A Southland Zoo’s Who : SAN DIEGO ZOO

Widely acknowledged as one of the finest in the world, the San Diego Zoo is a beautifully landscaped tropical garden within beautifully landscaped Balboa Park.

This zoo clearly has perfectionists at the helm, and everything from the signs and graphics to the gift shops are meticulously designed with animal aficionados in mind. Because there is a continual effort to improve exhibits, the zoo goer must endure construction zones within the park, but the continually improving quality of the place is worth the minor distractions.

The zoo is enormous and can be exhausting. Visitors are advised to give their legs a break by taking advantage of the tour bus, the “skyfari” aerial tram and by pausing for some of excellent animal shows scheduled throughout the day.

Stats: About 3 million people a year come to see 3,200 animals of 800 species on 100 acres.

Attractions: In addition to better-known exhibits, a visitor might look for:

- Kopje exhibit--this is a re-creation of a Kopje, the boulder strewn “land islands” of the African plains. It is inhabited by such animals as the tiny Rock Hyrax rodent and the “goat of the stones” the klipspringer.

- The new baby bears currently romping around in Bear Canyon.

- The Children’s Zoo with a nursery and petting paddock.

- Camel and elephant rides

- The zoo boasts an aerial tramway, which is really better for getting from one end of the park to the other and for giving the kids a cheap thrill than as a way to see animals.

- A 40-minute bus tour, leaving every few minutes from near the main entrance, gives an informative overview of the park and its collection.

Coming attractions: A two-acre Tropical River Trail, opening in December of ‘87, will have birds, reptiles, mammals and plants from tropical regions. This is the first step in the park’s plan to rearrange its exhibits according to “bioregion” rather than species.

Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. through June.

Admission: Adults $6.50; 3-15 $2.50.

Getting there: Located in San Diego’s Balboa Park, near the intersection of I-5 and Highway 163.

Info: (619) 234-353.

LOS ANGELES ZOO Although overshadowed by the San Diego Zoo, the Los Angeles Zoo is also considered one of the best in the country. Not as slick and commercial as its southern colleague, it has a homier atmosphere.

Set against the steep hillsides of Griffith Park, the zoo includes some almost-vertical exhibits which show off hill dwelling creatures to excellent effect, as well as other architecturally interesting displays. In many cases, the animals here seem closer than in most other zoos.

Recently the entrance was completely refurbished and repainted in a blend of pastels. Waterfalls, decking and sculptural arrangements of river rock are used throughout the park.

Visitors can easily spend the better part of a day here.

Stats: 1.5-million people a year come to see 2,000 animals of 500 species on 113 acres.

Attractions:

- Two golden monkeys on loan from China and rarely exhibited in the U.S. are on display till Jan. 13

- A Koala House allows visitors to observe the behavior of these nocturnal creatures.

- A newly refurbished collection gives an excellent view of 11 gorillas in a replica of their native habitat.

- Bird and animal shows.

- Reptile house.

- An animal nursery where young creatures carouse.

Coming attractions: The current children’s zoo is passable, but a new $6-million version begins construction in 1987.

Hours: 10-5 through June.

Prices: $4.50 adults, $1.50 children 5-15 $3 seniors.

Getting there: At the junction of the Ventura and Golden State freeways on Zoo Drive, in Griffith Park.

Info: (619) 234-3153.

SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK This wildlife sanctuary, and the San Diego Zoo, are operated by the Zoological Society of San Diego. Located in the San Pasqual Valley, north of San Diego, this park is really two worlds.

Nairobi Village is a replica of an African village, with palm-thatched huts and meandering walkways, wooden bridges and observation towers. The rest of the park consists of open areas resembling the plains, veldts and savannas upon which the species would roam in the wild. These areas are accessible only by monorail, a 1 3/4 mile hiking trail, or in specially arranged “photo caravans”

Stats: 2,200 animals in an 1,800-acre sanctuary.

Attractions:

- Wgasa Bush Line monorail’s 50-minute “safari” though the park.

- An elephant show, “animal antics show” and a bird show which includes sky-diving raptors.

- Elephant rides.

- A lavish “Gorilla Grotto” with telescope viewing deck.

Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. through June.

Admission: Adults $10.75, 3-15 $6.20; including the monorail tour and all animal shows. Parking $1.

Getting there: 30 miles north of downtown San Diego on Highway 78 in the San Pasqual Valley.

Info: (619) 234-6541.

SANTA BARBARA ZOO Set on a hillside, with a natural estuary on one side and the ocean visible on the other, this zoo arguably has the most scenic setting of any zoo in Southern California. Thoughtfully arranged and maintained, it is the envy of small-to-medium sized zoos nationwide.

With long, palm-lined rolling lawns, tables, and a playground complete with artificial tunnels, it is a particularly inviting site for a family picnic.

