Zoo View - Winter 2024 by Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association

WINTER

24 ISSUE

contents

WINTER 2024 VOLUME LVII // NUMBER 4 THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION

MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES Karen Bass COUNCILMEMBER, FOURTH DISTRICT Nithya Raman LOS ANGELES ZOO COMMISSION Karen B. Winnick, President Bernardo Silva, Vice President Mark Gonzalez Daryl Smith Elnie Vannatim Richard Lichtenstein, Ex-Officio Member

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Autumn Hilden

LOS ANGELES ZOO ADMINISTRATION Denise M. Verret, Chief Executive Officer & Zoo Director Mei Kwan, Deputy Director Beth Schaefer, Director of Animal Programs Dr. Dominique Keller, Director of Animal Wellness Programs Dan Keeffe, Director of Learning and Engagement John Goodwin, Acting Construction and Maintenance Supervisor Dr. Jake Owens, Director of Conservation Carol Armstrong, Ph.D., Director of Sustainability and Capital Programs Max Pulsinelli, Chief Communications Officer

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Janet Dial, Dan Keeffe, Dr. Dominique Keller, Mei Kwan, Emily Marrin, Dr. Jake Owens, Max Pulsinelli, Beth Schaefer, Denise M. Verret PHOTO EDITOR & PHOTOGRAPHER Jamie Pham

GLAZA OFFICERS Erika Aronson Stern, Chair Rob Ellis, Vice Chair Phyllis Kupferstein, Secretary Matthew Wilson, Treasurer Dawn Petersen-Amend, Interim GLAZA President

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Lisa Brink, The Brink Creative

GLAZA TRUSTEES Courtney Appell, Michael Armstrong, Alma Banuelos, Shainaz Donnelly Burg, Esther Chao, Vivian Chow, Marlyn Day, Wendy M. Denham, Brian Diamond, Rob Ellis, Justin Enbody, Sam Enoch, Heather Evans, Alfred Fraijo, Jr., Gregory D. Fuss, Cassidy Horn, Randy Hua, Tyler K. Kelley, Richard Lichtenstein, Alan G. Lowy, Steve O’Connell, Beth Price, Marc L. Sallus, Patricia Silver, Slash, Jay Sonbolian, Madeline Joyce Taft, Franco Terango, Ellia M. Thompson, Laura Z. Wasserman, Jennifer Thornton Wieland, Matthew Wilson, Grant Withers

PROOFREADERS Michele Goodman, Laura Parada

TRUSTEES EMERITI Lloyd Levitin, Mrs. John F. Maher, Thomas R. Tellefsen GLAZA ADMINISTRATION Sara Rodriguez, VP, Operations and Events Janet Dial, VP, Institutional Advancement Rob Woolley, Associate VP, Advancement Lisa Correa, Director of Membership Kirin Daugharty, Director of Volunteer Programs Eric Happe, Director of Finance Emily Marrin, Director of Marketing and Communications ZOO VIEW (ISSN 0276-3303) is published quarterly by the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association as a benefit to members. For information about membership, visit www.lazoo.org/membership Copyright © 2023 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents of this publication without written permission is prohibited. Periodical postage paid at Los Angeles, CA.

PRINTING LithoGraphix

ZO O V I E W

4 MEET MARSHALL 4 BRINGING CONSERVATION

EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSIE

An orangutan’s successful six-hour surgery is a testament to teamwork and TLC.

TO THE CON

5 CRITICAL NETWORK 5 BOUNCING BACK

12 THE BIRD SHOW’S BACK

Meet some of the stars of the recently revamped World of Birds Show.

14 AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION A trio of L.A. Zoo-hatched California

DEPARTMENTS

condors make a historic first flight.

6 ZOO-M IN

Members’ photo gallery

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

15 BRIGHTENING THE HOLIDAYS U.S. Bank is the first-ever presenting

sponsor of L.A. Zoo Lights. LET’S BE SOCIAL Follow us @LAZoo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TheLosAngelesZoo on YouTube.

BIRTHS & H AT C H I N G S

Share your memories and photos on

Saving Wildlife. Enriching Our Communities. Creating Connections to Nature.

Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook using #LAZoo.

