Photo Tour of the Los Angeles Zoo

By: Andrew Bermudez

     On the same day that I visited the LAIR, I also checked out other areas of the LA Zoo. Located in Griffith Park, near Glendale, CA, the LA Zoo is a place teeming with animals. The zoo is very large, but not the largest I've been to; the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, and Disney's Animal Kingdom are all larger.

     However, one noteworthy thing to point out is the massive construction effort that is being put into the zoo. In the wake of the LAIR's completion, construction has already started on the zoo's next expansion: Rainforests  of the Americas. No opening date has been listed yet, but I'll have to guess it'll open sometime in either 2014 or 2015.

     In the meantime, there is still a lot to see, including lots of baby animals! Here are some pictures I took.

Awww! Baby Bighorn Sheep!

The tiger cubs were very active.

Awwww! Baby Giant River Otters!

I swear he was posing for the camera.

     If you plan on visiting the Los Angeles Zoo, be sure to visit their website for admission rates, hours, and more. Be sure to pack up a lot though, because the Los Angeles Zoo is a guaranteed all-day excursion. Since I've visited this zoo several times throughout my life, I can share some advice if you plan on visiting.

• The best food in the zoo is up at the Mahale Cafe near the Masai Giraffes and Chimpanzees. It's a long hike to the cafe from the entrance, but it's worth it.
• Since it is near the entrance to the zoo, you may instinctively head to the children's zoo first. However, you should save this area for the early afternoon, when it's less crowded.
• All three of the zoo's attractions (Zoo Tram, Conservation Carousel, LA Zoo Choo Choo) require additional fees. Decide how badly you want to go on the attractions before forking out the three or so dollars needed to ride.
• Save the gift shops for last. It's not a good idea to carry around several souvenirs all day, and the main gift shop, the International Marketplace, is at the entrance and exit.

That's all I have for now. Right now, as I type this, we're already planning another outing. This time, its to San Diego, where I'll be flying high on a brand-new, marine-themed roller coaster. Can you guess where I'm going next?

What's New to Do: The LAIR at the Los Angeles Zoo

By: Andrew Bermudez

     Sorry that I haven't written in here lately. I've been very busy and have just found time to write in here.

     Today, I decided to start a series called What's New to Do. In this series, I'll be covering new attractions, exhibits, shows, and more, and give you my input and opinions. So, without further ado, here we go!

     Yesterday, I went to the Los Angeles Zoo with an art class to go draw animals. I was very excited about this trip, not only because I would get to draw animals, but also because I would get to visit the zoo's new reptile house, the LAIR.

     From the outside, the building is nondescript, with a simple wooden bridge leading to the entrance. There is also a photo opportunity spot with a giant lizard and a small marsh. The entrance is also flanked by two tile murals containing several repTILEs (get it? Ha, ha, ha, ha. *GROAN*). Some dragonflies also live in the small marsh. While not part of the exhibit, they add nicely to the atmosphere. But enough about the entrance. Let's head inside! I do apologize for some of the less-than-pristine photos. The first building is kind of dark.

     The first area is themed to a heavily forested swamp. Roots sprout out of the mud and plants hang from the ceiling. The enclosures literally appear to be encased in mud. This area also has a large pond with underwater viewing. Here are some of the animals.

     Next, its on to the animal care center!

     Here, there is one large exhibit for Gray's Monitor Lizard, a few smaller exhibits, and a viewing area into the animal care center, where food is prepared for the LAIR's inhabitants and sick reptiles are treated. There  is also a microphone so the zookeeper on duty can speak to the guests.

     This is the end of the first building. After leaving through a set of double doors, you come up to some desert-themed exhibits, which set up for the next building.

     Out here, you can find a few desert animals roaming about in their enclosures. There's actually not a lot as far as animals go out in this area, though the ambiance is tranquil compared to the noise of the crowds inside the buildings.

     And speaking of inside the buildings, that brings us to the next part of our tour: the desert building!

     Compared to the first building, this one is very small, with all of the exhibits running around the perimeter of the structure. This building contains many desert reptiles, as well as few amphibians and insects.

     Back outside, the old river otter exhibit has been redesigned to house the American Alligator. If you look the other way, you'll see a bridge that acts at the LAIR's exit. But the tour isn't over yet.

     While I was walking over this bridge, I was very surprised to find that, despite the limited space, they were still able to build an exhibit for two false garials. In the early afternoon, you can also watch a feeding session with the false garials.

     The other end of the bridge serves as the exit to the LAIR, which concludes our tour of the LA Zoo's newest addition.

     So, what are my thoughts on this exhibit? First off, I must say that I really enjoyed it, not only because I enjoy animals, but because of the extensive attention to detail. Unlike the original reptile house, which just showcased reptiles, the LAIR takes you into the habitats of the animals that you're looking at. And, despite its small size, you feel like you're in these locations, rather than in a zoo. The limited amount of space is also effectively used, since all of the space available was used for exhibits, landscaping, and paths.

     Be forewarned though, as the insides of the buildings are hot. This is, of course, intentional, since both swamps and deserts are notoriously hot. Still, you should bring some water in with you, as you may need it.

     If your planning to visit the Los Angeles Zoo, I highly recommend that you make the LAIR part of your visit. You will not be disappointed. I'll be covering the rest of my visit to the zoo soon, so stay tuned!