Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2023

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TheGytrash said:
They've now posted on social media about the new red wolves (as previously mentioned) and added a species page to the website. I haven't seen any announcement of their names, sexes, or where they acquired them from, though!

Sounds like they're both pretty elderly at 11 years old, which surprised me.

Facebook post from the zoo
Red wolf species page
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That means they're retired from the breeding program, so it's fine for them to be in an exhibit where they frequently see people.
 
Going back to a topic previously discussed on this page, does anyone here have any information about what the National Zoo is building in the area where the caracals and bobcats used to be (the area between the Great Cats and Think Tank exhibits)? It has been ongoing for some time, and the last time I went to the zoo it seemed like the blocked off area had expanded to include about 1/2 of the Great Cats pathway.
 
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I am also very curious about the former caracal/bobcat area.

But I think a big part of the blocked off pathway around the Great Cats area is about the infrastructure and pavement. Their neighborhood council minutes last year said, "In 2022, the Zoo is heavily investing in infrastructure repairs at its boiler plant, commissary, horticulture and maintenance buildings, as well as shoring up the public walkway at the Great Cats exhibit and several animal holding areas that are behind the scenes."

It wouldn't surprise me if they're still doing some of that. When I last went in April, I saw some open vents with a lot of steam coming out of them in that area. It seemed like there was something going on with the plumbing in the exhibit area.
 
Seems like the cleared area left a large area open for construction. You are probably right that infrastructure changes are a part of this, but by the looks of it this left enough space that it could fit one larger exhibit for a mid-sized species (up to the size of a leopard or a pygmy hippo or so) or two mid sized exhibits for smaller species (similar to what was there before). I wonder if one of those two ideas are what the zoo has in plan.

Andrew_NZP said:
A few small notes from my visit today.



They are indeed exhibited next to the slow loris. There were two of them.
Small Mammal House - Southern Lesser Galago

Small Mammal House - Southern Lesser Galago

March 17th, 2023

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.
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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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Sarus Crane said:
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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I doubt that the Amur Tigers would be brought into the Panda yards as the Panda Exhibit's indoor area does not seem to provide enough space for tigers. Unless they are going to make serious renovations to the area, perhaps they will add in another species of bear from a similar habitat into the exhibit (like the Moon Bear).
 
Vladimir Kovtun said:
Seems like the cleared area left a large area open for construction. You are probably right that infrastructure changes are a part of this, but by the looks of it this left enough space that it could fit one larger exhibit for a mid-sized species (up to the size of a leopard or a pygmy hippo or so) or two mid sized exhibits for smaller species (similar to what was there before). I wonder if one of those two ideas are what the zoo has in plan.
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Oh, I totally agree with that, I just meant specifically the closed-off part of the main circle (the third lion/tiger habitat) was probably more infrastructural. I'd be so curious to see what they're planning on adding to that cleared area! I feel like it either has to be a new exhibit or a new building for guests like restrooms or drinks or something.
 
Vladimir Kovtun said:
Seems like the cleared area left a large area open for construction. You are probably right that infrastructure changes are a part of this, but by the looks of it this left enough space that it could fit one larger exhibit for a mid-sized species (up to the size of a leopard or a pygmy hippo or so) or two mid sized exhibits for smaller species (similar to what was there before). I wonder if one of those two ideas are what the zoo has in plan.
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The cleared out space around the Great Cats is for a new HVAC system and upgrades utilities. There are no exhibits planned for that area.

The Great Flight Cage is set for a renovation this year, construction of a partially covered flamingo exhibit, and facility upgrades to Africa Trail later in 2023-24.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
The cleared out space around the Great Cats is for a new HVAC system and upgrades utilities. There are no exhibits planned for that area.

The Great Flight Cage is set for a renovation this year, construction of a partially covered flamingo exhibit, and facility upgrades to Africa Trail later in 2023-24.
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Interesting. It makes sense based on the neighborhood council minutes. Though perhaps it is a bit surprising that they needed to clear out such a large area just for a new HVAC system and infrastructure upgrades. However, there is one thing here that seem strange to me. For one the flamingo exhibit is not only open, but it just opened about two months ago. It seems a bit strange that they would close it again for renovations, when they could have just done those renovations as part of the general construction of the bird house and the surrounding area.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
The cleared out space around the Great Cats is for a new HVAC system and upgrades utilities. There are no exhibits planned for that area.

The Great Flight Cage is set for a renovation this year, construction of a partially covered flamingo exhibit, and facility upgrades to Africa Trail later in 2023-24.
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Additionally, when you say "facility upgrades" to Africa Trail, do you mean that the exhibit will just go through infrastructure renovation/modernization like what is happening around Great Cats, or that there actually will be changes to the species displayed within the exhibits there as rumored by some other commenters here? I'm asking because it seems like the space isn't really expandable, so outside of swapping a few species & adding a few new animals they cannot change much.
 
Vladimir Kovtun said:
Additionally, when you say "facility upgrades" to Africa Trail, do you mean that the exhibit will just go through infrastructure renovation/modernization like what is happening around Great Cats, or that there actually will be changes to the species displayed within the exhibits there as rumored by some other commenters here? I'm asking because it seems like the space isn't really expandable, so outside of swapping a few species & adding a few new animals they cannot change much.
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Only facility upgrades - stormwater management, new utility lines, new holding spaces, walkways, and guest wayfinding. No giraffes if that's what you're asking.
 
Vladimir Kovtun said:
Interesting. It makes sense based on the neighborhood council minutes. Though perhaps it is a bit surprising that they needed to clear out such a large area just for a new HVAC system and infrastructure upgrades. However, there is one thing here that seem strange to me. For one the flamingo exhibit is not only open, but it just opened about two months ago. It seems a bit strange that they would close it again for renovations, when they could have just done those renovations as part of the general construction of the bird house and the surrounding area.
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They're partially covering the exhibit due to the persistent threat of avian influenza. Bird House plans were approved years ago. Changes to any plans need to be approved by the National Capital Planning Commission which, like any approval, takes time.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
Only facility upgrades - stormwater management, new utility lines, new holding spaces, walkways, and guest wayfinding. No giraffes if that's what you're asking.
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I see.

About the giraffe comment, I wasn't asking about giraffes, but more about smaller species like gazelles or warthogs which are roughly the same size as the animals which are already exhibited there.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
Only facility upgrades - stormwater management, new utility lines, new holding spaces, walkways, and guest wayfinding. No giraffes if that's what you're asking.
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The exhibits will also be getting minor over halls (regrading and containment updates) so they will look a little different when all said and done. Species list is being talked about as well
but that would be because over half of what's housed there now are all loaners and belong to private holders.
 
TheGytrash said:
The baby gorilla has been named Zahra by popular vote!

EDIT: I am personally glad Lola didn't win, as cute a name as that would be, because there's a juvenile chimp at the nearby Maryland Zoo with the same name.
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Naming a gorilla the same name as a chimpanzee at a DIFFERENT zoo is totally okay, and wouldn't be that confusing either. The San Diego Zoo back in 2015 named their female Nile Hippo calf "Devi" despite already having an Asian Elephant with that name.
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
Naming a gorilla the same name as a chimpanzee at a DIFFERENT zoo is totally okay, and wouldn't be that confusing either. The San Diego Zoo back in 2015 named their female Nile Hippo calf "Devi" despite already having an Asian Elephant with that name.
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Oh, I don't think it'd be a bad decision for the zoo to do that, I'm just glad for my ability to keep them straight personally!
 
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