Overview
- The Los Angeles County civil grand jury released a report in June 2026 that concluded the current city-run model is unsustainable and urged a transition to a public-private partnership to stabilize the zoo.
- Household membership plunged 23 percent, falling from 36,914 in April 2025 to 28,440 in February 2026, a loss the report says has sharply reduced earned revenue.
- Federal inspectors and accreditation reviewers documented maintenance problems such as peeling paint and rust and found a critical lack of funding and staff for basic repairs, leading to closed exhibits and the 2025 transfer of the zoo’s last two elephants to Tulsa.
- The jury cited a ruptured relationship with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association after litigation over a reported $50 million endowment, a split that the report says has cut off a longtime source of private funding.
- The city has not completed a transition plan and faces practical hurdles including an ongoing lawsuit, at least a $1 million budget shortfall, and complex bureaucratic oversight, which the jury says could force longer closures, reduced programs, or staff cuts unless a qualified steward is found.