Los Angeles Zoo — Attraction in Los Angeles

Tonight's visit was during the Friday Night event the zoo is doing this summer. If you don't care about the welfare of animals, then you should at least care about the fact that you'll be lucky to see maybe a fourth of the animals during this time period. Most everything actually closes at 8 pm, not 9 pm, in an attempt to herd you out of the zoo. But honestly, it doesn't matter much because basically all of the animals are already going to sleep by 7 PM. So if you want to listen to a DJ play the Cha Cha slide and all the other hits from your high school dance while eating Wetzel's Pretzels, you'll be alright. If you want to actually see animals, don't bother doing the night event. As for the zoo in general...

I visited the LA Zoo today with my husband because I desperately wanted to see an elephant. Sometimes these things come over you. I had read on their website about the rehabilitation work the LA Zoo was doing and thought, okay, they must be alright. We made a beeline for the elephant area and the first elephant we saw was standing in a strange sort of fenced-in corner, swaying back and forth and bobbing it's head. I remarked to my husband that the behavior seemed strange but he joked and said it was dancing. I've watched a lot of videos of elephants because they're my favorite animal and I had never seen one behave like that. I brushed it off and went to enjoy the rest of the zoo. But we'll be circling back to this moment later.

Many of the enclosures we came across, I was shocked by how small they were. Perhaps the worst was a beautiful eagle about the size of a first grader whose enclosure was smaller than my apartment with slightly higher ceilings. I couldn't help but feel bad for this majestic creature with it's massive wingspan that couldn't fly.

After wandering around and seeing not much of anything since most of the animals were already in for bed, we ended up returning to the elephants. I watched a different one try to eat the leaves from the trees outside its enclose since there were no trees in it's barren space. I flinched as I watched it get zapped by the fence when it's trunk accidentally grazed it.

I tried not to think too hard about how small the enclosure was for the elephants, how it was barren of trees, and how the elephants just... Didn't seem happy. On the way out, though, we walked through some protestors who were sharing information about Billy the elephant. I took a flier and scanned their QR code. And I learned about how the LA Zoo had been found guilty of mistreating one of their elephants, Billy, but due to a procedural problem, the case was declared a mistrial. I'm a paralegal, so I was gutted to read this because I know this means they can't try the case again. All the evidence against the zoo was found to be valid, with a scathing opinion from the Judge laying out the suffering of this poor animal. Yet some weird technicality prevented justice from reaching fruition. A failing of the justice system, to be sure.

I signed the petition for his release but I wanted to additionally write here to warn away anyone else who, like me, loves animals and naively wants to believe that the LA Zoo is treating them right. I should have known better and I regret my selfishness preventing me from looking further into the treatment of animals at this facility. Now that I've seen firsthand their tiny spaces, I can't turn a blind eye. Shout out to the protestors for being brave and making people aware of Billy's situation.

These animals deserve better. Especially Billy, who was removed from his family for no reason at only five years old and has been trapped at the LA Zoo for three decades. I can't fathom how anyone could live with themselves knowing what as immensely intelligent, empathetic creature they were keeping in such a small space with no trees, surround by electric fencing. We're better than this. I have to believe that the right thing...

If you are new to LA and the traffic, pack your patience and enjoy the ride. I suggest you plan double if not triple your time in miles.

I am a Nanny And I take care of a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old. I purchased the tickets online the night before ($39 for an adult and a 5-year-old, the 18 month- old was free) - a Sunday and we went to the zoo on Monday. We arrived at about 9:50 a.m., they opened at 10:00 a.m. . It was maybe a 5-minute line to get right into the gate with our online reservation.

They have ramps for wheelchairs/strollers and then they have stairs. This is throughout the entire zoo, which I really liked and it makes sense.

In the beginning it was hit or miss on seeing some of the exhibits, animals were just not super active or did not want to be seen. They have cafes / snack shops throughout the zoo. Super overpriced. A 16 oz can of cold water was $13.99, ridiculous!! I highly suggest bringing your own snacks and water for sure and if money is not a factor, go for it!

You do not have to pay to park and driving time took us about 40 minutes from El Monte to this location.

There were also quite a few exhibits that had signs stating that they were temporarily closed

There were several shady spaces and a lot of benches throughout. It was a super hot day and I knew at 10:00 a.m. that we were going to need to take our time as well as take several breaks for water / bathroom.

I am posting some of the pictures, not all of them. It was hard to get pictures without people. I think it's worth the visit, if you like zoos.

Be prepared for some inclines. I did not mind it, but especially in the heat it may be worth it to take some breaks, if you need to.

Some of the exhibits are with koalas, elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, birds, giraffes and many others. BUT No bears, lions or tigers.

Staff was so-so, not too friendly - they just all seemed like they were just there to do their job and that was it. 😕

I would suggest getting there early if you want parking in the first row right across from the zoo, otherwise I don't feel the walk would be bad if you parked anywhere else within the time frame of arriving.

ATTENTION Los Angeles Zoo, it would be nice if the greenery covering the zoo part in the signage was cleaned up, so when we take a picture of the Los Angeles Zoo sign, we can get the entire picture / wording. I also feel like many of the exhibits with the animals in them could be a bit more green...

To be quite honest I visit the zoo a few times a year with my grandkids. The last time I visited I DID say it was the last - but one forgets & it is, after all, the zoo! Two days ago I looked at the prices & thought they weren't so bad, after all - $19 for a senior & $17 for a child. Today I went on to buy the tickets & the prices were not that AT ALL!!!! Today they want $24 for a senior & $22 for a child! My question today is ARE THERE ANY ANIMALS LEFT TO SEE????

What we DID see were goats, meerkats, flamingos, zebras, an ostrich, mostly monkeys & a very pathetic display for that poor rhinoceros. I was told that the giraffes were still there - although we did not find them, but no worries. On our last visit - we learned that there are no more lions, tigers, bears, hippopotamus & now no elephants. Even the petting zoo is no longer. IMO - I believe that no longer constitutes a zoo... although I was pleased to see a brand new Pink's Hot Dogs. However, the reality of paying $50 just for the opportunity to visit an alternate Pink's is probably not that great. My other question is - if the zoo officially closes at 5:00 - why does the merry-go-round, tram & Pink's, etc close promptly at 4:00?

But what I find the saddest part of this current zoo - was that poor lone rhinoceros exhibit. The facts clearly state that his natural habitat is grassland - near water. There is absolutely NO GRASS & NO WATER in his section - just a pathetic pile of wood chips & a HUGE sign giving credit to the Chui-Choo family for their donation! I'm sure I've seen other plaques crediting the exhibit donors but never one so ostentatious! I would be embarrassed if I made a sub-par donation with the sole purpose of having my name recognized - without giving any thought to the wellbeing of the animals or any other intended recipient of my donation.

I can't help but wonder what Betty White would say about what is called the LA Zoo today... Although I believe the decline began when they decided to stop the beautiful decorations in Griffith Park for the holidays & start charging to see the decorations only inside the zoo & has just continued to...