Los Angeles Zoo remains closed until further notice as wildfires continue to spread across the city.
Although the strong winds that have been fueling the flames have eased somewhat, firefighters are still working to contain multiple blazes, including the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires, which remain largely uncontained.
Staff at the zoo first announced the closure on Tuesday, citing "dangerous winds" in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
After revising the opening status several times, they confirmed on Thursday that the zoo "will remain closed until further notice."
Are the Animals at LA Zoo Safe?
Despite the ongoing wildfires, an LA Zoo spokesperson said the animals and zoo campus remain unharmed.
"We can assure you that the animals and the zoo campus have not been impacted by the fires, and animal care teams have been working diligently to ensure their care and wellbeing," a spokesperson from the LA Zoo told Newsweek.
Strong Santa Ana winds in the past few days have downed trees and branches in Griffith Park, where LA Zoo is located, the spokesperson said.
However, as of Thursday, there had been "no damage to buildings, exhibits or critical infrastructure, and there have been no injuries to staff or animals."
The closest fire to the zoo is the Eaton fire, which has so far scorched over 13,900 acres and remains completely uncontained, according to Cal Fire.
Due to the ongoing emergency in our region, the Zoo will remain closed to the public until further notice.
The decision was made out of an abundance of caution with the priority being the safety of our guests, staff, volunteers and animals. https://t.co/viMtWqMSnr
While the fires themselves have not reached the zoo grounds and there are no current evacuation plans for the animals, the situation is generating dangerously poor air quality in the area.
Smoke and ash from the fires have led to unhealthy air conditions across Los Angeles, with an air quality index of 173, according to AirNow.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a wildfire smoke advisory, urging residents to stay indoors and use N95 or P100 respirators when going outside. It is unclear how the poor air quality is affecting the zoo's animals.
The decision to close the zoo was "made out of an abundance of caution with the priority being the safety of our guests, staff, volunteers and animals," a post on X said.
Has LA Zoo Been Evacuated Before?
This is not the first time the LA Zoo has faced challenges related to wildfires.
In 2018, a brush fire in Griffith Park forced the evacuation of show birds, lemurs and small primates.
Fortunately, no animals were harmed during the incident and the fire did not reach the zoo's grounds.
According to reports in Smithsonian Magazine at the time, the zoo is well-prepared for such emergencies. Staff members regularly conduct drills to ensure readiness for swift evacuations if necessary.
Additionally, fire breaks—designed to slow the spread of wildfires—are built into the zoo's boundaries as a protective measure.
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