A New Baby for ’Bu

ON THE COVER It was all hands on deck when Rosie, a 42-year-old Bornean orangutan, needed lifesaving surgery. Read her story on page 8. Photo by JAMIE PHAM U.S. Postal Service STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685

A male giraffe was born in September to seasoned parents Zainabu and Phillip. The as-yet unnamed calf—Zainabu’s sixth— measured 6 feet, 4 inches tall at birth. Photo by JAMIE PHAM

POSTMASTER send address changes to: ZOO VIEW, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1498

F E AT U R E S

ZOO BRIEFS EDITOR Brenda Scott Royce

TITLE OF PUBLICATION: GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION/ZOO VIEW PUBLICATION NO. 1268 DATE OF FILING: 11/07/2023 FREQUENCY OF ISSUE: Quarterly NO. OF ISSUES PUBLISHED ANNUALLY: 4 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: N/A COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS OF KNOWN OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1451 COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF PUBLISHER: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, 90027-1451 PUBLISHER: Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1451 EDITOR: Brenda Scott Royce, c/o GLAZA, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1451 MANAGING EDITOR: Brenda Scott Royce, c/o GLAZA, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1451 OWNER: Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1451 KNOWN BONDHOLDERS, MORTGAGEES, AND OTHER SECURITY HOLDERS OWNING OR HOLDING 1 PERCENT OR MORE OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF BONDS, MORTGAGES, OR OTHER SECURITIES: None FOR COMPLETION BY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AUTHORIZED TO MAIL AT SPECIAL RATES: The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for Federal income tax purposes has not changed during the preceding 12 months. ISSUE DATE FOR CIRCULATION DATA: 10/03/2024 This statement of ownership will be printed in the Winter 2024 issue of this publication. I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Brenda Scott Royce, Senior Editor 11/06/2023

W I N T E R 2024

Extent and Nature of Circulation

Average No. Copies Actual No. Copies of Each Issue During Single Issue Published Preceding 12 Months Nearest to Filing Date

A. Total No. Copies (Net Press Run) 41,831 B. Paid Circulation 1. Paid Outside-County Mail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541. 5,627 (Include advertiser’s proof and exchange copies) 2. Paid In-County Subscriptions 34,597 (Include advertiser’s proof and exchange copies) 3. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other 0 Non-USPS Paid Distribution 4. Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS 0 C. Total Paid Distribution 40,224 D. Free or 1. Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541 0 Nominal Rate 2. In-County as Stated on Form 3541 0 Distribution 3. Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS 0 4. Free Distribution Outside the Mail 1,094 E. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 1,094 F. Total Distribution 41,318 G. Copies Not Distributed 513 H. Total 41,831 I. Percent Paid 97.35%

43,500 6,250 35,081 0 0 41,331 0 0 0 1,191 1,191 42,522 978 43,500 97.20%

ZO O V I E W

contents

WINTER 2024 VOLUME LVII // NUMBER 4 THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Autumn Hilden

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Janet Dial, Dan Keeffe, Dr. Dominique Keller, Mei Kwan, Emily Marrin, Dr. Jake Owens, Max Pulsinelli, Beth Schaefer, Denise M. Verret PHOTO EDITOR & PHOTOGRAPHER Jamie Pham

GLAZA OFFICERS Erika Aronson Stern, Chair Rob Ellis, Vice Chair Phyllis Kupferstein, Secretary Matthew Wilson, Treasurer Dawn Petersen-Amend, Interim GLAZA President

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Lisa Brink, The Brink Creative

PROOFREADERS Michele Goodman, Laura Parada

PRINTING LithoGraphix

ZO O V I E W

4 MEET MARSHALL 4 BRINGING CONSERVATION

EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSIE

An orangutan’s successful six-hour surgery is a testament to teamwork and TLC.

TO THE CON

5 CRITICAL NETWORK 5 BOUNCING BACK

12 THE BIRD SHOW’S BACK

Meet some of the stars of the recently revamped World of Birds Show.

14 AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION A trio of L.A. Zoo-hatched California

DEPARTMENTS

condors make a historic first flight.

6 ZOO-M IN

Members’ photo gallery

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

15 BRIGHTENING THE HOLIDAYS U.S. Bank is the first-ever presenting

sponsor of L.A. Zoo Lights. LET’S BE SOCIAL Follow us @LAZoo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TheLosAngelesZoo on YouTube.

