As an LA native, I've been coming here since I was...

As an LA native, I've been coming here since I was a baby. My family and I always have a good time here, and the Zoo has made many upgrades and improvements over the years, for the animals as well as us humans. There is a wide variety of animals and plenty of shady areas to beat the heat. The new reptile exhibit they have is AMAZING, fun, and interactive for the kids. The chimpanzee exhibit is entertaining and educational, as well as the sea life exhibit in the front. It's affordable too, and they won't give you a hard time if you bring your own water/food.

BUT...every time I've been recently, there is an elephant standing in the enclosure swaying back and forth, alone. This is really disturbing and heartbreaking to witness, as I am sure it is for all animal lovers. Even if one animal group does not seem to have excellent quality of life, it's going to get a low rating from me, despite my largely positive experiences here.