The Los Angeles Zoo is opening its “pets ofrenda” on Saturday to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and Día de los Muertos, which takes place on November 1 and 2. An ofrenda, meaning “offering” in Spanish, is an altar honoring deceased loved ones.
The altar, created in collaboration with the Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center, will be located at the zoo’s Front Entrance Plaza near Sea Life Cliffs and will be available on weekends through November 2. Coral Barreiro, manager of community programs at the zoo, noted that the ofrenda has grown in participation over the last six years, signifying a shared experience of grief.
Visitors are encouraged to honor their deceased pets by placing photos, drawings, and mementos on the altar. The display will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, including Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 12. Guests can also bring their own printed photos on weekdays during zoo hours, and staff will be available to assist in printing photos during the weekends.
