Councilmen Say Zoo Cleaned Up Its Act

City officials noted marked improvement in conditions at the Los Angeles Zoo Thursday, less than a month after charges came to light about numerous federal violations at the Griffith Park facility.

After participating in a surprise inspection with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials, councilmen Joel Wachs and John Ferraro said “tremendous” improvements have been made and all violations are corrected or are in the process of being corrected.

“I’m happy to report that, in the words of one USDA inspector, ‘It’s a whole new place,’ ” Wachs said after the inspection. He said a new drainage system has been installed, food storage areas have been improved and new quality control methods have been put in place during the last few weeks.

Over the last two years, the zoo was cited more than 100 times for various violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, which is enforced by the USDA. Until recently, however, few of the violations had been corrected.