The birds are already making a name for themselves, apparently DC’s Hottest Dating Show Is the Zoo’s Horny Ducks - Washingtonian
Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2023
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Southern lesser galago have been added to the Small Mammal House. They weren't on exhibit when I was last at the zoo but I'd guess they're in the other exhibit in the small nocturnal room that wasn't taken over the by the slow loris, as that space had been getting increasingly more furnished recently (and the photo is clearly in a nocturnal exhibit).
Southern lesser galago
Southern lesser galago
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Joseph G
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Just checked the website and it says the panda yard viewing is temporarily closed. Anyone know why, how long, and if indoor viewing is still open?
Anything to do with the last panda update in the 2022 thread?
Anything to do with the last panda update in the 2022 thread?
It appears it’s to do with the separation of Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji as they released a new update on their separation earlier this month:
#PandaStory: Ready For Independence
Due to her age (and return to China this year), Mei Xiang wouldn’t be breeding again this year (which is typically March to May) and any exports would be announced in advance to prepare people for saying goodbye.
A few small notes from my visit today.
They are indeed exhibited next to the slow loris. There were two of them.
The old caracal and bobcat exhibits between the Think Tank and Great Cats exhibits were demolished recently, and there appears to be some work going on in the area now. I don't know what's being done, but I'd assume it'll be similar to before.
The Cheetah Conservation Station has received a name change, at least on the zoos website and the maps at the zoo (but not on the map on the website, as of now anyway). The area is now called "Africa Trail".
The zoo also has new maps that reflect the name change, the reopening of the Bird House and the addition of the Claws & Paws Pathway.
They are indeed exhibited next to the slow loris. There were two of them.
The old caracal and bobcat exhibits between the Think Tank and Great Cats exhibits were demolished recently, and there appears to be some work going on in the area now. I don't know what's being done, but I'd assume it'll be similar to before.
The Cheetah Conservation Station has received a name change, at least on the zoos website and the maps at the zoo (but not on the map on the website, as of now anyway). The area is now called "Africa Trail".
The zoo also has new maps that reflect the name change, the reopening of the Bird House and the addition of the Claws & Paws Pathway.
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Female gorilla Calaya is pregnant and due sometime between late May to early July! This will be her second infant with silverback Baraka after Moke born in April 2018.
Western Lowland Gorilla Is Pregnant at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Western Lowland Gorilla Is Pregnant at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
The Andean Bear cubs are both boys and will make their debut on March 27th
Media Advisory: Andean Bear Cub Brothers Now on View
Media Advisory: Andean Bear Cub Brothers Now on View
The cubs are now on exhibit and have been given the names "Ian" and "Sean".
Andean Bear Cub Brothers Now on View Outdoors at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
On March 29th, it was announced that the biology institute acquired (1.1) clouded leopards named Masala and Tikka from the Naples Zoo in Florida.
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
Some more info about these guys, a pair of brothers named Mopani and Damara.
New at the Zoo: Meet Our Bushbaby Brothers
The Zoo Neighborhood Council held its first meeting of the year back on March 30th, and you can read about it here:
Zoo Neighborhood Council Meeting Minutes: March 30, 2023
Nothing really notable in my opinion, other than the zoo is planning a farewell for the giant pandas later this year, and that the zoo is in the early stages of creating a new Master Plan "that focuses on the long-term development of the Zoo in Washington, D.C., and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia."
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Some updates from my visit yesterday:
- The large rainforest exhibit in the Small Mammal House no longer holds golden lion tamarin and agouti. The tamarins were nowhere to be found, and the agouti moved back to his original exhibit with the lone, elderly pale-headed saki.
- Some are probably wondering why the zoos lone male pale-headed saki monkey looks so underweight and obese. Jamie just turned 31 a week or two ago and has more than doubled his life expectancy. He is actually a perfect weight, he just has hair loss issues which is normal for a monkey his age which makes him look skinny. His underside has like no hair so it’s more obvious if you see his underside. Jamie has outlived his daughter, Isabella and the zoo is looking for a new companion for him although there are none available as of now.
- The zoo no longer has howler monkeys and they will not return because the space they had is really not big enough. After Reuben died, the zoo still had his mate for while before she died, but because she was so old and chose to stay inside a lot the sign was removed. But unfortunately she has also died. As on the news it said Reuben was 23, they were actually both a lot older according to the keeper, even older than Jamie the pale-headed saki.
- The tamandua exhibit with the two older male tamanduas is under renovation, and the tamanduas are expected to return sometime next week. Both are quite old, Manny is 18 and the oldest in North America and Cayenne is like 8 or 9 and the average lifespan for tamanduas is around 9 years.
- Behind the reptile house in the old Philliphine croc exhibit, a Chinese alligator now lives there and another one is in their original exhibit. Not sure why they got separated.
- The zoos longtime resident green anaconda passed away about three months ago after living the past several years behind the scenes. She has been here since the 1970s and lived to age 48 and she broke the record for the oldest living green anaconda. They usually live around 30 years in zoos and 10 years in the wild. Angus from the Philadelphia Zoo is 44 and let’s hope he makes it at least a few more good years.
- Both male kudu are now a bachelor herd on exhibit together, Machi now has his full horns and looks like a mature male and Zahi is still growing, he barely has horns yet and his coloration still looks like a female kudu.
- The large rainforest exhibit in the Small Mammal House no longer holds golden lion tamarin and agouti. The tamarins were nowhere to be found, and the agouti moved back to his original exhibit with the lone, elderly pale-headed saki.
- Some are probably wondering why the zoos lone male pale-headed saki monkey looks so underweight and obese. Jamie just turned 31 a week or two ago and has more than doubled his life expectancy. He is actually a perfect weight, he just has hair loss issues which is normal for a monkey his age which makes him look skinny. His underside has like no hair so it’s more obvious if you see his underside. Jamie has outlived his daughter, Isabella and the zoo is looking for a new companion for him although there are none available as of now.
- The zoo no longer has howler monkeys and they will not return because the space they had is really not big enough. After Reuben died, the zoo still had his mate for while before she died, but because she was so old and chose to stay inside a lot the sign was removed. But unfortunately she has also died. As on the news it said Reuben was 23, they were actually both a lot older according to the keeper, even older than Jamie the pale-headed saki.
- The tamandua exhibit with the two older male tamanduas is under renovation, and the tamanduas are expected to return sometime next week. Both are quite old, Manny is 18 and the oldest in North America and Cayenne is like 8 or 9 and the average lifespan for tamanduas is around 9 years.
- Behind the reptile house in the old Philliphine croc exhibit, a Chinese alligator now lives there and another one is in their original exhibit. Not sure why they got separated.
- The zoos longtime resident green anaconda passed away about three months ago after living the past several years behind the scenes. She has been here since the 1970s and lived to age 48 and she broke the record for the oldest living green anaconda. They usually live around 30 years in zoos and 10 years in the wild. Angus from the Philadelphia Zoo is 44 and let’s hope he makes it at least a few more good years.
- Both male kudu are now a bachelor herd on exhibit together, Machi now has his full horns and looks like a mature male and Zahi is still growing, he barely has horns yet and his coloration still looks like a female kudu.
Correction: I meant to say for the pale-headed saki that he is skinny, not obese. Maybe some of you weren’t sure what I was talking about but it was just a typo
Does anyone know why the zoo’s social media posts are being spammed with comments talking about the health of the pandas?
Example on Facebook
Example on Facebook
Yeah - concerted efforts to get the pandas "home" given CRUMBLING relations between the United States and China.
It's because the Memphis pandas are being sent back to China. There's a loud contingent of online folks who believe that all pandas should be returned to China, and that their welfare is compromised in the US. Their primary target the last several years was the Memphis Zoo and now it looks like they are taking aim at other facilities. I'm not sure if they are actually real people or if they're bots.
I don't really keep up with panda news (I'm kind of ambivalent to the critter), but there is a lot of politics involved in their care - especially as tensions between the US and China increase (this isn't commentary on that, just pointing out why it's happening)
It's more than likely the Chinese Government Spam Botting them, they are poorly worded and many are Chinese including the names. Its sad that they have to return them, they would be much better off in America where they can get better treatment. It's all a political stunt by the Chinese in the end. They care about their Pandas about as much as they do their own people.
I agree that it's probably a lot of this, plus others reading the nonsense in the state sponsored stuff and thinking all pandas in the USA are being abused. It couldn't be further from the truth, and the Chinese monitor the pandas daily (hourly? constantly?) remotely, so if there was an actual issue, they would have sent their own people here to check on them. Unfortunately I think the harassment is going to keep anywhere else from wanting to try and get the species.
Someone uploaded new good footage to YouTube of the Bird House renovations, featuring the outdoor exhibits including, Whooping Crane, Sandhill Crane & Turkey, American Flamingos, Greater Rheas, and Southern Cassowary!
With the Giant Pandas leaving what would replace them? Would the Amur Tigers move from the Great Cats complex into the Panda yards like what happened once the pandas left Toronto?
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