BIRTHS & H AT C H I N G S

Share your memories and photos on

Saving Wildlife. Enriching Our Communities. Creating Connections to Nature.

Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook using #LAZoo.

A New Baby for ’Bu

A male giraffe was born in September to seasoned parents Zainabu and Phillip. The as-yet unnamed calf—Zainabu’s sixth— measured 6 feet, 4 inches tall at birth. Photo by JAMIE PHAM

POSTMASTER send address changes to: ZOO VIEW, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1498

F E AT U R E S

ZOO BRIEFS EDITOR Brenda Scott Royce

W I N T E R 2024

Extent and Nature of Circulation

Average No. Copies Actual No. Copies of Each Issue During Single Issue Published Preceding 12 Months Nearest to Filing Date

43,500 6,250 35,081 0 0 41,331 0 0 0 1,191 1,191 42,522 978 43,500 97.20%

ZO O V I E W

briefs

LEFT TO RIGHT: Lisa Peterson (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance), Dan Ashe (AZA), Manisa Kung (US Fish & Wildlife Service), and Denise Verret

JAMIE PHAM

BRINGING CONSERVATION TO THE CON

JAMIE PHAM

AS PART OF ONGOING EFFORTS to engage new and

Meet Marshall

arshall, a four-year-old greater onehorned rhinoceros, arrived in September. It had been six years since the Zoo had a rhino in residence, so Marshall’s arrival caused much excitement among staff and guests alike. “Marshall is the sweetest guy,” says Animal Keeper Jennifer Gruenewald. “He is a joy to work with, and everyone who meets him falls in love with him. He is settling in and getting more comfortable with his new environment. There are a lot of new sights and sounds to get used to here, and he’s doing very well.” On your next visit, look for Marshall in Rhino Plaza, across from the Sumatran tiger habitat.

ZO O V I E W

varied audiences, the L.A. Zoo hosted a panel at L.A. Comic Con on December 3. “Comic cons bring together fans to explore the best of comics, gaming, anime, cosplay, and pop culture,” says the Zoo’s Coordinator of Conservation Engagement Dr. Earyn McGee, who appeared on the panel along with Director of Conservation Dr. Jake Owens and Curator of Education Nicholas Gutierrez. The panel took a deep dive into Animal Crossing: New Horizons, discussing real-world topics such as biodiversity, adaptation, and conservation through the lens of the popular video game. “Many attendees of comic cons are devoted fans of science fiction and love hearing about the real-world science behind some of their favorite comics, shows, movies, and games,” says McGee. “It was a great opportunity to make connections with people who may be aware of the Zoo but have never thought of us as leaders in conservation before.” The panel was followed by a BioBlitz in nearby Los Angeles Historic State Park. Twenty-five participants collected data on the park’s flora and fauna. BioBlitz events contribute knowledge about an area’s biodiversity and can be used to track changes over time.

W I N T E R 2024

Critical Network

ozens of representatives of zoos, aquariums, and law enforcement agencies came together at the L.A. Zoo on October 27 to announce the formation of the Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network (SCWCN). The SCWCN serves as a central point of contact for law enforcement needing assistance in caring for animals affected by wildlife trafficking. Speaking at the launch, Association of Zoos and Aquariums President Dan Ashe explained the critical need for this network: “Smuggled animals are plucked from their natural habitats and their social communities, and they’re transported across national and international boundaries in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. Survivors often reach ports needing critical and highly specialized veterinary care, the kind of care that can only be provided by professionals at places like the Los Angeles Zoo.” L.A. Zoo CEO and Director Denise Verret echoed those sentiments. “We possess unique qualifications to provide a safe haven for animals that are confiscated by law enforcement agencies,” she said. “Together with the SCWCN, we stand as protectors of this planet’s biodiversity and experts in caring for endangered species whose existence is threatened on a daily basis by illegal wildlife trafficking.” W I N T E R 2024

BOUNCING BACK IN LATE AUGUST, staff from the Los Angeles Zoo joined conservationists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to release 170 southern mountain yellow-legged frogs in the San Gabriel Mountains. The majority of the frogs had been hatched here and transferred to the Aquarium of the Pacific and Santa Ana Zoo for rearing. Frogs bred at the L.A. Zoo are raised with the help of zoo and aquarium partners to ensure their development beyond their most vulnerable state. They are released into natural habitats once mature, giving them a better chance of avoiding predation and other threats.

