A Los Angeles County civil grand jury has called for significant changes in the management and funding of the Los Angeles Zoo, warning that the facility’s current model is unsustainable amid deteriorating infrastructure and declining visitor engagement. The report, released during the 2025-2026 term, emphasizes the need for a new public-private partnership to secure the zoo’s future.

The zoo, which occupies 133 acres in Griffith Park and houses over 1,600 animals, faces multiple challenges. Key exhibits, including those for lions, bears, sea lions, and pelicans, have been closed due to extensive maintenance needs. Federal regulators and accreditation bodies have flagged issues such as peeling paint, rust, and a critical shortage of funding and staffing to carry out basic repairs. A budget shortfall of approximately $1 million this year further strains the zoo's ability to maintain and upgrade its facilities.

Membership and attendance have also declined sharply, with membership falling by 23% from nearly 37,000 in April 2025 to around 28,400 by February 2026. City officials have previously explored plans to expand and modernize the zoo, including a proposed $650 million renovation aimed at making it more competitive with major regional attractions like Disneyland. However, this expansion has faced criticism from some environmental groups concerned about the scale of development.

The grand jury report highlights the complex bureaucratic structure governing the zoo, which operates under the city's Department of Recreation and Parks and involves multiple agencies, commissions, and elected officials. This structure, the report suggests, hampers efficient decision-making and places an unsustainable financial burden on the city budget. It notes that the Los Angeles Zoo is currently the last major American zoo managed solely by a municipal department rather than through a public-private arrangement.

A significant complicating factor in the zoo’s finances is the ongoing legal dispute with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), a nonprofit that has been a longtime fundraising partner. The city and GLAZA remain locked in litigation over a $50 million endowment. This fallout has disrupted funding for exhibits, conservation projects, and educational programming, undermining community and donor confidence.

The grand jury recommends that city officials seek out new partnerships modeled after other successful Los Angeles cultural institutions, such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum, which operate under public-nonprofit collaborations. Such a partnership could provide more flexible management and stable financial support.

In response, representatives for Mayor Karen Bass indicated the mayor’s office is reviewing the grand jury’s recommendations, including the move toward public-private partnerships, and expressed appreciation for the report’s recognition of the zoo’s leadership in animal care and conservation.

The future of the Los Angeles Zoo appears contingent on swift action to restructure its governance and finances, with the grand jury urging the city to begin searching for a capable partner to assist with this transition by April. Without these changes, the zoo’s viability as a community and educational asset remains in question.