Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2023

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Cat-Man said:
What hoofstock were housed there previously?
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The site that the panda house sits on used to be the delicate hoofstock building, before it was reconfigured for pandas in the 1970s. It was pretty similar to the cheetah conservation center in design and layout. From an article in IZY, it says that the "delicate hoofstock building" held kudu, sable, scimitar-horned oryx, and Dorcas gazelle, while the "hardy hoofstock building" had llama, P. horse, cape buffalo, and wildebeest.
 
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Does the zoo still have chameleon on display by any chance? I looked through my photos from 2021 and didn't see any chameleon exhibits, though I swear I photographed one at some point, if not in this zoo then elsewhere...
 
StoppableSan said:
Does the zoo still have chameleon on display by any chance? I looked through my photos from 2021 and didn't see any chameleon exhibits, though I swear I photographed one at some point, if not in this zoo then elsewhere...
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There were none on display on my most recent visit, but they definitely did at one point. The website does list Meller's chameleon but I can't remember the last time I saw any.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
The Zoo has submitted plans to the National Capitol Planning Commission on its anticipated kudu and hornbill yard renovations. This is part of the Zoo's overall renovation to the Cheetah Conservation Station (now Africa Trail). A new hornbill barn will be installed, as well as new fencing, grading, and landscaping.

Agenda & Materials
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I hope everyone interested in zoo design takes a look at this and sees what they have to go through just to add a shed and cut down a few trees.
 
TinoPup said:
I hope everyone interested in zoo design takes a look at this and sees what they have to go through just to add a shed and cut down a few trees.
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Dreams crushed for some folks I'm sure ;)

Granted the National Zoo has extra hoops to jump through being a federal facility, but the point still stands. Speculating or wishing a zoo would do grand plans for this or that rarely aligns with reality.
 
TheGytrash said:
In this case, though I think it's less NIMBY involvement but approval for federal funds and the red tape associated. The National Zoo is a special case when it comes to renovation and stuff. Federal construction takes a looooong time.
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Especially considering the Bird House closed in 2018 and reopened in 2023, and how long the Elephant Trails renovation took place...
 
I’m just reading about Smokey the bear. When did the my stop keeping black bears in DC?
 
I know that "Little Smokey" or "Smokey II," who officially took over Smokey Bear's duties (yes, they had a retirement ceremony for the original Smokey) died in 1990. I first visited the zoo in 1997 and although I was quite young at the time, I am pretty sure there were no black bears-- but there was signage about Smokey Bear and his legacy at the zoo.
 
I attended the "Panda Palooza" farewell event today. In case you are curious what it was like, it's always a treat to see the pandas and other animals, but it mostly just felt like a normal visit to the zoo (albeit really crowded and with a few extra photo ops).

The specialty panda cookies and coffee drink were sold out (there were a few panda themed ice cream treats available, but those were the only food specials), the scavenger hunt sheets ran out before my group got one, I did witness some live music but it was so loud I couldn't even get close enough to see the performers, and there was apparently a dance party near the bottom of the hill that ended before we made it down there, but other than that, it sounds like the only other special panda-themed thing was screenings of a documentary in the visitor center. The zoo was so crowded that the line to see the pandas reached down past the elephant house and the line to get into the ape house stretched down to the reptile house.

I'm still really glad I went-- despite the crowds and warm weather, the animals were really active and I got to see most of them, including all 4 Andean bears being really playful-- but in case you were wondering what the panda-themed party was like, I don't think you missed a huge amount!
 
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