LET’S BE SOCIAL! FOLLOW @LAZoo on

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TheLosAngelesZoo on YouTube

your memories and photos on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook using #LAZoo

ZO O V I E W

briefs

LEFT TO RIGHT: Lisa Peterson (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance), Dan Ashe (AZA), Manisa Kung (US Fish & Wildlife Service), and Denise Verret

JAMIE PHAM

BRINGING CONSERVATION TO THE CON

JAMIE PHAM

AS PART OF ONGOING EFFORTS to engage new and

Meet Marshall

ZO O V I E W

W I N T E R 2024

Critical Network

LET’S BE SOCIAL! FOLLOW @LAZoo on

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TheLosAngelesZoo on YouTube

your memories and photos on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook using #LAZoo

ZO O V I E W

MEMBER PHOTO GALLERY

ZOO-M IN

Stepping Out GLAZA member Arlo Williams visits the Zoo up to three times a week with the dual purpose of photography and exercise. “I love taking photos of the animals and their behaviors, but in addition, as a retired person, it’s a great way to get in my steps, too.” On a recent outing, Williams snapped this pic of a red-legged seriema, a large, ground-dwelling South American bird. “I make it a point to visit the red-legged seriema, because they are so interesting to watch,” says Williams. “With their long legs and ornate head feathers, they make a striking impression.”

SUB MIT YOUR PHOTOS To be considered for inclusion in future installments of Zoom-In, submit your best images taken at the L.A. Zoo. No more than two images per member per month, please. Include your name in the file name for each photograph (e.g., Giraffe-John Smith). Do not send images that include people unless you will be able to provide a signed release from all parties pictured in the event your photo is selected for publication. If there’s a special story behind the photo, let us know!

LEFT PAGE One of the seriema’s most eye-catching features is the fan-shaped crest of feathers at the base of its bill. Photo by ARLO WILLIAMS RIGHT PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Southern ridge-nosed rattlesnake by KARLY GRACE VAUGHN; Masai giraffe by JOAQUIN ESPINOZA; babirusa by HELAINE CUMMINS; Nicobar pigeon by BRIAN CALDERON; cactus on Zoo grounds by KARLY GRACE VAUGHN; West African green mamba by LAURA POGOLER

ZO O V I E W

SUBMIT PHOTOS BY EMAIL photos@lazoo.org

W I N T E R 2024

ZO O V I E W

MEMBER PHOTO GALLERY

ZOO-M IN

ZO O V I E W

SUBMIT PHOTOS BY EMAIL photos@lazoo.org

W I N T E R 2024

ZO O V I E W

Everything’s Coming Up

Rosie by BRENDA SCOTT ROYCE

“Quite a large cabbage,”

JAMIE PHAM

is how L.A. Zoo Chief Veterinarian Dr. Dominique Keller describes the size of the fibroid her team recently removed from Rosie, a 42-year-old Bornean orangutan.

ZO O V I E W

W I N T E R 2024

espite the cabbage-sized mass growing in her abdomen, Rosie remained her usual stoic self in the months leading up to her diagnosis and surgery. That’s not surprising; animals instinctively hide signs of illness or infirmity because such weakness could make them more vulnerable to predation in the wild. But due to Rosie’s

Food items are commonly used to describe the size of masses, Keller explains, “because we all know how big a grape or a walnut or a grapefruit is.”

previous medical history (she suffered a ruptured appendix in 2005 and underwent a previous fibroid removal in 2009), her keepers and veterinarians were extra attentive to her symptoms and on the lookout for any behavioral changes. “We knew there was a possibility the fibroid could come back,” says Dr. Brandon Boren, the L.A. Zoo veterinarian who managed Rosie’s case. “We trained her to voluntarily receive ultrasounds, so we could monitor her reproductive health.” Fibroids are tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus.

ZO O V I E W

Everything’s Coming Up

Rosie by BRENDA SCOTT ROYCE

“Quite a large cabbage,”

JAMIE PHAM

is how L.A. Zoo Chief Veterinarian Dr. Dominique Keller describes the size of the fibroid her team recently removed from Rosie, a 42-year-old Bornean orangutan.

