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Zoo Life

New Sensory Support Room

by Autumn Hilden In a major next step in our work to create the most comfortable and inclusive experience possible when visiting the Los Angeles Zoo, we are now proud to offer a mobile sensory support room in partnership with the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation and the Georgina Fredrick Children’s Foundation. For many individuals—particularly those with autism, dementia, PTSD, and other similar conditions—the noise and activity of public spaces can become overwhelming. […]

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Interior of a sensory-supportive trailer with dark walls, large cushions and dim lighting

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

Zoo Update with Zoo Director and CEO Denise M. Verret

As we approach the holidays and wrap up another year at the Los Angeles Zoo, I find myself reflecting on the many blessings we’ve experienced over the past year and the feeling of accomplishment and hope that comes with the new year on the horizon. This year has me feeling particularly grateful for family, friends, and colleagues and an inspiring sense of renewal as we approach 2025. I am excited for new opportunities and continued

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partial view of a snow leopard in shadows looking off to the right side

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

In With the New!

Zoo Director and CEO Denise M. Verret has been sworn in as the one hundredth Chair of the Board of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the accrediting body of the Los Angeles Zoo and the global standard of excellence for zoos and aquariums worldwide. “Being the 100th chair and the first black woman to serve in this role is not lost on me,” Verret says. “It’s an incredible milestone and opportunity.”

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Two women stand onstage during a conference, one has her arm around the other

Zoo Update with Zoo Director and CEO Denise M. Verret

As we welcome the month of October, I’m reminded of the beauty of autumn—the season of change, transition, and reflection. Just as the season turns and offers relief from the summer heat, we at the Los Angeles Zoo are experiencing some exciting changes as well. The end of summer brings with it a sense of excitement and anticipation, as our young visitors and paid interns return to school, bringing their stories from summer camps and

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closeup of a crab with red forelegs, brown and red body, and bright yellow eyes
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