The Zoo's focus for Wild for the Planet is on animals, (naturally!) as well as on the habitats that sustain them. Zoo visitors are able to connect environmental challenges with the very real impact they have on wildlife, particularly those that are rare or endangered.

Wild for the Planet activities are scattered throughout the zoo, with many in the Eucalyptus Grove area. Check out the day's schedule when you arrive and make your plan; if any events are must-see you might want to schedule around them. For us, the must-see this time was the special feeding and conservation keeper talk about the snow leopard, one of our favorite zoo residents. To the delight of the crowd, the graceful feline came right up to the keeper to be fed through the enclosure grating. Kids peppered the keeper with questions; she had answers at the ready for all. A different creature is scheduled for a special feeding each Saturday and Sunday throughout the event, including gorilla, Cassowary, Sumatran tiger, and Tasmanian devil among others. Saturday feedings are at 1pm, Sundays at 2pm.

Photo by Jamie Pham courtesy of Los Angeles Zoo

Another highlight of many Zoo events is a Swazzle Puppet show (we've been fans since we saw a performance at a local library). For Wild for the Planet, Swazzle presents "Ricky Raccoon and the Green Rangers,” as Ricky joins forces with the Green Rangers (spoiler: that's you) to help save a California Condor. 10:30 am, 12 pm, and 2:30 pm.

New this year: a ZooLAbration acrobatics performance, as trampoline jumpers manage to defy gravity while defending the environment. The show is held several times a day in the Eucalyptus Grove. (The performance we saw lasted about ten minutes, so you'll want to get there on time to see all the high-flying action!)  11am, 1:30pm, 3pm

Nature journaling Stations take kids' involvement one step further, as they are asked to observe different creatures then write or draw what they have seen. In other words, they're asked to be scientists! The station is set up at different locations throughout the park. (Check the schedule when you arrive, or look for signs posted in the park.)

Getting the low down on the endangered condors from a young expert. Photo by author

Representatives from local environmental and conservation organizations participate in an Environmental Expo on opening and closing weekends; we chatted with kid Condor experts, made plans to participate in a beach clean up with Heal the Bay, and learned about pollinators and what to plant to attract them. (Some of the vendors man mobile stations during the middle weeks of the event.)

Other fun includes character appearances by Rascal the Recycling Raccoon, and education stations throughout the zoo.

All usual zoo activities are available, so you can make your trip to the zoo as much about the special activities as you want. For us, no trip to the zoo is complete without a detour to the playground; other favorite spots we try to hit are LAIR, the California Condor Rescue Zone, and Muriel's Ranch at the children's zoo. The beauty of it is that no matter how you spend your time at the zoo, your kids come away with a better understanding of how the environment impacts wildlife, and they learn concrete ways they can contribute to conservation efforts.

Wild for the Planet 2017:

Weekday activities: guests receive a #savingspecies guide detailing the zoo's efforts to protect endangered and threatened species

Weekend activities:  Swazzle Puppet Show, ZooLAbration acrobatics show,  special animal feedings and keeper talks, 

Additional Activities:  Disneynature Born in China activities (week 1), Environmental Expo  (weeks 1 and 4),  Environmental Mobile Stations (weeks 2 and 3)

Guests are encouraged to participate in the L.A. Zoo's electronic device recycling program by contributing a retired cell phone, smartphone, iPod, iPad, tablet or MP3 player.

Wild for the Planet runs from April 22 through Friday May 19 (Endangered Species Day)
All Wild for the Planet activities are included in Zoo admission.  Zoo admission: Adults (13 and up) $20; Kids (2 - 12) $15, (under 2) Free.  

Top photo by Jamie Pham courtesy of Los Angeles Zoo