ZO O V I E W

W I N T E R 2024

Food items are commonly used to describe the size of masses, Keller explains, “because we all know how big a grape or a walnut or a grapefruit is.”

ZO O V I E W

OPERATION: ORANGUTAN LEFT TO RIGHT: As Rosie is prepped for surgery, her keepers observe through a window. A transfusion was necessary due to slight anemia. Rosie rests after surgery; loose sutures on her arms were placed there as a distraction. Photos by DR. DOMINIQUE KELLER

ROSIE’S SURGICAL TEAM

OB/GYN SURGEONS (KAISER)

OB/GYN SCRUB NURSE (KAISER)

Usually benign (non-cancerous), they are fairly common in human females as well as great apes, whose reproductive tracts are very similar to ours. While many fibroids are asymptomatic, some can cause discomfort and bleeding, as was the case with Rosie. When her symptoms worsened, she underwent a CT scan and MRI, which revealed that the fibroid had not only returned but also grown to the point that it was compressing her bladder and possibly impacting other organs as well. It was decided that surgery was the best course of action. SIZE MATTERS

Isim was tapped to be Rosie’s blood donor due to his large size. Luckily, he was a perfect match. Photo by JAMIE PHAM

ZO O V I E W

GETTING READY

Prepping for the big day was no easy task. Dr. Boren spent several weeks making sure everything was in place, including coordinating with members of the Zoo’s Animal Health Consultant Network to ensure that relevant specialists could be on hand to advise and assist. The Network consists of 65 members across a wide spectrum of medical specialties. One of those specialists—Dr. Malaika Williams Amneus,

UROLOGISTS (UCLA)

+ 4

an OB-GYN with Kaiser Permanente—was no stranger to Rosie’s case. “Dr. Amneus was the primary surgeon, and she was actually there for Rosie’s previous surgery, so she knew going in what we were dealing with,” Boren shares. “Dr. Amneus is amazing; we love working with her.” Rosie’s keepers were getting ready on their end, too. Among other tasks, they collected frequent blood samples to ensure she was healthy enough to undergo the procedure. Another being whose contributions cannot be overlooked is Isim, the Zoo’s male Bornean orangutan, who was tapped to be a blood donor for Rosie. “With any major abdominal surgery, there is the potential for blood loss, and you need to prepare for that,” Keller explains. “We tested Isim to see if he was a compatible donor, and it turned out that he was.” A few days before the surgery, the veterinary staff collected two units of blood from the massive male. There are risks associated with any surgery. In Rosie’s case, those concerns were compounded by her prior procedures.

W I N T E R 2024

SURGEONS IN VARIOUS SPECIALTIES (UCLA)

“Because she’d had multiple abdominal surgeries, we worried she could have a lot of built-up scar tissue that we’d have to deal with,” says Boren, who adds that the sheer size of Rosie’s fibroid was another complicating factor. In humans as well as animals, sometimes surgeons are unable to remove the entire fibroid and instead “de-bulk” or reduce its size. “And if you just remove part of it, it could grow back even larger.”

SMOOTH OPERATOR

The surgery, which took place on September 2, went smoothly and surprisingly quickly. The multidisciplinary group combined their veterinary, surgical, obstetric, and anesthesiology skills to successfully remove the entire 2.5-pound fibroid in roughly six hours. Due to slight anemia, Rosie did require a transfusion during the procedure, using both units of Isim’s blood. While he cautions that there’s always the possibility of recurrence, Boren is breathing a huge sigh of relief. “There was

W I N T E R 2024

ANESTHESIOLOGISTS (KAISER, CEDARS-SINAI)

+3 +4 L.A. ZOO VETS

so much that could have gone wrong,” he says, “but everything went great. I’m really glad that it’s over!” Rosie’s keepers were always on hand, observing through a window into the surgical suite. “It’s like when you go to the hospital and your family members are there,” says Keller. “These are Rosie’s family members.”

