Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2013

mxttfan said:
i know but i just wanted to post every big news about the zoo because the national zoo is the zoo i go too regularly:p:o:p:o
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Thanks for including the info on the Andean Bear cubs, as it is handy to know their debut date.
But all of that other "big news" about the zoo, has been already posted, so you needn't need to worry about posting it.:)
 
BeardsleyZooFan said:
Thanks for including the info on the Andean Bear cubs, as it is handy to know their debut date.
But all of that other "big news" about the zoo, has been already posted, so you needn't need to worry about posting it.:)
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i know but there's really nothing big that hasn't been posted already :o
 
Has anyone heard pregnancy buzz regarding Damai the tiger lately? The last update (In February) mentioned that her and Kavi had been breeding quite regularly/vigorously, but I haven't heard anything since then (which doesn't surprise me even if she is confirmed as pregnant, since this would be her first litter)
 
Zoogoer2000 said:
Has anyone heard pregnancy buzz regarding Damai the tiger lately? The last update (In February) mentioned that her and Kavi had been breeding quite regularly/vigorously, but I haven't heard anything since then (which doesn't surprise me even if she is confirmed as pregnant, since this would be her first litter)
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i read a tiger update on there website that said shes not pregnant.:( but it was posted 2/20/13
 
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Locations of the new animals in the Small Mammal House:

The sand cat exhibit is towards the entrance as you turn the corner. Look at every angle of the exhibit. When I went, the sand cat was sleeping up high.

The brush tailed bettong is located a few exhibits down from the sand cat. Look for the exhibit with the golden headed lion tamarin. The bettong likes to hide under the log in the right hand corner.

The jumping rat is in the exhibit right before the original, bigger meerkat exhibit. Right now it has access to its holding area so you need to kneel down and look at the half opened door on the left wall. There is one usually hiding in the hay.

On a side note, it can be said this zoo does not have the best ape exhibits. However, seeing an orangutan on the O Line is an amazing experience. You will be in awe seeing the big male above you with his dreads of hair blowing in the wind.
 
A interesting article about the zoo's hippoless situation:
National Zoo Hippo: A Miscarriage of Animal Justice - City Desk

I personally don't think the zoo should destroy the Small Mammal House (which has historical significance and the animals don't have that "general blahness" IMO) to build a hippo exhibit. That'd be a fools error actually as it would cost the zoo a lot to simply build the exhibit this guy wants, forget about tearing down a whole building and digging it up! Besides, the zoo would loose dozens of animals which would then be displaced.

~Thylo:cool:
 
I do enjoy seeing hippos at zoos, especially if there's underwater viewing. However, if there is no underwater viewing, then it's really a minute stop since they don't do much (of course this all depends on time of day and the particular animals). It's funny they mentioned to get rid of the Kids Farm as well. It was a huge uproar when they were going to get rid of it so I do not think that would be in this best interest. I also agree I wouldn't want to see the Small Mammal House removed. Granted there are duplicate exhibits, it has a lot of neat, rare smaller animals. I see think they'd do better to get pygmy hippos instead.
 
blospz said:
I do enjoy seeing hippos at zoos, especially if there's underwater viewing. However, if there is no underwater viewing, then it's really a minute stop since they don't do much (of course this all depends on time of day and the particular animals). It's funny they mentioned to get rid of the Kids Farm as well. It was a huge uproar when they were going to get rid of it so I do not think that would be in this best interest. I also agree I wouldn't want to see the Small Mammal House removed. Granted there are duplicate exhibits, it has a lot of neat, rare smaller animals. I see think they'd do better to get pygmy hippos instead.
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Something tells me the guy who wrote this has never heard of a Pygmy Hippo;) That conclusion comes from the way the article closes and that he doesn't think there's anything of excitement or interest in the Small Mammal House. Pygmy Hippos could easily be put in one of the empty yards in the Cheetah Conservation Center but they'd have to add a pool (which is considerably easier than getting a new pod of Common Hippos, tearing up a currently functioning section of the zoo, and building a new hippos enclosure with underwater viewing!).

~Thylo:cool:
 
The splashdown has begun! Other seals have been starting to go on exhibit. Here's a Facebook post from National Zoo:
"It's time for the splashdown! Gray seals Kjya and Gunther made their debut in the seal pool on American Trail yesterday. They needed some encouragement to make the trek from the off-exhibit holding space to the main pool, but after several tries over the course of the day, they eventually took the plunge in the afternoon.

Gunther charged out first. Kjya cautiously made her way out several minutes later. They both explored the pool, passing through the underwater cave and poking their noses into all the nooks and crannies. They had time overnight to adjust to their new home. Harbor seal Squeegee also tested out the exhibit pool for the first time today with Gunthur and Kjya. In the meantime, keepers continue to orchestrate introductions between Selkie and the other gray seals behind the scenes."
 
John, one of the male African Lions born in August 2010 has left for Cincinnati. Leslie and Lusaka will move to Buffalo soon.
Lion Updates - National Zoo
The Black Howler Monkey infant was named Heliodoro, which means "Gift from the Sun" in Spanish.
The Clouded Leopard cubs at SCBI Royal have been given access to their outdoor yard.
All 5 of the new seals went on exhibit together on Thursday. Selkie will join them in a few weeks.
And while I'm at it, here's a panda update: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm#update
 
I enjoyed watching the cubs grow on their cam. Its sad to see the last of them go while at the same time its exciting they are all starting their new lives as adult lions to start prides of their own. Their departure also brings about the possiblity that more cubs will come within the next few months or later at the zoo. Plus there is the hope that tiger cubs could entertain us at some point in the near future if things have gone well.
 

It's mostly the same video but just a bit more on how Bosie first encountered the other elephants.

~Thylo:cool:
 
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With the lioness juveniles gone, they male and two adult females are rotating in one exhibit. The male tiger is in the second exhibit, and the female tiger in the third exhibit. I am not sure how much a pregnant tiger shows, but the female still looked quite slender to me.
 
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