Published in the Pasadena Independent
Deer. – -Courtesy photo LA Zoo.
Friday, November 28, 2014, through Sunday, January 4, 2015
(daily except December 25)
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Four visiting reindeer return to the Los Angeles Zoo for the only opportunity to see real reindeer in Los Angeles at the “LA ZOO REINDEER ROMP,” which opens Friday, November 28, 2014, and continues through Sunday, January 4, 2015 (except Christmas Day), during regular Zoo hours (10 am to 5 pm).
Festivities only begin with the reindeer, known as Jingle, Belle, Noel, and Velvet, who are on view daily (as well as at the “LA Zoo Lights” nighttime extravaganza).
On weekends from 10 am to 4 pm beginning Saturday, November 29, Zoo guests also enjoy a flurry of seasonal flourishes, including holiday decorations and a craft project for youngsters while Zoo animals engage in the fun with enrichment activities like unwrapping their very own presents. Chats and photos with Santa Claus are available from 11 am to 3 pm through Sunday, December 21.
All activities, except Santa photos, are free with paid Zoo admission, which is is $19 for general admission (ages 13 to 61); $16 for seniors (ages 62+), and $14 for children (ages 2 to 12). No ticket is required for children under age two. Zoo admission for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association members is free.
The landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing 1.6 million visitors each year, is home to a diverse collection of 1,100 animals representing 250 different species, many of which are rare or endangered.
Its lush grounds on 113 acres feature a botanical collection comprising over 800 different plant species with approximately 7,000 individual plants.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose members meet rigorous professional standards for animal welfare, the Zoo has achieved renown as an international leader in the preservation of endangered species and a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife.
Among its most popular habitats are the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles), Elephants of Asia, Campo Gorilla Reserve and Rainforest of the Americas.
The private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), which has supported the Zoo in partnership with the City of Los Angeles for more than five decades and provides funding for and operates seven essential Zoo departments, has 65,000 member households representing more than 240,000 adults and children. As evidence of the Zoo’s popularity, GLAZA attracts one of the largest membership bases of any cultural organization in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Free parking is available. For additional information, contact (323) 644-6042 or visit www.lazoo.org
Source Beacon Media News