10 FAVORITE ANIMALS that make their homes at the L.A. Zoo

Few places celebrate the diversity of nature better than a good zoo. In one leisurely afternoon, a visitor can see kangaroos pogo in the chaparral, toucans that look as if they just flew off a children’s cereal box, sea lions that literally jump out of the water and anteaters that look as though their heads were jammed into giant pencil sharpeners.

Everyone has a favorite zoo animal. Last summer, the giant pandas on loan to the Los Angeles Zoo from the People’s Republic of China were an overwhelming favorite, according to Lora LaMarca, the zoo’s curator of education and information. The pandas, which came here as part of the Olympic celebration, are “the ultimate zoo animals,” she said. During their stay here, about 400,000 more people passed through the zoo’s turnstiles than during a typical summer. At the height of the “pandamonium,” visitors waited as long as three to four hours for a three-minute glimpse.

The pandas are gone, but more than 2,000 animals representing about 500 species remain. LaMarca comments here on 10 animals in the zoo that are among the public’s favorites:

Elephants--Both Asian and African elephants reside here, and it’s relatively easy to tell one from the other. LaMarca points out that African elephants have larger ears and tusks and are larger overall. Sampson, an African bull weighing in at 12,000 pounds, is one of the largest in captivity. At birth, a calf may weigh more than 200 pounds.

Giraffes--While elephants are the largest land animals, giraffes are the tallest, with some adults being nearly 19 feet tall. LaMarca likes the giraffe enclosure at the zoo because it is built into a hill, enabling people to literally see eye-to-eye with the animals. The zoo’s Masai giraffes also have an unusual prehensile tongue that can grasp and hold objects, enabling it to strip leaves from trees.

Gorillas--The lowland gorillas are possibly the most popular animals on weekends, with crowds standing three deep sometimes, LaMarca said. “Their antics are wonderful and quite human-like.” The gorillas are smart enough to respond to their names.

Rhinoceroses--Looking like nature’s battering ram, the Indian rhinoceros is known for its armor-like skin. The zoo also has black rhinos. Both species have large, distinctive horns consisting of keratin, the same material fingernails are made of.

Koalas--”Everyone wants to hold a koala,” LaMarca said. The little marsupials (pouched mammals) live in eucalyptus trees, eating their leaves. The Ahmanson Koala House provides nocturnal lighting (dark during the daytime, light at night), which increases the animals’ activity by about 20% during the hours the zoo is open. The best time to see the koalas is immediately after the zoo opens at 10 a.m. The animals are active because they are feeding.

Chimpanzees--LaMarca believes that the African chimpanzees interact with the visitors more than any of the other animals. When visitors hoot or clap for the animals, it “warms them right up,” she said. The chimps almost always respond.

Hippopotamuses--The Nile hippopotamus is born in the water and can swim at birth. However, hippos routinely travel by walking along the bottoms of lakes and rivers. LaMarca finds their huge, gaping mouths interesting, adding that she has seen keepers toss entire heads of lettuce into them.

Orangutans--Orangutans are not as social as other great apes, but LaMarca believes that they are every bit as smart as their better-known brethren, the chimps and gorillas. “It may take the orangutans a while longer to figure something out, but hen they do, they are smart,” she said. They are particularly good mimics, imitating their keepers and others.

Tigers--”The first thing a cat lover wants to know is where they can find the big cats,” LaMarca says. The zoo has both the normal (gold, white and black) Bengal tiger and the white Bengal. The white tigers are not true albinos; their coloration is a hereditary trait.

Lions--What zoo is complete without the king of the jungle? Actually, the king tends to nod off a lot while the lionesses hunt. There are only about 200 Asiatic lions existing in the wild.

LaMarca suggests that a trip to the Los Angeles Zoo be approached as one would a casual stroll. An average visit lasts three to four hours. She suggests that visitors get a map upon entering, because animals are arranged by continent, rather than all the cats in one place, all the birds in another and so on.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; general admission is $4; for children 5 to 15 and seniors 60 and older, admission is $1.50. Children under 5 are admitted free. The zoo is located near the intersection of Interstate 5 and Interstate 134 in Griffith Park. Call (213) 666-4090 for a taped message with basic information about zoo attractions.