Conservation

The Obscure Obscurus

Do you ever lie awake at night pondering the fate of Crotalus willardi obscurus? If so, you have something in common with Byron Wusstig, acting curator of ectotherms at the Los Angeles Zoo. Of course, most readers will never have heard of this little-known reptile, but Wusstig and his colleagues are hoping to change that.

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A rattlesnake with its body coiled and partly covered in dirt

Celebrated CA Condor Keepers Leaving the Nest

Storied L.A. Zoo California condor keepers Mike Clark and Chandra David are retiring after a life-changing and world-changing career. We’re catching up and saying goodbye with an epic recap of all the helicopters, climbing gear, cutting-edge science, and Advil it takes to save a species. Plus, discover the sounds, sights, sacrifices they will never forget and the eleventh-hour “hail Mary” that may help keep the condor program moving forward even as these two stalwarts are taking a well-deserved rest. Heads up: It’s going to be a literal cliffhanger.

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A woman in face mask tends to a newly hatched chick while a man in a face mask works nearby

Raising Our Voices: Amplifying Teen Voices for a Just & Sustainable Los Angeles

The Teen Council for Conservation serves as an equitable pathway for young Angelenos to voice their concerns and actively engage in developing meaningful solutions. It is a transformative journey, evolving each year with new cohorts working towards creating a just and sustainable world where people and wildlife thrive, together.

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TCC students hike in Catalina Island

Zoo Successfully Implements Avian Flu Vaccines in CA Condors

We’ve reached another conservation milestone for California condors. This summer and fall, birds from the L.A. Zoo participated in successful, historic vaccine trials, furthering condor recovery efforts by creating a potential shield against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The trial was developed in coordination with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, USDA, and U.S. Geological Service and was carried out by the L.A. Zoo, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Oregon Zoo, and Carolina Raptor Center.

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Closeup of a young California condor with black feathers and a dark bill

Keepers Reunite with Orangutan

In August, orangutan keepers Kathryn Vivian and Stania Olivera and senior keeper of apes Megan Fox attended the 15th annual Orangutan Species Survival Plan (OSSP) conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their trip was filled with ideas for training, enrichment, and problem solving, but it also held a special reunion with a beloved orangutan friend—and her new baby.

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A female orangutan sits on a wooden platform, holding onto an artificial vine