Zoo Review: Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Part I

At first glance, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (often referred to simply as Living Desert, but not to be confused with the zoo of that same name in Carlsbad, New Mexico) would appear to be very similar to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum of Tucson, Arizona.  There are key differences between the two.  Firstly, the Living Desert, located outside of Palm Springs, California, is more zoological in focus.  It has extensive, beautiful gardens, to be sure, but there is less of a focus on the geological, paleontological, and historical aspects of the desert.  Secondly, unlike ASDM, which is focused solely on the wildlife of the surrounding Sonora, the Living Desert has a worldwide approach to its collection, featuring animals of the deserts of five continents.  It, too, was initially focused on North American deserts, but has since increasingly placed emphasis on its stellar African collection.

The facility began its life as a collection of native wildlife that was managed under the aegis of the Palm Springs Desert Museum; two facility later split off and became independent, with its former parent organization moving towards an art museum identity.  The initial collection was North American focused, and while that emphasis has since diluted, it still features some excellent exhibits.  Among these is perhaps the most recognizable of its habitats, Bighorn Mountain, which is essentially a small mountain, enclosed by fencing, that houses a herd of desert bighorn sheep.  It can be difficult to spot the elusive ungulates, which can be found wild not far from the zoo's gates, but with a little patience some can usually be found.  The view is especially rewarding when one of the rams takes its position at the top of the mountain, overlooking the entire park and keeping an eye on the ewes and lambs foraging below.  Nearby, a much flatter, but also spacious, yard houses another rare native ungulate, the peninsular pronghorn.

Most of the North American exhibits are grouped around Eagle Canyon.  With a name like that, I'd been expecting... well, a canyon.  Instead, this is one of the few building habitats at the zoo, with an aviary of golden and bald eagles stationed directly out front.  The views of the birds aren't particular spectacular, but zoo eagles are often non-releasable wild-born birds with injuries, so I suppose the reduced viewing could help provide the birds with some privacy.  Inside the building are exhibits of native reptiles and amphibians, before emptying out onto a walkway that passes several species of carnivore.  Historically this trail only had native species, but a small number of exotics have intruded over the years.  Pumas are the species that most visitors will be the most eager to see, but bobcat, caracal, three species of rarely-displayed North American fox (kit, swift, and my first ever island fox), American badger, and "ring-tailed cats" (actually relatives of raccoons) can be found here.  Many of the carnivore exhibits are matched up with dens fitted with viewing windows, which can allow the visitors a peek in at the animals at rest.  These exhibits wrap around a small walk-in wetland aviary, home to herons, ducks, and songbirds of the southwest.

Towards the end of Eagle Canyon is a habitat of Chacoan peccary, one of the few South American species on display at the zoo; this exhibit was initially for the native collared peccaries, which have been gradually phased-out of AZA zoos in support of the program to breed the endangered Chacoans.  Next door is an overlook of a habitat of endangered Mexican grey wolves.  I've often found wolves to be poor exhibit animals; one that the visitors are all very eager to see, but inclined to hide.  Here, I saw the wolves very active and easily observed, but not seeming nervous or frantic, as wolves often appear when out in the open.

Other North American exhibits nearby include coyote, white-nosed coati, desert tortoises, prairie dogs, and, one of the most pleasant exhibits (though not for animal viewing, really) a small oasis, fringed with palms, that houses a population of desert pupfish.  There are rocking chairs nearby facing the pond, making this a relaxing spot to sit and maybe do some light birdwatching.  Speaking of birdwatching, nearby is a series of small aviaries of desert birds, including some rarely seen species.  Besides the pleasure of seeing the zoo birds, the aviaries also attract wild birds; during my visit, I saw a wild greater roadrunner coming up to the mesh to commune with the zoo's roadrunner.  Tucked away behind the aviary is a habitat for jaguar, a species that many of us think of as a jungle cat, but one which historically occupied the deserts of the southwest as well.  The jaguar habitat might have been the exhibit I found in greatest need of an overall; I especially thought that it was too low, and would benefit from greater height and added vertical complexity.  

Scattered among the exhibits are extensive gardens, most of which - but not all - highlighting the cacti and other desert plants of the American southwest.  There are also model railroads (one of the world's largest systems) and a kid's discovery room (sort of a small, child-geared natural history museum), as well as hiking trails out into the desert to provide additional wildlife and scenery viewing opportunities.  Tomorrow, we'll resume with a look at the exotic components of Living Desert.

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens