I hope this doesn't mean they're making the cheetah area smaller so they can bring in more species
Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter IndianRhino
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I hope this doesn't mean they're making the cheetah area smaller so they can bring in more species
I'm surprised the zoo is starting work on their next project before the bird house project is finished. It's certainly taken the zoo long enough to work on the bird house- it was already closed on my visit six years ago! If a new African area where cheetahs are is next, I'm very curious to hear if one of the large animals removed to make room for Elephant Trails returns. It'd be interesting to see if either giraffes or white/black rhinos make the cut. These are both popular animals that I'm sure many would be excited to see return to the National Zoo.
The area isn't big enough for either of those species, really. They've been doing other things lately, like that Claws N Paws area. There's several areas that need work done way more than the cheetah area, though
If I look on Google maps, that area measures out to a little over 2 acres, which is enough room to build a decent habitat for either species. Of course this would require phasing out some of the other species in the area, which may not be a route the zoo wants to go. I agree it's not the area most in need of work, which is why I figured the zoo's rationale may have been that doing work over there will allow them to bring back another popular megafauna.The area isn't big enough for either of those species, really. They've been doing other things lately, like that Claws N Paws area. There's several areas that need work done way more than the cheetah area, though
There's several areas that need work done way more than the cheetah area, though
While the area might not look that bad to visitors, the barn/bts area of the CCS is apparently in pretty terrible shape and fixing that is a major reason for the renovations.
I feel like its important to remember that this will be a remodel/renovation, and we should think of it like that and not like its the next big new exhibit/major renovation similar to the bird house. I'm not really sure what that is for the zoo but I think it might be the reptile house? Like I mentioned earlier that the barn is in bad shape, but a few months back I heard some staff talking about how the hornbills & vultures were supposed to move to the bird house during the construction period but (for whatever reason) now they might be able to fit them in the barn during the work. So even though that's in terrible shape its ultimately just being renovated and not completely replaced apparently.
I haven't really been able to talk to a keeper long enough to really get a full understanding of what's happening, but from what I have heard it doesn't sound like the area will be that different from what it currently is. The biggest different seemingly being that with the barn being fixed it would be easier to move animals around so probably less dedicated exhibit spaces. One thing I do know however is that neither giraffes nor rhinos will be a part of this, though that doesn't mean that there wont be any new species (one keeper I did get to talk to mentioned wanting a better diversity of birds and hoofstock).
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That would mean turning a whole small complex into one exhibit, though, which definitely isn't what they're doing.
Are the BTS areas also not in terrible shape? I was especially thinking of the old small carnivore area that had bobcat, caracal, etc.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're asking, but I don't really know what the state of any behind the scenes area of the zoo is because I don't really get many (really any) chances to ask where it wouldn't seem like a really random and out of nowhere question (I blame my anxiety for worrying about that). I only know the cheetah area barn/general infrastructure is in terrible shape because whenever I have been able to ask about the renovations its the one thing every person has mentioned. Also In the Smithsonians FY23 budget request the zoo described their justification for funds for the project as this:
"Much of the CCS area has old and failing infrastructure. The site’s failing stormwater and sanitary utilities are negatively impacting animal welfare, with standing water and sanitary water backups. Over time, these conditions have damaged adjacent systems and structures, requiring a full building and site revitalization, including replacement of sidewalks and shelters. The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems can no longer be repaired, and their dilapidated condition is causing significant issues with plumbing backups and insufficient heating, cooling, and humidification. In addition, the public and staff areas are deteriorating, causing unsafe working conditions. The animal habitats and housing are also inadequate, causing animal welfare and safety concerns and not allowing for appropriate behaviors and reproduction of the living collection. In many areas, erosion has caused tripping hazards and unsafe working conditions. This work is necessary to keep the facilities code-compliant with the constantly evolving animal care standards required to maintain accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)."
I remember that area needing some work is one of the reasons the bobcats were never placed back in that old exhibit after the escape (but it was good enough for a common peafowl) but yeah I don't really know anything about the state of that area. That path is actually currently blocked off (along with a portion of the path around the lion & tiger exhibits) and there is work being done in that area (my guess is its this, https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects...eat_Cats_Exhibit_Project_Synopsis_Apr2022.pdf) so maybe they'll also fix up those exhibits while they're doing whatever it is they're doing.
Unrelated, but are peafowl on exhibit at the zoo at all? I know those exhibits are blocked off, and yet the zoo's site says they're in the Great Cats area.
I don't think so. I never saw any peafowl in that exhibit prior to the path closing. The zoo ain't that consistent at updating its website, like the eastern screech owls had a page ready as soon as they went on exhibit, but the slow loris have been on exhibit since at least September and the only mention of them on the website are about how clouded leopards and occasionally orangutans will eat them.
In a weird tie in to the earlier discussion about the CCS renovations, the keeper I first talked to about them talked about how the ostrich and addax were brought in so they could try out a different mixed-species exhibit pairing. They lived together previously, but the addax were apparently very excited to be back with Linda (the ostrich) but she wasn't doing enough to "stand up for herself" so they weren't comfortable exhibiting them together. Anyway, I asked if that was the reason why the zoo moved the maned wolf to American Trail. They said yes but also mentioned that it was only temporary and that the zoo "had an order in" for the kind of wolves they previously had on American Trail and once the zoos maned wolf passed the zoo would no longer be keeping maned wolves. Well I bring this up because I remembered that the last time I was at the zoo the maned wolf sign on American Trail had been covered by a nobody home sign and I just saw that on the zoos website they've been removed from the American Trail exhibit page and are now listed as only being at SCBI.
Meerkats went back on exhibit today in the Small Mammal House. The zoo has three currently, a mother & daughter pair from the Brevard Zoo & a male from the LA Zoo. The male is still in quarantine but should likely be on exhibit within the next month. Unfortunately for the Von der Decken's hornbills the new meerkats do not tolerate birds as much as the old ones and they have been moved to another exhibit (the one that very briefly held the pygmy marmoset a few months back).
So an American Trail keeper told me that they euthanized their maned wolf about two weeks ago due to a terminal illness he was diagnosed with four years ago, and that the exhibit will likely be empty for a bit but they were looking into potentially acquiring red wolves. I swear I did not make up that "had an order in" comment so uh, plans change I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
So an American Trail keeper told me that they euthanized their maned wolf about two weeks ago due to a terminal illness he was diagnosed with four years ago, and that the exhibit will likely be empty for a bit but they were looking into potentially acquiring red wolves. I swear I did not make up that "had an order in" comment so uh, plans change I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
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Update on new Asian elephants:
Asian elephants from the Netherlands are doing well in Washington D.C.
The Asian elephant females Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh, who moved last month from Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam to Washington D.C. in the United States, are doing well.
They have just come out of quarantine and have not yet met their peers at Smithsonian National Zoo, said researcher Jeroen Kappelhof, who traveled with the two elephant females. However, they are now allowed to explore the zoo's many enclosures.
Asian elephants from the Netherlands are doing well in Washington D.C.
The Asian elephant females Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh, who moved last month from Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam to Washington D.C. in the United States, are doing well.
They have just come out of quarantine and have not yet met their peers at Smithsonian National Zoo, said researcher Jeroen Kappelhof, who traveled with the two elephant females. However, they are now allowed to explore the zoo's many enclosures.
Was at the zoo today and the only real noteworthy piece of information is the older naked mole-rat colony has been moved behind the scenes since their now down to just three individuals and their exhibit space was just way too large for them. I don't know if their space will be turned into an exhibit for a new species or an animal already in the building.
On December 22nd, the zoo announced that a (1.0) Cuban crocodile passed away on December 17th at age 10 due to attacking electrical infrastructure inside its exhibit.
Cuban Crocodile Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Cuban Crocodile Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Is there more than one Cuban crocodile at the zoo?