Los Angeles Zoo
Est. 1966
Celebrating Six Decades of Wildlife, Conservation & Community
Commemorative Ticket Price $19.66
November 27-29
Donate to the
next 60 years
*Donations through this site will be received and processed by Mockingbird Incubator, an independent 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor of the Los Angeles Zoo.
Our Story
Connecting Communities with Wildlife
On November 28, 1966, the Los Angeles Zoo welcomed its first guests to connect our vibrant community with the wonders of nature. Sixty years later, our commitment to safeguarding endangered species and enriching Los Angeles is stronger than ever.
As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to help build the future of habitat innovation, animal care excellence, and wildlife conservation.
Celebrate 60 years with commemorative pricing
Nov. 27–29, 2026
General Admission
$19.66
Then & Now
Still Welcoming Guests, 60 Years Later
Opening Day
1966
Present Day
2026
Milestones and Historical Impact
The Los Angeles Zoo has evolved from a local attraction into a powerhouse for global species recovery, protecting more than 50 endangered species while modernizing its park for the future.
1966
The Los Angeles Zoo officially welcomes the community to its new location in Griffith Park
1979
Los Angeles Zoo becomes an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
1982
California Condor Emergency Rescue
The Los Angeles Zoo joined federal efforts to bring the world’s last 22 wild condors into managed care. The Zoo became a global cornerstone for breeding, hatching its first chick in 1990 and leading ongoing releases into the wild.
1998
Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains
The exhibit was the first capital project of the Zoo’s Master Plan. Today, it is home to one of the largest multi-male, multi-female chimpanzee troops of any AZA accredited zoo.
2002
State-of-the-Art Veterinary Medical Center Opens
The Los Angeles Zoo unveiled an advanced clinical diagnostic and surgical facility, Gottlieb Animal Health and Conservation Center, elevating the Zoo into an internationally recognized hub for wildlife medicine, field surgery, and species survival research.
2005
Children’s Discovery Center
The multi-story education complex includes multiple classrooms, administrative offices, and an auditorium.
2012
The Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles (LAIR) exhibit opens
A state-of-the-art, 12,000-square-foot habitat complex designed to showcase some of the world’s most rare, unique, and endangered reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
2014
Rainforest of the Americas
The Zoo opens the Rainforest of the Americas project which provides a rainforest immersion experience for visitors with lush vegetation and exhibits featuring several different animal species.
2021
First-ever Conservation Strategic Plan
Established a unified framework to amplify the L.A. Zoo’s collective conservation impact both locally within Los Angeles and around the globe.
2026
Celebrating the continued success of births at the Zoo
2025 brought a great ape baby boom, and in 2026, we’ve already welcomed a zebra foal and a cape vulture chick—both threatened species in the wild. Exciting things are on the horizon.
Look out for new exhibit developments and our Conservation Action Plan in 2027!