DISTRACT AND DEFLECT

Animals are known for picking at their stitches, and orangutans are especially dexterous and curious. The doctors worried that upon waking, Rosie would make quick work of her stitches. “If she opened the wound, it could be disastrous,” Keller says. To guard against that, they gave Rosie what they call “distraction sutures”—large, loose sutures, which they covered with surgical tape to make them stand out. The idea was that Rosie would work on removing those obvious sutures and ignore the actual incision site. To further deflect her attention, they applied polish to some of her nails and

L.A. ZOO VET TECHS

braided strands of her hair. The gambit worked. Rosie left her incision alone, and it is healing beautifully. Before long, she was back at the Red Ape Rain Forest habitat—and no doubt feeling a bit lighter since the removal of the mass. “Rosie needed to be separated from others during her healing process, so we all spent as much time as we could with her to keep her engaged,” says Senior Animal Keeper Megan Fox. “We also gave her visual access to Kalim and Elka (Rosie’s sister and niece). “We took things slow with her, so she would not overexert herself climbing, and she graduated to each new phase with ease,” she adds. “She is now back to her normal routine, and we are happy to see her back to her old self!” The success of Rosie’s surgery is a testament to the seamless teamwork of individuals from within and without. “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to everyone who came from outside the Zoo but also to everybody within the Zoo,” says Keller. “It really does take a village.”

ZO O V I E W

ROSIE’S SURGICAL TEAM

OB/GYN SURGEONS (KAISER)

OB/GYN SCRUB NURSE (KAISER)

Isim was tapped to be Rosie’s blood donor due to his large size. Luckily, he was a perfect match. Photo by JAMIE PHAM

ZO O V I E W

GETTING READY

UROLOGISTS (UCLA)

+ 4

W I N T E R 2024

SURGEONS IN VARIOUS SPECIALTIES (UCLA)

SMOOTH OPERATOR

W I N T E R 2024

ANESTHESIOLOGISTS (KAISER, CEDARS-SINAI)

+3 +4 L.A. ZOO VETS

DISTRACT AND DEFLECT

L.A. ZOO VET TECHS

ZO O V I E W

The World of Birds Show MEET A FEW OF OUR FEATURED PERFORMERS

Hope

SPECIES: California condor AGE: 9 ORIGIN: As a wild nestling, Hope sustained an injury that left her unable to fully use her wing or survive in the wild, so she became an ambassador at the L.A. Zoo. IN THE SHOW: The first California condor in a free-flight bird show, Hope is mostly known for showing off her impressive wingspan. PERSONALITY: Shy but curious.

Coco

SPECIES: Peregrine falcon

JAMIE PHAM

AGE: 8

ZO O V I E W

FAVORITE TREAT: Quail

Abe

SPECIES: Abyssinian ground hornbill AGE: 35 IN THE SHOW: Abe’s segment in the show allows a lucky audience member to get up close and personal, tossing grapes directly to his beak. He also shows off an instinctual behavior of preying on a (rubber) snake.

W I N T E R 2024

FAVORITE TREATS: Mice and chicks

Ollie

SPECIES: Military macaw ORIGIN: Confiscated by authorities at the Mexico border as a young bird

JAMIE PHAM

AGE: 21

IN THE SHOW: Along with other military macaws, Ollie flies from the top of the hillside and does repeating loops before landing on a trainer’s hand—a beautiful and moving end to our show. PERSONALITY: Ollie is an agile flier and has high confidence. This combo of personality traits can sometimes lead to mischievous behavior and keeps the trainers on their toes!   FAVORITE TREAT: Her favorite treats to eat are hardshelled nuts, and she loves wood block toys.

Nipper

SPECIES: Yellow-naped Amazon parrot AGE: Approximately 42 (exact age unknown) IN THE SHOW: Nipper is known for her lighthearted mimicry in the show. She can impersonate a few animals and can even sing. If she overhears laughter, she will often join in on the fun. PERSONALITY: Talkative, friendly, and outgoing FAVORITE TREAT: Sunflower seeds

