CONTACT: April Spurlock
(323) 644-4273
The Los Angeles Zoo is excited to announce several new additions to the Zoo’s animal community which are now in the nursery and on exhibit just in time for our annual Earth Day Expo! One of the most notable was the birth of five extremely endangered Peninsular pronghorn babies, two males and three females, born between April 3-9, 2013 from three different mothers. The arrival of these fawns is a great leap for the conservation efforts of this critically endangered species native to Baja California Sur, Mexico. Once numbering in the thousands, today there are less than 50 surviving in the wild due to hunting, cattle ranching and agriculture. Since 2000, the Los Angeles Zoo has participated in the Peninsular Pronghorn Recovery Project in the Vizcaino Desert Biosphere Reserve of Baja California Sur, Mexico. In addition, the L.A. Zoo’s breeding herd is part of a Species Survival Plan for Peninsular pronghorns. Guests are encouraged to come view these graceful newborns in the nursery of the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo. Known to take their first steps within 30 minutes of birth, these speedy fawns can outrun humans by the time they are four days old!
While visitors are enjoying this new crop of youngsters, they can also learn more about preserving the Earth for animals and humans alike, at the L.A. Zoo’s annual Earth Day Expo in partnership with K-EARTH 101 this Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Themed Celebrating California Wildlife, this worthwhile event features education, conservation and recycling information in an interactive and fun Earth-friendly environment. |
Come meet these happy additions this weekend during our Earth Day event!
The Los Angeles Zoo is also proud to welcome a male Sichuan takin (pronounced “TAH-kin”)
kid born in January 2013, a male Coquerel’s sifaka born on January 6, 2013, a male gerenuk born
January 28, 2013, and a female black duiker born on February 18, 2013.###
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways, where it hosts over 1.6 million visitors each year. The Zoo is home to a diverse collection of 1100 animals, many of which are rare or endangered. New exhibits include the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles), Elephants of Asia, and Campo Gorilla Reserve. Admission is $17 for adults and $12 for children ages 2 to 12. The Zoo is open from 10am to 5pm daily. For information, call (323) 644-4200.
