Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian's National Zoo News 2024

2 Pieces of February 2024 News Not Mentioned:

On February 4th, it was announced that the zoo will acquire a (1.0) bald eagle named Connick from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Florida in the near future*.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey

On February 17th, it was announced that the zoo acquired a (0.0.1) lesser hedgehog tenrec from The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Utah in 2023.

https://livingplanetaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/Annual-Report-2023.pdf

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Smaggledagle said:
On January 30th, the institute announced that the (3.2) cheetahs born on September 12th were temporarily named Back Shave, Left Hip Shave, Left Shoulder Shave, and Right Shoulder Shave, with another female cheetah being named Stripe. The institute also announced that Left Shoulder Shave and Right Shoulder Shave were sired by (1.0) Asante, while Back Shave, Left Hip Shave, and Stripe were sired by (1.0) Flash.

How Genomic Science Solved a Cheetah Paternity Mystery
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On April 8th, the institute announced that they renamed (0.2) cheetahs from Right Shoulder Shave and Stripe to Freya and Ojore**. The institute also announced they will potentially be transferring a (0.1) cheetah named Kuki in autumn to another unspecified facility.

#CheetahCubdate: Farewell to Echo and Her Feisty Cubs!

* Information partially given by @Kevin2342 on the Smithsonian National Zoo News 2023 thread (Page 14 Post #270).
** The institute was not specific on which names belong to which cheetahs, so I just wrote it alphabetically.
 
The Zoo has submitted plans for the renovation and renewal of Africa Trial (formerly the Cheetah Conservation Center) to the National Capital Planning Commission. The focus is entirely infrastructure improvements, most notably storm water management and behind the scene holding facilities.

Construction could start as soon as the end of 2024 if approved.

https://www.ncpc.gov/files/download.php?id=6433

This is a separate project from the Kudu/ Hornbill yard which is currently being renovated, but fits within the Zoo's goal of a revamped Africa Trail space.
 
Just visited the zoo, there were a couple interesting developments. In the small mammal house, three of the large exhibits surrounding the Meerkat exhibit are now empty, with two of them visibly under construction. One of them was the former Tamandua exhibit. Additionally in Amazonia, a relatively large new tank has been added to the right of the rainbow boa exhibit, probably about 7 x 3 x 2 feet in size. It's half filled and is probably still a few weeks/months to being opened. I have pictures, but I am not yet able to upload them here. Does anyone here know what the zoo plans to do with the large exhibits in the small mammal house? Additionally, do you know what animals the zoo plans to display in the new tank in Amazonia?
 
Does anyone have an idea yet about that construction near Great Cats? I know that most of the construction in the circle itself is purely infrastructure, but that field next to the exhibits sure is starting to look a bit like an exhibit of sorts.
 
TheGytrash said:
Does anyone have an idea yet about that construction near Great Cats? I know that most of the construction in the circle itself is purely infrastructure, but that field next to the exhibits sure is starting to look a bit like an exhibit of sorts.
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I was wondering the same thing. This is what I saw during my visit. This is about between the Great Cats and Think Tank.

full
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
The zoo's 0.1 Amur Tiger Nikita has moved to the Idaho Falls Zoo in Idaho.

It's OPENING DAY! We’re thrilled to announce the addition of a majestic new member to our family: a 12 year old Amur tiger named Nikita. She has a... | By Idaho Falls ZooFacebook
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Is the male Amur tiger still at the zoo? I don't get the chance to visit the zoo much and the past couple of times I've visited, I saw either the Amur or Sumatran females. I've been excited that they housed a male there again for a while but unsure what the statuses of their big cats are, what is there, and what they are planning for the future of the three species at their Great Cats exhibit. It stinks the artificial insemination wasn't successful.
 
JoeyC said:
Is the male Amur tiger still at the zoo? I don't get the chance to visit the zoo much and the past couple of times I've visited, I saw either the Amur or Sumatran females. I've been excited that they housed a male there again for a while but unsure what the statuses of their big cats are, what is there, and what they are planning for the future of the three species at their Great Cats exhibit. It stinks the artificial insemination wasn't successful.
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They still have 0.1 Sumatran Tiger Damai, 1.0 Amur Tiger Meitis, 2.0 African Lions Shaka and Jumbe and then 0.2 African Lions Amahle and Shera
 
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I wonder if they're going to be acquiring more lions? Is Shera gonna be all alone?

