Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2023

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Smaggledagle said:
The zoo also announced the Baltimore orioles' names, Adam Jones, Brooks Robinson, and Cal Ripken Jr.

❤️ With thousands of votes cast, our orchard oriole chicks have names meet Crabcake, Chessie, Charm, Harriet, Francis, Zappa and Thurgood! Thanks to everyone who helped us name these important chicks, including Maryland Governor Wes Moore. . . . ⚾ In choosing names for our three Baltimore oriole chicks, Governor Moore was inspired by Maryland’s own Major League Baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles! The first chick was named in honor of “Mr. Oriole” himself, former third baseman and Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson. The second chick’s moniker honors former shortstop and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. Governor Moore bestowed the name Adam Jones on the third chick, honoring the former outfielder and five-time MLB All-Star. . . . Learn more about all 10 chicks in this update from Sara Hallager, curator of Bird House! ✏️STORY:... - Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
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I could not stop laughing at those names given to those chicks! :p:p:p
 
So how have Nhi Linh and Trong Nhi been doing? I'm especially interested to see if there are any interactions between them and Spike.
 
tigris115 said:
So how have Nhi Linh and Trong Nhi been doing? I'm especially interested to see if there are any interactions between them and Spike.
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They have been fully introduced to Spike and actually share quite a bit of time with him even staying together overnight. No word as to if they've bred but I know they are not pregnant as of September. Apparently, if they don't get pregnant soon then they will be trained for AI specifically Trong Nhi as her age and birth interval could be troublesome if she does not get pregnant soon.
 
NOVAElephantEnthusiast said:
They have been fully introduced to Spike and actually share quite a bit of time with him even staying together overnight. No word as to if they've bred but I know they are not pregnant as of September. Apparently, if they don't get pregnant soon then they will be trained for AI specifically Trong Nhi as her age and birth interval could be troublesome if she does not get pregnant soon.
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Trong Nhi is only 19, and should be okay for the birth interval for at least a few more years. Elephants that have had calves before are more likely to give birth several years into the future. A great example is that Rasha at the Fort Worth Zoo went 15 years between her first and second calves, and was aged 42 when she had Belle in 2013. Back to Trong Nhi, I hope she and Spike can naturally breed successfully, as AI is very expensive.
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
Trong Nhi is only 19, and should be okay for the birth interval for at least a few more years. Elephants that have had calves before are more likely to give birth several years into the future. A great example is that Rasha at the Fort Worth Zoo went 15 years between her first and second calves, and was aged 42 when she had Belle in 2013. Back to Trong Nhi, I hope she and Spike can naturally breed successfully, as AI is very expensive.
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First of all, Trong Nhi is 20 (not that it makes much of a difference). Secondly, just because other females have given birth at such large birth intervals, doesn't mean every female will. We can't just generalize things like this because they are often on a case-by-case basis and we don't know all of Trong Nhi's reproductive details/history. That being said, I do agree with you in hoping for a pregnancy or two from Smithsonian in the near future. Also FWIW, Rasha had a calf in 2003 as well that didn't survive so she only went about 5 years between her first and second calves and 10 years between her 2nd and and 3rd calves, but I digress.
 
Visited the zoo for the first time since the pandas left during my trip to DC and Maryland, will be back tomorrow.
- The entire hill you were able to walk down to see the pandas at a closer view is now blocked off. It definitely felt absent, but maybe I’ll be able to see them next year in China. I’m pretty sure the northern snakehead fish are still there even though the area you used to be able to see them is blocked off, but I’m not positive.
- Couple changes in the Small Mammal House. Chiquita the tamandua has passed away from genetic health issues(not sure the details.) Cayenne was having some health issues so he was separated from Manny but he’s okay now. He is in Chiquita’s old exhibit, and Manny is still in his original exhibit. There is also now only one elderly Goeldi’s monkey since the other one died but the zoo plans to bring in another one because primates are social animals. The Goeldi’s monkey is in the exhibit next to its original exhibit with the screaming hairy armadillo while modifications are being done. It is possible the Goeldi’s monkey will return to its original exhibit, but maybe not because the keeper did say they wanted to get some new small mammals.
- The zoo hopes to start construction on remodeling the Africa Trail starting next fall. They are looking for other facilities to move the animals before the construction starts.
- In American Trail, one of the red wolves passed away. The zoo plans to bring in another one for the remaining elderly wolf. Also, the zoo plans on getting another bald eagle on exhibit. Currently, they have one bald eagle on exhibit and another one behind the scenes.
 
Some other pieces of recent news:
- Forgot to mention this but on my last visit the lesser kudu/Abyssinian ground hornbills are off exhibit while their habitat undergoes some renovations.
- Jamie, the zoos last pale-headed saki monkey, was recently euthanized at the ripe old age of 31.5 years old after years of declining health and recently taking a turn for the worse. A shame, I just saw him November 24 and he looked in good spirits, alert and doing his normal routine of eating and moving around. The zoo has been planning to get another saki monkey for many years and now hopefully they get two. Pistachio, the agouti that shared Jamie’s exhibit will soon move to a different exhibit where we hope he can have some company.
- According to the zoos Facebook page they have a new male sea lion named Nick who will be temporarily in DC while his habitat at the Denver Zoo is being renovated.
 
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