Zoo Update with Denise Verret

Today’s youth are confronted with and consumed by the digital age. You see toddlers who know how to navigate iPads and of course cell phones have become appendages. Statistics tell us that the average American devotes more than ten hours each day to screen time—activities such as surfing the Internet, watching television, and playing video games. This behavior can lead to increased health risks; so, while technology is great, unplugging is equally important.

Nature is everywhere around us, even in the urban Los Angeles environment. It’s birds chirping, bees buzzing, butterflies fluttering, and blades of grass getting greener. Spring is a great time to disconnect from your screen and come visit the Los Angeles Zoo to see what’s new: babies, Spring Fling, Big Bunny Weekends, and Hope, our amazing California condor who has debuted in the World of Birds Show. She’s the first of her kind to participate in a free-flight demonstration anywhere in the world!

American naturalist, author, and wilderness activist John Muir wrote about the spiritual qualities of nature and spent much of his adult life advocating for its protection. He advised us to “Keep close to nature’s heart and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” I hope you take the time to wash your spirit clean with a visit to the Los Angeles Zoo—your zoo—very soon.