Blog - Page 5 of 7 - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Fierce Females of the Species

by Autumn Hilden When it comes to size, strength, cunning, and leadership, the females have it in some exceptional species. For these females, out-weighing and out-witting are the rule, both on the hunt and at home. Across the animal kingdom, females sometimes outsize their male counterparts, and the L.A. Zoo is home to several of these bigger beasts. Our birds, in particular, feature many species with females reaching greater size than males. Eagles, such as

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An eagle with white and gray feathers and a hooked beak looking off in the distance.

Go Behind the Scenes with Custodian Supervisor James Moore

Custodian Supervisor James Moore reflects on the years he’s spent making the Zoo enjoyable for guests – and on what’s in it for him.

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Partner Profile: AMZAP

Rachel Helfing shares about the organization, its mission, and the Zoo’s proud partnership, as well as her own career journey.

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Smiling young woman wearing glasses, a blue sweater, and a scarf with a design featuring cats

Animal Absences, Explained

The L.A. Zoo is home to more than 270 species, but sometimes you might not see your favorite on a trip to the Zoo. What causes animal absences, and what are the best tips for seeing the most animals during your visit?

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Behind the Scenes with Associate Veterinarian Dr. Jordan Davis-Powell

Explore what has powered Dr. Davis-Powell’s zoo journey, from TV to Tuskegee to tigers.

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A veterinarian wearing a mask and holding a medical instrument leans forward to perform an exam on an anesthetized bird

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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A troop of Grauer's gorillas at GRACE Gorilla sanctuary in Africa.

Tears, Applause Greet California Condor Chick Iniko’s Return to the Wild

The L.A. Zoo and Ventana Wildlife Society are celebrating the return to the wild of beloved California condor Iniko, a one and a half-year-old chick.

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A California condor viewed through slats of wood in an enclosure

PART 3 Adventures in Recovery

by Autumn Hilden 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

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Part 2 The Mating Game

The 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.

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