Stats: 270,000 people annually observe about 400 animals of 100 species on 81 acres, about 20 of which are developed.

Attractions:

- Miniature train ride around circumference of park.

- A resident tiger who splashes about in his pool on warm days.

- An elephant training display

Coming attractions: A hall for nocturnal creatures is under construction; a tropical aviary will open sometime in ’87 and a new giraffe exhibit is slated for completion within a year.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through June.

Admission: $4 adults, $2 seniors and kids 2-12.

Getting there: 101 to Cabrillo Boulevard.

Info: (805) 962-5339.

SANTA ANA ZOO The late millionaire orange grower Joseph E. Prentice deeded the City of Santa Ana 20 acres for a zoo in 1952, with the stipulation that at least 50 monkeys be kept there at all times. Hence the zoo has an excellent primate collection.

This zoo is not as nice as the Santa Barbara Zoo, but its curator and staff are making strides toward improving it. The exhibits are worth a couple hours of careful attention. Afterward, many local families move onto the lawn and playground to picnic and play for the rest of the afternoon.

Stats: 215,000 visitors annually come to observe 300 animals on 20 acres, 8 of which are developed.

Attractions:

- Elephant rides on weekends and holidays.

- Playground and picnic areas.

- New alpaca exhibit.

- Barnyard-like petting zoo.

Coming attractions: Construction on a new water-moated “monkey island” will begin in ’87.

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through June.

Admission: $1 adults, 50 cents children and seniors. ($2 and 75 cents starting Jan. 1).

Getting there: Located in Santa Ana, just off I-5 at 1st Street.

Info: (714) 835-7484.

IRVINE PARK ZOO Created in the 1930s, the Irvine Park Zoo moved to new quarters within Irvine Regional Park in Orange three years ago. This small zoo focuses on species of animals native to the Southwest, and does an excellent job exhibiting such creatures as prong-horned antelopes, timber wolves, coyotes, raccoons, kinkajou, peccaries, hawks and owls.

Surrounded by the 477-acre park--created in 1897--and as-yet unspoiled hills; in the midst of a grove of native sycamore and 500-year-old oaks; this modern mini-zoo is possibly the best-kept zoological secret around.

Well worth an hour or two of viewing, and the surrounding park offers everything from pony rides and paddle boats to barbecue pits and hiking trails.

Stats: About 123 animals of 28 species on 2 1/2 acres.

Attractions:

- Kitchen where visitors can watch keepers prepare animals’ food.

- Barnyard petting zoo.

Hours: 10-3:30 through June.

Admission: $1.25 to enter Regional Park, zoo is free.

Getting there: from the 55 (Newport) Freeway, head east on Chapman till it ends.

Info: (714) 633-8074

NATIONAL CITY ZOO Just a few miles from its San Diego counterpart, this zoo is so small that a librarian working in the same city park didn’t know it exists.

Entirely enclosed in a large apiary net, it contains a handful of well-maintained exhibits and attracts lots of local families. It makes a nice picnic stopover on the way to or from Baja California. (National City’s director of Parks and Recreation suggests parents “drop their kids off while they go shop for cars” at National City’s notorious “mile of cars.”)

Stats: 80-90 animals on a quarter acre.

Attractions:

- Five cages of primates and many domestic animals.

- Picnic area and playground.

Hours: 9:30-4:00 daily.

Admission: Free.

Getting there: I-5 to Civic Center Drive. East to Kimball Park.

Info: (619) 336-4290.

Not Exactly Zoos THE LIVING DESERT This Palm Desert wildlife park and botanical garden doesn’t call itself a zoo, but it boasts enough desert species--including bighorn sheep, rattlesnakes, chuckwallas, and the endangered desert pup fish--to be of interest to any animal aficionado.

The park consists of nature trails and natural exhibits smack in the middle of the real desert.

Stats: 100,000 annual visitors view over 600 animals of 60 species on 1,200 acres (most of the park is centralized on 200 acres.)

Attractions:

- Many rare and endangered species including the Arabian oryx.

- Educational exhibit on local Cahuilla Indians.

- Desert pond bird sanctuary.

- Art exhibits monthly.

MOORPARK ANIMAL COMPOUND This educational facility at Moorpark College is scheduled to become a bona-fide zoo--the first in Ventura County--in about a year. Currently, however, the public is restricted to viewing the animals from outside the enclosures, and attending weekend shows.

Stats: 500 animals of 72 species.

Attractions:

- “Educational and entertaining” animal show every Sunday at 3 p.m. Show is $2 adults, $1 children.

- Petting zoo 10-2:30 Sundays.

Getting there: 118 Freeway west to end. Zoo is on grounds of Moorpark College.

Info: (805) 529-2324.