Geckoes and vipers and toads. Oh my! For children fascinated by frogs or stunned by snakes, the LA Zoo’s new LAIR (Living Amphibians Invertebrates and Reptiles) exhibit is a delight. The LAIR features more than 60 species, many endangered, in two buildings.
The LAIR is home to a gray’s monitor, a rare, fruit-loving lizard who lives in the Philippine forests. Also, the brightly colored Fiji Island Iguana makes its home in the LAIR. Zoologists aren’t sure how they evolved, but believe they may have originated with green iguanas who hitched a ride on debris and floated across the Pacific from South America.
Visitors also get a behind-the-scenes view of daily reptile care. Keepers prepare food, store eggs and care for young reptiles in a glassed-in room. And in the crocodile swamp, you can watch keepers feed the false gharials, a southeast Asian crocodile. (Sadly, they are feeding him our state bird — quail!)
If you love reptiles and amphibians, check out these wallpaper images from the LA Zoo’s site.
Kirsten W. Larson 
What, aren’t scrambled quail eggs ‘gourmet’ enough? Sound like fun. I bet some stay still for some life drawing there…in the LAIR!
It was really crowded when we were there (school groups!) but I’d love to go back when we can have a more leisurely time to just sit and look.
Good for the boys to try their cameras again!
This sounds so cool! But there’s something rotten in the state of… well, California… if they’re feeding the state bird to visitors from other lands 🙂
I know! I know they could find some pigeons (no disrespect to Mo Willems).
That’s cruel that they feed your state bird to foreign crocs! Great post though! I would like to visit it sometime. But it may be a long time seeing I’m across the country and continent… 😉
I’m sure your neck of the woods has some pretty cool zoos too.
Sounds like a lot of fun, but your poor state bird. 😦 I agree with your previous comment… I don’t think the world would be worse off with fewer pigeons.
I was a little sad, especially since we have several “pet” quail pair who live in our yard.