Or is it possible that this gradually shrinking big cat collection could be because of the ongoing renovations in the big cat area?
 
Some changes from my visit today.
- There is a female Komodo dragon named Marigold behind Reptile Discovery Center where the crocodile monitor used to live. The monitor unfortunately passed away from cancer a few months ago. The big male Komodo dragon, Murphy, is still in his typical exhibit next to Marigold.
- The zoo no longer keeps Southern tamandua. Unfortunately, both tamanduas died within the last month. Manny passed away first in early May from his age-related diabetes and he was the oldest southern tamandua in North America at 19 years old. Cayenne followed him two weeks later. Cayenne was not as old as Manny but still old at 10 years old, but he had severe heart issues going on for quite some time and he was in the hospital for two months before his death. However, the zoo is still committed to this species and hopes to bring them back in the near future.
- Basil the opossum is currently in one of the fennec fox exhibits while his is being renovated and the cotton-top tamarins are also in a different exhibit while theirs is being renovated.
-The following species were no-shows but still signed, does the zoo still keep them:
Red wolf
Collared brown lemur
Golden lion tamarin
Red-rumped agouti
Prevost’s squirrel
White-nosed coati
North American porcupine
Black-tailed prairie dog
Patagonian mara
Lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrec(exhibit was covered up)
Hawk-headed parrot
Red-footed tortoise
Lemur leaf frog
Ringed teal
 
Kevin2342 said:
-The following species were no-shows but still signed, does the zoo still keep them:
Red wolf
Collared brown lemur
Golden lion tamarin
Red-rumped agouti
Prevost’s squirrel
White-nosed coati
North American porcupine
Black-tailed prairie dog
Patagonian mara
Lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrec(exhibit was covered up)
Hawk-headed parrot
Red-footed tortoise
Lemur leaf frog
Ringed teal
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Bolded species were seen on my 05/07/2024 visit.

Also, where did you see Patagonian Maras signed? I didn't notice them being signed anywhere on said visit.
 
Astrotom3000 said:
Bolded species were seen on my 05/07/2024 visit.

Also, where did you see Patagonian Maras signed? I didn't notice them being signed anywhere on said visit.
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It’s near claws and paws, across from lemur island. That enclosure is kinda well hidden in the shade so it’s easy to miss. I didn’t even notice it until last year.
 
Astrotom3000 said:
Bolded species were seen on my 05/07/2024 visit.

Also, where did you see Patagonian Maras signed? I didn't notice them being signed anywhere on said visit.
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They're not even on the zoo map. It's the exhibit that used to be giant anteaters. I'm still hoping they'll bring that species back!

Also, so sad to hear about the tamanduas. Manny was one of my favorite animals at the zoo.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
The Zoo has submitted plans for the renovation and renewal of Africa Trial (formerly the Cheetah Conservation Center) to the National Capital Planning Commission. The focus is entirely infrastructure improvements, most notably storm water management and behind the scene holding facilities.

Construction could start as soon as the end of 2024 if approved.

https://www.ncpc.gov/files/download.php?id=6433

This is a separate project from the Kudu/ Hornbill yard which is currently being renovated, but fits within the Zoo's goal of a revamped Africa Trail space.
Click to expand...
Do you have any overall design plans for the revamp of the Africa Trail?
 
Kevin2342 said:
Some changes from my visit today.
tamanduas died within the last month. Manny passed away first in early May from his age-related diabetes and he was the oldest southern tamandua in North America at 19 years old. Cayenne followed him two weeks later. Cayenne was not as old as Manny but still old at 10 years old, but he had severe heart issues going on for quite some time and he was in the hospital for two months before his death. However, the zoo is still committed to this species and hopes to bring them back in the near future.
Click to expand...

What is your source about the passing of Cayenne, the southern tamandua? I had heard about Manny, but did not hear about Cayenne's passing yet.
 
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