Zookeepers attempt tough balancing act with unpredictable animals and visitors

A year into his tenure, Mollinedo won high marks for improving conditions, and the zoo passed its accreditation review.

He proved himself a deft handler of politicians, eccentric donors and celebrities.

"I think he understood the politics of L.A. and the needs of the zoo, and did a lot to stabilize it," said David Towne, a director of several zoos and one of three members on a committee that evaluated the L.A. Zoo before and during Mollinedo's tenure.

To be sure, there were rough spots. After a Komodo dragon bit the foot of actress Sharon Stone's then-husband, San Francisco newspaper editor Phil Bronstein, during a VIP tour, Mollinedo restricted the up-close visits that had raised funds and visibility for his zoo.

Sometimes criticized by staff members for ignoring their advice, he dealt with a number of escapes, none of which caused injury to other animals or people.

Mollinedo left the L.A. Zoo in 2002 to run the city's Department of Recreation and Parks. He left there to lead the San Francisco Zoo in 2004.

In 2003 the U.S. Department of Agriculture filed a complaint about 35 animal escapes in the previous five years. The L.A. Zoo agreed to work on the problem.

Towne, who consulted with the zoo on preventing more escapes, characterized 90% of them as not "dangerous to the visiting public." He said the rate seemed high partly because the zoo was conscientious in its reporting, letting federal authorities know about escapes without being required to do so.

But after several gorilla escapes -- all without injury -- Mollinedo said in 2000, "Every time a gorilla escapes, we raise the walls a little higher. . . . We really need a better, more secure enclosure. It would make it a lot easier for me to sleep at night."

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