Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2023

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Kevin2342 said:
The website shows the sitatunga is no longer on exhibit. Did he already move to another facility or he died?
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I believe the sitatunga already moved, but don't quote me on that. They were already off-exhibit when I went in late April, but there was a photo of one posted here in early April, so whatever happened, it must have been last month.

The zoo already has a farewell event planned for the pandas as mentioned here, so I don't think they are planning on getting the loan extended at all.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
It will not be extended. It's been stated in numerous Zoo press releases and news articles that both pairs plus the cub will return at the end of the lease which expires this year.

https://www.npr.org/local/305/2020/...-national-zoo-will-move-back-to-china-in-2023
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The article clearly states that “plans are in the air” for Xiao Qi Ji, so he might stay in DC for an additional year until he turns 4 years old, so don’t assume that he will leave the same time as his parents.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Billie Jean (Spectacled bear) transfers to Cape May County Zoo:

South American bear comes to Cape May County Zoo
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Wow, I really wasn't expecting that. She's been at the Smithsonian for so long. But she wasn't on exhibit when I went in late April-- Quito, Brienne, and the cubs were-- so perhaps they were already preparing her for the move. I guess there won't be as much room for her as the little ones start spending more time out on exhibit.

Interesting note: the article talks about how she's been very valuable to the breeding efforts of Andean bears. It's worth noting that almost all currently breeding pairs of Andean bears in AZA zoos in the USA have at least one bear that's descended from Billie Jean. Nicole at the Queens Zoo, Chaska at Salisbury, Alba at the San Diego Zoo, and of course Brienne herself. (And Muniri at Nashville, who doesn't have any kids yet, but he does seem to be in a breeding pair!)
 
Kevin2342 said:
The pandas are expecting to leave at the end of this year, but in the past the loan has been extended three times, so it’s very possible they will extend it again…
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Kevin2342 said:
The article clearly states that “plans are in the air” for Xiao Qi Ji, so he might stay in DC for an additional year until he turns 4 years old, so don’t assume that he will leave the same time as his parents.
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No, he won't.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Female Spectacled bear transfers to Cape May County Zoo:

South American bear comes to Cape May County Zoo

Billie Jean, a 17-year-old spectacled bear, arrived at the zoo May 8, county officials said Wednesday in a news release.

The bear's reproductive years have passed, Ernst said, and she is coming to Cape May County to retire.
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A passing of an era, really! I do hope they spay her (if they haven't done so already), the next time she's due for a knock down though, polymetra is nothing to joke about and it would be an absolute shame if she ended up getting it again.
 
TheGytrash said:
I believe the sitatunga already moved, but don't quote me on that. They were already off-exhibit when I went in late April, but there was a photo of one posted here in early April, so whatever happened, it must have been last month.

The zoo already has a farewell event planned for the pandas as mentioned here, so I don't think they are planning on getting the loan extended at all.
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I posted that photo. Waylon, the sitatunga was my special favorite animal in the Africa Trail section of the zoo. He was always so eager to go inside at the end of the day but so patient about it. He would just walk around his shift door and wait patiently to be let in, but would never be a fuss and start banging on the door or anything like some animals would. He was so calm and gentle and laid-back. I’m glad I got to see him one last time. Do you know what facility he got sent to?

Also it was mentioned the cheetahs would return to Front Royal, VA but a keeper told me after the Africa Trail closes they will renovate the whole area and bring back African species in the future. They are not sure what they will bring back, but the keeper said definitely cheetahs. So dont worry, even when the current cheetahs leave for the renovation, the zoo does still plan to exhibit cheetahs in the future.
 
Kevin2342 said:
I posted that photo. Waylon, the sitatunga was my special favorite animal in the Africa Trail section of the zoo. He was always so eager to go inside at the end of the day but so patient about it. He would just walk around his shift door and wait patiently to be let in, but would never be a fuss and start banging on the door or anything like some animals would. He was so calm and gentle and laid-back. I’m glad I got to see him one last time. Do you know what facility he got sent to?

Also it was mentioned the cheetahs would return to Front Royal, VA but a keeper told me after the Africa Trail closes they will renovate the whole area and bring back African species in the future. They are not sure what they will bring back, but the keeper said definitely cheetahs. So dont worry, even when the current cheetahs leave for the renovation, the zoo does still plan to exhibit cheetahs in the future.
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Update: I just emailed the zoo, and they said that Waylon the sitatunga is now at Audubon Species Survival Center for a breeding recommendation in New Orleans, LA. I’ve known him at the Smithsonian for a long time and will sure miss him there, but I am happy for his next chapter and I’m sure he will get the same great care at his new home.
 
TheGytrash said:
Wow, I really wasn't expecting that. She's been at the Smithsonian for so long. But she wasn't on exhibit when I went in late April-- Quito, Brienne, and the cubs were-- so perhaps they were already preparing her for the move. I guess there won't be as much room for her as the little ones start spending more time out on exhibit.

Interesting note: the article talks about how she's been very valuable to the breeding efforts of Andean bears. It's worth noting that almost all currently breeding pairs of Andean bears in AZA zoos in the USA have at least one bear that's descended from Billie Jean. Nicole at the Queens Zoo, Chaska at Salisbury, Alba at the San Diego Zoo, and of course Brienne herself. (And Muniri at Nashville, who doesn't have any kids yet, but he does seem to be in a breeding pair!)
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This is so interesting! How are Nicole and Alba related? Are they half-sister. They’re two of my favorite Andean bears
 
Smaggledagle said:
On October 6th, it was announced that the zoo acquired a (1.0) maned wolf named Niko from the John Ball Zoo in Michigan.

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Andrew_NZP said:
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.
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Did both maned wolves (Nikko and Quito) pass away?
 
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