The last couple of times I have visited the zoo I saw 4 female elephants together - I think Ambika, Shanthi, Bozie and possibly Swarna. Hopefully the whole herd can be integrated soon. Some sad elephant news as it appears that Kamala's granddaughter Sumitra (also Kandula's half sibling) has passed away in Zoo Ostrava. On a happier note, the DC snowpocalypse seems to suit Tian Tian the panda just fine! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viu1UgZ7gwM
CBS did a report about the zoo during the blizzard. How the National Zoo in Washington kept animals safe during the winter storm - CBS News You have to disable ad blocker to watch the video though because $.
MALE PRZEWALSKI’S HORSE DIES AT SMITHSONIAN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY INSTITUTE Press Release - National Zoo| FONZ
He eats! Zoo says baby panda Bei Bei is eating solid foods https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ays-baby-panda-bei-bei-is-eating-solid-foods/
The zoo posted some cool videos today so if you're interested, here they are. Bei Bei goes outside https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f7ep11jEiI Great Apes Receive Flu Vaccines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNsUjZsQoz4 SCBI Researchers Discover Widespread Malaria Parasite in White-Tailed Deer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6wN4OD6gZI Researchers Discover Widespread Malaria Parasite in White-Tailed Deer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sct-bW4JQ90
The Fiscal year 2017 budget request is in. The zoos section starts on page 76. Sorry for the long post. http://www.si.edu/content/pdf/about/FY2017-BudgetRequest.pdf Highlights: The zoos collection (Rock creek only) went from 1,768 to 2,083 animals. New animals brought in/births: "a screaming hairy armadillo and tamandua — both education/program animals; four Allen’s swamp monkeys and three Schmidt’s red-tailed monkeys on exhibit at the Zoo’s Think Tank; four ring-tailed lemurs on exhibit at Lemur Island; gibbon and gorilla females for breeding; two spectacled bear births and a male sea lion for breeding." (Maybe the volunteer was wrong when she said the zoo brought in black and white ruffed lemurs as this document says ring tailed.) The zoos bird collection went down as the zoo prepares to start the construction of "Experience Migration". The zoos fish collection went up dramatically. Including 32 new species "as the Amazonia pool populations are revitalized." "During FY 2015, NZP completed a digital signs pilot program throughout the Park. Digital signs accomplish multiple goals, one of which is to provide an early warning system for events that need to be communicated quickly, such as adverse weather conditions, an escaped animal, or other security incidents in the Park. On a daily basis, digital signs help provide visitors with maps of exhibits and facilities, schedules of activities such as keeper demonstrations, and more in-depth information about the animal collection. The digital sign pilot program was successful and, as funds become available, we will continue permanent installations of this new signage." "In FY 2016, NZP is launching a revamped website using new technology that will be more mobile friendly, allow for easier updating of content, and enable us to leverage the interest in our site with a deeper engagement." My excitement when I first read this. http://gifsec.com/wp-content/upload...-when-my-crush-finally-texts-me-back.gif?gs=a "FY 2016 will mark the completion of the North Road/General Services Building (GSB) project, utility upgrades at the Front Royal campus, and safety upgrades, including the planning and design for a safer circulation pattern at the lower part of the Rock Creek campus, as well as the planning for needed upgrades to restrooms. Although mostly invisible to the visiting public, these infrastructure improvements are important building blocks for the NZP master plan. " "The next planned public-facing exhibit renovation is of the historic 1928 Bird House and surrounding plateau, which will turn the facility into an educational celebration of birds and bird migration. FY 2016 will mark the completion of the design phase for this first-of-its-kind zoo attraction that immerses visitors in birds’ miraculous annual journeys. It will engage visitors directly in NZP’s worldrenowned and pioneering research led by scientists at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, while also inspiring the public to participate in protecting migratory birds and their shrinking habitats. It was an NZP scientist, along with more than 20 other conservation organizations, who developed The State of the Birds 2014 — the most comprehensive review of long-term trend data for U.S. birds ever conducted. The report finds bird populations declining across several key habitats and includes a “watch list” of bird species in need of immediate conservation help. This exhibit is essential to tell that important story" "Planning a Zoo renovation is a major undertaking that must ensure the safety of the existing live collection while expanding the number and variety of the species on exhibit. In FY 2016, the collection will be transferred to a suitable location so that construction can safely begin." "NZP has been tightly focused on safety as well as security. NZP was a leader in the AZA move to ensure protected contact for all interactions with elephants and has been developing and sharing its protocols for working with dangerous carnivores, including lock-out protocols and two-person rules. A study was performed for visitor safety needs — with a particular emphasis on the human-animal interface. The barrier around the lion/tiger exhibit was identified as the highest priority for improvement and work was completed in that area. FY 2016 will see improvements in the barriers for the Great Apes exhibit, with additional improvements in other areas to follow. " This explains the work being done on the Gorilla and Orangutan exhibits.
Darn, you got me excited. I saw tamandua by "births", but then concluded it meant new animal brought in. And yes, the zoo has both ring tailed and black and white ruffed lemurs now.
The zoo has shared a post on its Facebook page that sadly Shanti is experiencing mobility issues due to progressive arthritis which has resulted in damage to her nails. Really hoping this isn't a post foreshadowing disclaimer of a possible euthanization to come...
Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone who is more familiar with her, but i believe she is 40. Which, when elephants pass is advertised as "old" for an elephant but I'm critical of this and find Asian elephants don't necessarily fit the bill of "old/geriatric" unit late 40's mid 50's but like humans, there is a margin for exception and variations upon individuals.
I start to consider elephants to be old when they are 50, since they have been known to live to 70. I really really hope that Shanthis foot problems get fixed or healed and she doesn't die since she is just really an amazing elephant with a great personality and I loved watching her when I went to SNZ late 2015. but also for like all the other reasons to like so anti zoo groups don't say anything and yeah
Maybe its just the weather and she'll turn a corner after it has warmed up for a while. I want to give her a hot pack on each foot now, I hope she feels better.
In case some people have no clue what you're talking about. Someone asked how the zoo will prevent similar problems from occurring to their other elephants.
