Los Angeles Zoo
One of the things that makes the Los Angeles Zoo different from zoos in other large metropolises is the Mediterranean climate in the city. In this type of atmosphere, most animals thrive, whereas in colder locales, animals that are native to warmer climes can suffer. Formally called the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, situated near Griffiths Park and Observatory, the facility is home to 1,400 animals in 250 species categories, and 800 plant species.
The zoo is owned by the City of Los Angeles, and operates daily, with free parking. Visitors say the layout of the exhibits is easy to follow, that tours are informative and enjoyable, and that animal conservation is respectfully top of mind.
Exhibits include: Sea Life Cliffs; Peninsular Pronghorns; Elephants of Asia; Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountain; and the new, leading-edge Rainforests of the Americas, with a theme of “everything has a home”. And don’t miss the Children’s Zoo or hand-feeding the giraffes!