Washington, D.C. Zoo » Smithsonian National Zoo

Washington, D.C. Zoo
17-12-2007

The Washington D.C. Zoo, also known as the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, has made a bold claim on their website. Under the heading of future plans, they have a link to "strategic plans" that contains the announcement that they plan to be the best zoo in the world by 2016. Impressive statement to say the least. I've never been to the eastern seaboard of the United States, but there are countless zoos of note in the general area of the U.S. capital city. What is great about the National Zoo is that it is free for visitors, has over 2,000 animals, and its future plans are definitely worth a look for anyone who is a fan of zoos.

After years of controversy with several key animal deaths and the resignations of board members, the zoo announced (around 2003) an enormous influx of cash from the American government. After a couple of years of construction they opened a Wild Asia section in October 2006. It features giant pandas, sloth bears, red pandas, Japanese giant salamanders, clouded leopards, fishing cats and asian small-clawed otters. This entire project cost $53 million and on the Zoolex website there are lengthy and informative postings with all of the details of this section of the zoo.

Asian elephants are up next, and the zoo is currently under construction on a huge, 3-habitat enclosure for its pachyderms. Work will continue on the exhibits until its grand unveiling in 2011, and by then there will be a number of elephants added to the collection and more than likely a significant boost in attendance. The enclosure is to be called "Trail of the Elephants", and will have a winding, forested pathway that is an offshoot of the main 3 habitats. Their website has a lot of useful information in regards to what is planned for this project, and since it's still almost 4 years away from opening there will be plenty of buzz generated in the zoo community.

Many newspapers in North America have carried tiny articles on the progression of this zoo, and it is intriguing to note that attendance isn't the enormous concern as it is at practically every single other zoo on the planet. The U.S. government is more than happy to pour millions into new projects, and so if the trend continues then maybe by 2016 the Washington D.C. Zoo can call itself one of the leaders in its field.

Also: At the AZA (American Zoo and Aquarium Association) Awards for 2006 the Wild Asia section at the Washington Zoo won second place for Best New Exhibit. The winner was the $20 million "Big Cat Falls" at the Philadelphia Zoo, which has snow leopards, lions, tigers, jaguars and cougars in a series of connected exhibits.

17-12-2007

what a coincidence, Zoolex, has just uploaded 7 presentations of the new asia trail.

17-12-2007

Please where to be finding..?

18-12-2007

NZ Jeremy: go to the National Zoo's main website, click on "About Us", then scroll down to "future plans". From there a ton of information opens up, including "strategic plans" that inform the viewer about new enclosures, and carry a lot on the upcoming elephant trails. There are also some annual reports that can be viewed. Best Zoo in the World by 2016 is the announced goal.

18-12-2007

Great, thank you...

I should have gone to their site...Lazy...

20-05-2008

Smithsonian To Unveil New National Zoo Master Plan - News Story - WRC | Washington

The National Zoo has already made it a public goal to be the "world's best zoo by 2016". I suppose that a brand new master plan will allow it to take another step in that direction.

20-05-2008

National Zoo Facilities Master Plan - National Zoo| FONZ

Here's a link to a page on the zoo's website with a link of a document that shows the possible scenarios that the masterplan may take. I hope they will also announce what new exhibits will be part of the new masterplan. They plan to tear down the Great Ape House and Tiger/Lion Complex...I wonder how they will be incorporated in the new plan.

You know snowleopard makes a point of the zoo's ambition to be the world's greatest zoo that I find humorous...which from what I have noticed in Americans zoos... Whenever some zoo announces a new masterplan, almost every single one claims the same or similar ambition to be the "greatest" in some form. At some point, someone is going to have to try and claim the title.

Greatest Zoo ?
20-05-2008

As much as Washington DCs National Zoo is not a bad zoo as far as zoos go , they will have a heck of a job to transform themselves into the undisputed greatest zoo of the world ..... and as we have all discovered on the forum , exactly what makes a zoo better than any other ? Its not comparing apples to apples .
At their current position , I find their title as "National " Zoo overrated , and when I visited the zoo ( albeit quite a few years ago ) I did not think the zoo was any better than Houston Zoo , and certainly not up to the level of San Diego Zoo ( although it was way ahead of San Franciscos Zoo ) In fact , my view of the zoo at the time was "mediocre"

I havent been to Bronx Zoo or Cincinnatti Zoo , Miami Metro Zoo or Toronto Zoo , Chester or any zoo in Europe , but I wouldnt be surprised if there is a lot of competition for Washington DCs zoo for being the worlds greatest zoo

If they want to claim to be the best zoo in housing the largest number of species , the zoo will need to acquire tons more land to do so . If they claim to be the best by being the best designed zoo , they will need to revamp the whole zoo every 6 months to keep the title of the worlds "best/greatest" zoo .

As much as I am all for sensible zoo redevelopment ( especially if it benefits the animals , and keeper safety ) I get a little jaded when a zoo uses the title of best/greatest zoo

20-05-2008

The National Zoo has a lot of unique exhibits that cant really be matched in other zoos.

Amazonia
This indoor rainforest at the lower end of the zoo is more of a greenhouse than fauna exhibition. The main focus of this building is the large river aquarium that houses the largest arapaima that I've ever seen...(I havent seen to many, and those I've seen were rather small in comparsion to the lengths they can reach). There is also a "research station" that houses many small animals in 20-50 gallon aquarium tanks. On the second story is a walkway that takes you through the canopy with many free-flying birds, small monkeys, and hidden sloths. At the end of the tour is a gallery full of information regarding the Smithsonians research in the Neotropics. This is probably the finest and most realistic of all the American indoor rainforests.

Think Thank
A truely education exhibit design to exhibit animal behavior. The coolest part of this exhibit is the O-line. A series of cable wires and tall structures between the Think Tank building and the Great Ape House that allow the orangutans to transverse between the two buildings above the visitor walkways.

The zoo also has an exceptional avian collection and an excellent small mammal house with lots of diversity.

20-05-2008

huge arapaimas ? Choice ! Now that IS something !
thanks for your last thread .

may the zoo keep up this sort of exhibits/upgrades .... it sounds like I will need to revisit -- if/when I get back to DC .

20-05-2008

I seem to remember the Smithsonian has a large off exhibit collection with heaps of land somewhere...

21-05-2008

@NZ Jeremy: they do indeed have a large off-exhibit area, and at that site they've produced ove 70 clouded leopard cubs! Impressive.

@Nigel: there are a pair of massive arapaimas at the Vancouver Aquaruim that are amazing to see. They actually are one of my favourite tanks there, as it's in the amazon section and the temperature is cranked up so it's nice and warm for us chilly Canadians.

To all: I should be hitting Washington, D.C. around the last few days of July, and will then post a review of the zoo shortly thereafter. I'm particularly looking forward to the $53 million Wild Asia set of exhibits, and I'm sure that the zoo has improved considerably since Nigel visited many years ago.

21-05-2008

Smithsonian’s plans for National Zoo include aerial tram, more parking - Examiner.com

Here's another post on the master plan, and much of it revolves around visitor amenities like parking, a central plaza, and an aerial tram. It states that the Great Ape House is going to be demolished, but doesn't say what will happen to the apes. Again there is a reference to being "the world's best zoo by 2016". Interesting...

02-08-2008

It appears that the zoo is designing a new migratory bird exhibit...a renovation of their current flight cage? or a new addition to beaver creek?

Migratory Bird Exhibit - Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center - National Zoo| FONZ

24-08-2008

There are now over 250 photos in the gallery of the National Zoo, including a ton of shots of the orangutan o-line.