I don't understand why the Los Angeles zoo is still allowed to operate. One of my earliest memories of living in Southern California is watching news reports about them being investigated for animal abuse and neglect. Yesterday they had to evacuate the park because a chimp escaped for the fourth time. Think about this - they have been outsmarted by a lower primate four times. Maybe they should ask the chimp to run the zoo.
It's institutions like this that give zoos a bad name and let radical animal rights activists gain what little traction they have. The Pittsburgh zoo is even worse - they literally embody the stereotype of keeping animals in cages! The proper model is the work done by the San Diego Zoological Society, one of the most worthy environmental groups on the planet. If you give regularly, they should definitely be on your list.