Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2015

Small Mammal House Updates:

* There's a new digital graphic in the entrance that has a layout of the inside exhibit, numbered, and then it shows new arrivals and coming soon animals.
* Daisy, the fennec fox, is having a rough time adjusting in her new exhibit. A keeper was in there yesterday, petting her to calm her down.
* The chevrotain have adjusted splendidly. Being hoofstock, keepers and docents were worried, but they are very relaxed. They sit up right next to the window and my lense was so close to them and they didn't even flinch.
* Seeing a "coming soon - southern tamandua" photo flash in the front, I knew their arrival was on track so I asked a docent about it. The female, Cayenne from the Denver Zoo, is in quarantine and they hope to have her on exhibit by February. The graphic mentioned she'd be in exhibit 31, which now houses a titi monkey and screaming hairy armadillo. I feel if they want to start her off on her own, they can also use the exhibit next to it, which is quite spacious for a single prevost's squirrel (rotate in another squirrel exhibit). The docent thinks they may use her as one of the "meet a small mammal" program. She is unsure if a keeper would do training with her in the exhibit, or if they'd bring her out for visitors to see. I believe the tamanduas are education animals at Denver, and being partly hand raised, she should be able to be find around humans.
 
blospz said:
Small Mammal House Updates:

* There's a new digital graphic in the entrance that has a layout of the inside exhibit, numbered, and then it shows new arrivals and coming soon animals.
* Daisy, the fennec fox, is having a rough time adjusting in her new exhibit. A keeper was in there yesterday, petting her to calm her down.
* The chevrotain have adjusted splendidly. Being hoofstock, keepers and docents were worried, but they are very relaxed. They sit up right next to the window and my lense was so close to them and they didn't even flinch.
* Seeing a "coming soon - southern tamandua" photo flash in the front, I knew their arrival was on track so I asked a docent about it. The female, Cayenne from the Denver Zoo, is in quarantine and they hope to have her on exhibit by February. The graphic mentioned she'd be in exhibit 31, which now houses a titi monkey and screaming hairy armadillo. I feel if they want to start her off on her own, they can also use the exhibit next to it, which is quite spacious for a single prevost's squirrel (rotate in another squirrel exhibit). The docent thinks they may use her as one of the "meet a small mammal" program. She is unsure if a keeper would do training with her in the exhibit, or if they'd bring her out for visitors to see. I believe the tamanduas are education animals at Denver, and being partly hand raised, she should be able to be find around humans.
Click to expand...

By any chance did you get a shot of the display showing the layout of the building?
 
blospz said:
Small Mammal House Updates:

* There's a new digital graphic in the entrance that has a layout of the inside exhibit, numbered, and then it shows new arrivals and coming soon animals.
* Daisy, the fennec fox, is having a rough time adjusting in her new exhibit. A keeper was in there yesterday, petting her to calm her down.
* The chevrotain have adjusted splendidly. Being hoofstock, keepers and docents were worried, but they are very relaxed. They sit up right next to the window and my lense was so close to them and they didn't even flinch.
* Seeing a "coming soon - southern tamandua" photo flash in the front, I knew their arrival was on track so I asked a docent about it. The female, Cayenne from the Denver Zoo, is in quarantine and they hope to have her on exhibit by February. The graphic mentioned she'd be in exhibit 31, which now houses a titi monkey and screaming hairy armadillo. I feel if they want to start her off on her own, they can also use the exhibit next to it, which is quite spacious for a single prevost's squirrel (rotate in another squirrel exhibit). The docent thinks they may use her as one of the "meet a small mammal" program. She is unsure if a keeper would do training with her in the exhibit, or if they'd bring her out for visitors to see. I believe the tamanduas are education animals at Denver, and being partly hand raised, she should be able to be find around humans.
Click to expand...

Good to hear Daisy is calming down
 
Cayenne the female southern tamandua is settling in quite well. For those who may not know, she was born at the Denver Zoo on March 7, 2014. She was partly hand raised since her mother did not produce enough milk. Because of this keepers at National Zoo think she does not utilize her tail as much as she should. I thought she was getting the hang of it when I saw yesterday, but she still is a bit clumsy when she's climbing. Apparently on her first day on exhibit she had a little fall, but she seemed fine when I saw her. They put in a log for her to dig and the outer bark has already been scratched to pieces. She will have a future mate, I think it's going to be a bit for mating still since I didn't realize they are so young, and he is in quarantine. I believe he is a different subspecies of southern tamandua since he's going to be smaller and the one with a distinct vest in the center of his fur. I have seen both subspecies of southern tamandua, but I never saw two kinds paired up together.

She was sleeping quite a bit when I was there yesterday, but when she was active, she definitely grabbed people's attentions. People were trying to pronounce her name, figure out what kind of animal she was, a lot of questions. I am so glad people will be introduced to this species now in the DC area and its worldly visitors.
 
blospz said:
I believe he is a different subspecies of southern tamandua since he's going to be smaller and the one with a distinct vest in the center of his fur. I have seen both subspecies of southern tamandua, but I never saw two kinds paired up together.
Click to expand...

There are more than two subspecies of Southern Tamandua. And which subspecies are they?

~Thylo:cool:
 
blospz said:
Excellent question, but I do not have the answer. I can just tell you the difference in their size and appearance.
Click to expand...

hehe well that's quite alright then:p

I know at least Discovery Cove has Unstriped Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla nigra).

~Thylo:cool:
 
ThylacineAlive said:
hehe well that's quite alright then:p

I know at least Discovery Cove has Unstriped Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla nigra).

~Thylo:cool:
Click to expand...

I had to look at my old conversation to see if it said Discovery Cove or Sea World Orlando. It was Sea World Orlando. An article I saw before that has a picture of the vested tamandua was actually for Busch Garden. So maybe they will be the same subspecies.
 
Sunbear12 said:
A species of dart frog only discovered last year has been bred for the first time in captivity at the zoo.

Full article here - {mods: url removed}
Click to expand...
it was actually discovered in 2011. It was described last year.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top