Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2020

Neil chace said:
I was thinking the same thing. Do they have a separate plan for new exhibits?
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So their “master plan” and “strategic plan” Are completely separate. I don’t believe their master plan has been made public, however I know they have one. Think of a strategic plan as more of kinda the fundamentals in a way. It’s about what their goals are as a whole from like education to conservation efforts. It includes both NZP and their SCBI locations.
 
Nolie Thornell said:
I believe that there is only one sloth bear left at NZP and I haven't seen one on exhibit in a very long time. Everytime I walk by it and see how large and beautiful it is I think its a shame that there is no animal that goes on exhibit. Not sure if the zoo plans to keep sloth bears but I wanted to see what other species you all thought would fit well into it and also from Asia. Personally I think any cat (tiger, leopard, snow leopard) would do amazing in it.
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The zoo is currently home to two I believe. Their names I think are Niko and Remi. I would agree they seem to be rarely on exhibit however I believe they do have access to their yards quite a lot of the time and just chose to stay inside. I’ve had the most luck seeing them in exhibit early in the morning.
 
Andrew_NZP said:
Niko is the zoos only sloth bear. Despite their page (Sloth bear) still mentioning Remi, she died back in May (Female Sloth Bear Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo).


Regarding new exhibits, I can't actually confirm this, but I believe the zoos next major project will be the Reptile House Discovery Center.
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Interesting, I find the RDC to be a pretty good exhibit although old. I thought they might do big cats or apes before reptiles.
Also why do you think that will be their next focus?
 
Well in the Smithsonians FY21 budget request there's a section regarding funds to fix the mechanical systems in the old administration building at the Front Royal campus. Under the "project background" section it says:

"At Rock Creek Park, buildings that still need renewal are the Reptile Discovery Center, to be followed by the Small Mammal House, Think Tank, Lion/Tiger House, Amazonia, Science Building, Veterinary Hospital, Visitors Center, and Holt House."

And earlier this year the zoo made a post talking about how they plan to restore the buildings portico, and in the post it says:

"Portico reconstruction to match the historic condition will occur in approximately five to ten years as part of future rehabilitation of the Reptile House. "

Smithsonians FY21 budget request: https://www.si.edu/sites/default/files/about/fy2021-budgetrequestcongress.pdf

Post about the portico restoration: Conserving Architectural Heritage: Deconstruction, Storage and Reconstruction of the Reptile House Portico
 
Andrew_NZP said:
"At Rock Creek Park, buildings that still need renewal are the Reptile Discovery Center, to be followed by the Small Mammal House, Think Tank, Lion/Tiger House, Amazonia, Science Building, Veterinary Hospital, Visitors Center, and Holt House."
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What species do they have in Think Tank these days? When I was there in 2015 I don't remember seeing the monkey species, but there were orangs, rats, and hermit crabs.
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Pardon my digression, but didn't they have Celebes crested macaques (Macaca nigra) in the Think Tank a long time ago as well?
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They did until 2013/2014 I think? Maybe even a little later. When I visited in 2012 they had those mixed with America's last Grey-Cheeked Mangabey. Frustratingly, I missed both though I have since seen the macaque in several European zoos as well as at Omaha.

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
They did until 2013/2014 I think? Maybe even a little later. When I visited in 2012 they had those mixed with America's last Grey-Cheeked Mangabey. Frustratingly, I missed both though I have since seen the macaque in several European zoos as well as at Omaha.

~Thylo
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Ah thank you. I am glad you managed to see Celebes crested macaques. I saw my last ones at Brec's Baton Rouge Zoo. Do you know the story behind their last Gray-cheeked mangabey (Lophocebus albigena)?
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Think it's just those you mentioned as well as Allen's Swamp Monkey and Schmidt's Red-Tailed Guenon.

~Thylo
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The zoo no longer has the Red-tailed Guenon. They're still on the website but have no signage at the zoo. Could be off exhibit, could just be that the zoo never bothered to update the website, which I find more likely.
 
Andrew_NZP said:
The zoo no longer has the Red-tailed Guenon. They're still on the website but have no signage at the zoo. Could be off exhibit, could just be that the zoo never bothered to update the website, which I find more likely.
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That's a shame, I enjoy that species. Last time I visited the zoo was in summer 2018 so I don't remember if both were signed but I photographed both species.

~Thylo
 
Giant panda cub update:

The zoo are providing daily updates on their website of the cub's development. Here is the latest update: #PandaStory: Cub Day 5

The cub is making regular, loud vocalisations which are a sign of good health. Mei Xiang continues to provide excellent maternal care.

Previous updates give interesting comparisons of Mei Xiang's motherhood experience with this cub versus her previous cubs (from Day 2 update): "Mei Xiang and her newborn are getting into a good routine. Assistant curator Laurie Thompson observed that Mei Xiang seems to be able to get more rest with this cub. In previous years, Bao Bao and Bei Bei would vocalize when she attempted to lie down on her side."
 
NOVAElephantEnthusiast said:
Another panda cub update, but this time we have a really good look at the cub itself. It is growing so quick!

#PandaStory: Cub Day 6
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It's exciting to know they will soon be able to retrieve the cub to determine it's gender via a DNA swab. At least we know that Tian Tian is the sire; versus previous cubs, where another male had been used in AI.

It's also interesting to know that this cub was conceived following the use of only frozen sperm due to the Covid situation.
 
When I went on Wednesday there were "nobody home" signs up. The zoos lone gray wolf is 16, so it wouldn't shock me if she was having health issues or possibly have passed away.
 
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