Work in the Field - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

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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Career Highlights from “Rock Star” Reptile Curator

Curator of Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish Ian Recchio grew up around snakes. It was a family pastime that ultimately led to a 30-year career at the Zoo, culminating in his role as curator, which is coming to a close as he retires from the Zoo in August.

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A man squats on scrubby ground while holding a tiny snake with tongs and thick, leather gloves.

Field Notes: Kenya

A three-person team from the Zoo recently traveled to Kenya to meet with partners from African Conservation Centre and discuss a first-of-its-kind project near Amboseli National Park.

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The team poses with Rosemary Nenini, manager of Twala Women's Cultural Center, and her husband, Edward.

Field Notes: Indian Gharials with Maura Messerly

What happens when a Zoo staffer gets out of the office and into the field—in India—for the first time?

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A research team rides a boat underneath a bridge on a green river.

Field Notes: Ecuador with Dr. Jordan Davis-Powell

She and colleagues from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Smithsonian Zoo traveled to Ecuador’s Llanganates National Park in October 2022.

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Field Notes: Argentina with Dr. Jake Owens

What is it like working in the field on the conservation projects that are so important for supporting endangered species? Journey with Conservation Director Dr. Owens through Argentina for his notes from the field on the sites, species, and friends he encountered during his most recent travel for giant otter conservation.

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Call of the Wild

With mining for cell phone components driving gorillas to the brink of extinction, the species’ survival may literally lie in the palm of your hands.

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PART 3 Adventures in Recovery

Adventures in Recovery Life with California condors has been filled with ups and downs for both keepers. It has demanded sacrifices of time and energy, and sometimes more. Mike recalls with energy one of the most memorable weekends of his career. He’d been invited by Mike Wallace to make a trip to the eastern side of Mount El Diablo in Baja to check on some condors. “So we drive down there and work,” he says.

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Part 2 The Mating Game

The Mating GameThe usual approach to pairing condors for breeding was to get them in the cage together as early as possible so they had the longest amount of time to get used to each other before breeding season. “When you put birds together in the non-breeding season, they really have no reason to be interested in each other,” Mike explains. “They’re competing for perches, food, the attention of birds next door. It can actually

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COVID, Communities, and the Croc Chirp: The Los Angeles Zoo’s Support of Indian Gharial Conservation

Habitat destruction, accidental bycatch, and flooding from agricultural activities have left the Indian gharial critically endangered, with fewer than 900 estimated to remain. Last year, the L.A. Zoo provided emergency support to assess and protect the gharial population in India’s Gandak River, the second largest population throughout the species’ range.

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