W I N T E R 2024

TAD MOTOYAMA

that was trafficked has a second opportunity to fly with her species,” says Pontoppidan. Bringing the show back after a long hiatus provided some challenges for both keepers and birds. “Some of our birds have been performing for upwards of 20 years, so getting them back in shape for a show with an audience was a relatively quick process,” Vargas says. “Other birds needed more time to desensitize to large crowds.” Zoo staff and volunteers helped with the process of getting those birds ready. In the months leading up to the return of public shows, the Bird Show team hosted daily performances for employees in order to ease the newer birds into the routine. It worked, and audiences are loving the results. “Everyone seems thrilled to see the World of Birds show again,” says Vargas. “Guests approach us after every show with fantastic questions and gratitude for what they just watched. We have many repeat visitors who plan their Zoo visits around the Bird Show schedule.” The goal of the show is to exhibit exciting, natural behaviors that promote the Zoo’s mission and tell a story to our audience, so when looking for birds to feature, Vargas says, “We choose birds that have an interesting natural history, exciting natural behavior, or compelling conservation story—as well as a personality that can thrive through performance.”

PERSONALITY: Curious, friendly, and intelligent. He loves exploring the stage and using his massive beak to hammer on objects.

JAMIE PHAM

by AUTUMN HILDEN

PERSONALITY: Bold and assertive

The Bird Show’s Back ollowing an extended hiatus, the Bird Show has returned to the Angela Collier World of Birds Theater, and we want to introduce you to some of its featured birds! But first, Animal Keeper Cortney Vargas and Senior Keeper Greg Pontoppidan share what it takes to run the show and what makes it special—and important. “The World of Birds Show is the only show currently offered at the L.A. Zoo,” says Vargas. “It provides us with an excellent opportunity to communicate the Zoo’s mission—and our conservation successes—to a large group of guests all at once. Our fast-paced, action-packed show is also fun and memorable, and it guarantees that guests will see animals up close and executing natural behaviors they may never see otherwise.” Featured birds include representatives of critically endangered species, such as the blue-throated macaw, which was once believed to be extinct in the wild. The L.A. Zoo has successfully bred this species and contributed to its conservation in its native Bolivia. For one of its stars, a military macaw named Ollie who was rescued from the illegal pet trade, joining the World of Birds show was a fresh start. “I think this is a good opportunity to present a positive message explaining how a bird

IN THE SHOW: Coco offers a thrilling display of agility and speed as he chases a swinging lure, diving from great heights and using surrounding trees to hide between passes.

JAMIE PHAM

MATT CAREY

FAVORITE TREATS: Chunks of horse meat and pork

5 ZO O V I E W

The World of Birds Show MEET A FEW OF OUR FEATURED PERFORMERS

Hope

Coco

SPECIES: Peregrine falcon

JAMIE PHAM

AGE: 8

ZO O V I E W

FAVORITE TREAT: Quail

Abe

W I N T E R 2024

FAVORITE TREATS: Mice and chicks

Ollie

SPECIES: Military macaw ORIGIN: Confiscated by authorities at the Mexico border as a young bird

JAMIE PHAM

AGE: 21

Nipper

W I N T E R 2024

TAD MOTOYAMA

PERSONALITY: Curious, friendly, and intelligent. He loves exploring the stage and using his massive beak to hammer on objects.

JAMIE PHAM

by AUTUMN HILDEN

PERSONALITY: Bold and assertive

IN THE SHOW: Coco offers a thrilling display of agility and speed as he chases a swinging lure, diving from great heights and using surrounding trees to hide between passes.

JAMIE PHAM

MATT CAREY

FAVORITE TREATS: Chunks of horse meat and pork

5 ZO O V I E W

PATRICK MYERS/NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CONDOR RESTORATION PROGRAM

CONSERVATION

An Ounce of Prevention by AUTUMN HILDEN

n May, the USDA approved the emergency use of a vaccine against the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to be piloted among California condors in managed care. HPAI threatened many wild bird species in the United States this spring and resulted in the Zoo taking steps to protect all the birds in our care, from closing the Aviary to implementing foot-washing procedures for keepers and staff, to removing wild bird feeders throughout the Zoo in order to decrease the

ZO O V I E W

CARL MYERS

Three California condors hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo become the first vaccinated condors released into the wild. possibility of contact with carriers. At that time, wild condors were not so lucky. HPAI was detected in free-flying condors in Arizona in early April 2023, killing 21 in a matter of weeks—a devastating blow to this critically endangered species. An HPAI vaccine 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. Results from the first test group showed that 60 percent of the vaccinated condors produced

