Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens opened on November 28, 1966. The Zoo is home to more than 1,100 mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles representing more than 250 different species of which 29 are endangered. In addition, the Zoo’s botanical collection comprises several planted gardens and over 800 different plant species with over 7,400 individual plants.

The Zoo receives over 1.5 million visitors per year and is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles.  Rainforest of the Americas is a state-of-the-art exhibit which immerses visitors in the theme, “the rainforest is a home.” Tropical rainforests are full of life. From the treetops to the rivers, creatures are crawling, flying, slithering, hiding, sleeping, and living.

The Los Angeles Zoo recently celebrated a momentous occasion with the birth of a female zebra foal on April 2, the first successful birth since 1988. The as yet unnamed female zebra was born to seven-year-old male Khalfani (call-fawn-ee) and five-year-old female Jamila (jah-mee-lah). The parents are from a herd that came to the Zoo in 2016 as part of a species survival plan aiming to increase the population number of Grevy’s zebra that is currently endangered in the wild.

“Grevy’s zebras are the largest and most threatened of the three zebra species,” said Alisa Behar, curator of mammals at the Los Angeles Zoo. “When this herd of zebras came to us a few years ago as part of a species survival plan, it was with the hope that they would get along and produce offspring. We are thrilled with the arrival of this female foal, not only because she helps contribute to her species’ survival, but also because she allows Angelenos a unique opportunity to see a zebra foal up close as she assimilates into the herd.”

The Zoo is open 10:00am to 5:00pm daily and parking is FREE.

Contact Los Angeles Zoo

(323) 644-4200