The drive-through Lion Country Safari was open from 1970 to 1984.
A startled motorist gets more than he bargained for. Damage to the car’s fender was slight, and the rhino quickly lost interest and moved on. (Boris Yaro / Los Angeles Times)
A tiger gives a special welcome to a busload of visitors. (Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)
A eland and giraffe exercise their right-of-way privileges at Lion Country Safari. (Mary Frampton / Los Angeles Times)
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Visitors move carefully through a parade of ostriches. (Larry Anderson / Los Angeles Times)
Giraffes cross in front of cars on the final day at Lion Country Safari. (Gail Fisher / Los Angeles Times)
Rafiki the elephant watches over her newborn calf at Lion Country Safari. The baby was about 200 pounds and 3 feet tall at birth. (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)
Frasier and family members take a nap at Lion Country Safari. (Deris Jeannette / Los Angeles Times)
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Frasier and friend taking a nap at Lion Country Safari. (Deris Jeannette / Los Angeles Times)
Bubbles the hippo and her 800-pound daughter at Lion Country Safari between escapes. The next time Bubbles got out, she died during recapture efforts. (Deris Jeannette / Los Angeles Times)
Bubbles, the Lion Country Safari’s wandering hippo, ventures out of a pond she was hiding in near Laguna Canyon Road. (Deris Jeannette / Los Angeles Times)
Chic Sommers, left, and Wes Baney, senior ranger at Lion Country Safari, after Bubbles the hippo’s accidental death during an attempt to retrieve her. (Steve Rice / Los Angeles Times)