W I N T E R 2024

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

PATRICK MYERS/NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CONDOR RESTORATION PROGRAM

ANIMAL WELFARE

An Ounce of Prevention by AUTUMN HILDEN

ZO O V I E W

JAMIE PHAM

W I N T E R 2024

the measurable antibodies expected to provide partial protection against mortality from HPAI. Now, birds that were hatched and vaccinated at the L.A. Zoo have been released to the wild! The first three—a male and two females—took flight in mid-November. The process was managed by the Northern California Condor Restoration Program (NCCRP), and the birds traveled from the L.A. Zoo to Yurok ancestral lands near the Oregon border for the event. “We always hope the birds will immediately depart the flight pen, but it is out of our control,” says NCCRP Manager and Yurok Wildlife Department Senior Biologist Chris West. “After we open the gate, we are on condor time.” Indeed, the first to leave the pen, a female with wing tag B2, took more than four hours to make the leap, finally encouraged by the presence of some free-flying birds in the area and a tempting carcass laid outside the pen. The other female (B0) followed shortly thereafter, but the male (B1), stayed inside the pen for another day before finally venturing outside. In December, Ventana Wildlife Society facilitated the release of three more condors that were hatched and vaccinated here. For all six rookies, the vaccinations will provide an extra boost of protection as they find their footing in the wild. “The species was on the brink of extinction,” says L.A. Zoo CEO and Director Denise M. Verret, “and our work continues to be vital to their recovery in new ways.”

W I N T E R 2024

JAMIE PHAM

U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank Brightens the Holidays at the Zoo GREAT PARTNERSHIPS EXIST ON MANY LEVELS. We are pleased to celebrate one such partnership as we recognize U.S. Bank for their meaningful and multifaceted support of the L.A. Zoo and the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA). The bank signed on to GLAZA’s Corporate Leaders Program in 2021 and has provided significant support to our annual fundraising gala—the Beastly Ball—each year since. In 2023, U.S. Bank became the first-ever presenting sponsor of L.A. Zoo Lights, helping to make this year’s event the biggest and brightest in the Zoo’s history. “At U.S. Bank, our North Star is powering the potential of our clients and communities, and a

big piece of that is helping consumers and business owners get back to what matters most— creating lasting memories with friends and family,” says Carl Jordan, California Branch and Small Business Banking regional executive for U.S. Bank. “We are excited to help bring back L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow for another dazzling year, and hope it plays a part in brightening the holiday season.” The immersive event transforms parts of the Zoo into a winter wonderland, with illuminated lantern sculptures representing a diverse array of animals, plants, and trees. The 2023-24 season ends on January 7, but U.S. Bank is here to stay. In another show of support, a group of U.S. Bank

employees recently spent a day volunteering at the Zoo, working in the edible garden and decorating cardboard boxes with nontoxic paints for use in animal enrichment. (Keepers fill the boxes with food or other items to encourage exploratory behaviors.) “U.S. Bank’s outstanding corporate community citizenship is evidenced by its presenting sponsorship support of L.A. Zoo Lights,” says Kevin O’Brien, GLAZA’s Director of Corporate Partnerships. “We are deeply appreciative of its generosity in supporting L.A. Zoo’s annual holiday season lights spectacle, which has long been a mustattend event for Southern California residents and visitors.”

GLAZA is grateful to all of our corporate sponsors, whose contributions help us support the Zoo’s mission. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.lazoo.org/sponsorship.

ZO O V I E W

The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association 5333 Zoo Drive Los Angeles, CA 90027

THIS PAPER IS FSC® CERTIFIED FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) is a global organization working to eliminate habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples and violence against wildlife.

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE CERTIFIED The SFI program integrates the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection of wildlife, plants, soil, water and air quality.

100% RECYCLABLE This paper is a natural uncoated product and very well suited to be recycled.

(ANIMALS DEPEND ON PEOPLE, TOO) Looking for the perfect gift for the animal lover in your life this Valentine’s Day? Symbolically ADOPT an animal at the L.A. Zoo! All ADOPT packages include a personalized adoption certificate and a beautiful photo factsheet of your chosen animal. Proceeds support high-impact, results-driven conservation efforts to save wildlife and engage communities in five continents.

ADOPT now at lazoo.org/adopt