A new grand jury report warns the city-run zoo faces falling memberships, broken exhibits, and a ruined partnership with its chief donor.

The Lede When you take your family to the zoo, you expect to see healthy animals and happy memories. But behind the gates of LA's famous zoo, a quiet crisis is threatening its very survival.

WHAT HAPPENED

A civil grand jury just released a harsh report about the Los Angeles Zoo. The report warns that the zoo is in deep trouble.

It is the last major American zoo still run entirely by a city government. The jury says this setup does not work anymore.

Memberships have plunged, exhibits are breaking down, and signs point to animals that are no longer there. To make things worse, the zoo is in a legal fight with its main donor group.

What the Money/Evidence Shows

• Household memberships dropped from 36,000 in April 2025 to 28,000 in February 2026.
• This represents a 23% drop in membership in less than one year.
• The zoo has no active maintenance program to fix broken exhibits before they become a crisis.
• Almost all other major U.S. zoos have switched to public-private partnerships.
• The zoo generates enough cash for basic daily running costs, but has no funds to fix its aging structures.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

Why is Los Angeles holding onto an old way of running a zoo when the rest of the country has moved on?

If the city cannot afford to fix a broken sign or a fence, should it really run a zoo?

THE OTHER SIDE

The zoo still does some things very well. The grand jury praised its work in animal care, learning programs, and saving wildlife. One visitor said everything seemed normal, even if some animals were gone.

The zoo says it will study the report and help the city write a reply. Mayor Karen Bass said her office wants to look at the options.

But these warm words do not change the fact that the zoo has no clear plan to fix its money gap.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

If the city does not act, the zoo will keep sliding downhill. Regular families will pay more to see fewer animals in run-down displays.

The city must decide if it will hand over control to a private group to save the zoo.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

Will the city agree to share control of the zoo with a private group?

• How long will the court battle with its main fundraising partner last?
• What will happen to the animals if the funding drops even further?