors in their overnight housing. As I watched the keeper talk I learned so much about the elephants that I did not know! The second thing I love about the Los Angeles Zoo was that they are extremely educational! They have multiple talks and encounters throughout the day for guests to be able to not only experience these animals but how to help them in general!
We spent a ton of time exploring some of the newest exhibits such as the lair which is home to reptiles such as snakes, alligators, lizards and so much more. We also looked around The Rainforest which is the newest exhibit at the zoo. This exhibit is home to the jaguars, cotton-top tamarin, and the giant river otters. I love all the diversity of the Los Angeles Zoo.
I also love how family friendly this zoo is! There are multiple playgrounds for the kids to play on when they need to expel some energy, the exhibits have low windows or even stepping stones an steps to allow a better view of the animals, and there is even a sweet carousel with 64 endangered and rare animals for kids and kids at heart to enjoy! Finally every kid loves animals! The Los Angeles Zoo has an area called Muriel’s Ranch that allows kids to pet, feed, and help groom a bunch of different farm animals such as goats, sheep, horses and many more!
The last thing I want to mention about the Los Angeles Zoo is how focused they are on rehab and release of animals. I heard multiple stories of how the zoo has successfully helped to breed animals and release them into the wild which helps with the general population. This zoo is a huge supporter and help to the California Condor, which has dramatically been successful. The zoo as a whole helps participate in multiple research projects, conservation efforts and animal rehabilitation not only in the USA, but around the world!
I absolutely loved the Los Angeles Zoo and what they do on a daily basis for the animals not only in their zoo but around the world. Next time you are in LA, make sure to check them out! I spent 5 hours there on a golf cart and still feel like I did not see the entire zoo! I would like to thank Kerry and the rest of the staff at the Los Angeles Zoo for showing me around the zoo and making me feel so welcome!
To learn more about the Los Angeles Zoo including hours of operation, prices and to check out all the animals, check out their website here!
Have you been to the zoo? If so tell me what you thought below!
Jason Mayhew
My name is Jason Mayhew, and I am the owner of OFF On The Go. When not traveling with the website, I own my own marketing and PR company, J Mayhew Marketing. I have the best job where I get to travel the world and showcase the most amazing and unique experiences!
