Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2017

Zoo has North American River otters on American trail again. Will post link when I'm home.

Edit: North American river otter

 

• An update on Bouba, the new male Andean bear. They missed the breeding window this year so the two Andean bears will be kept separated. However, that doesn't stop the female's interest in him as she keeps looking over into his exhibit. Apparently, Bouba is not the first candidate to breed with Billie Jean, the zoo's female. He's more of a back up and there as surplus as the Queens Zoo didn't have room for him with their female and new cub. The zoo is supposed to get one or two male Andean bears from an European zoo to breed with Billie Jean. I almost feel something is in the works for the Salisbury Zoo, who has Chaska, a female offspring of Billie Jean.
• The glass enclosed sloth bear enclosure has been closed off for about 9 months or so and their lone female has not had access to it. Yesterday was her first day back there (she's been in the bigger, open air exhibit before now) and they built a small cave in it.
• The cheetah yards are now completed with new barriers around them. I miss the days of them being open air exhibits, but luckily the mesh is still wide enough to put your lens through an opening.

 

Do you know what prompted them to start making these changes? I understand why they're making them, but I don't really remember anything in particular that happened that made them start making them.

Also according to the FY 18 budget request the zoo is making similar changes to the panda exhibit, which is (in my opinion) unfortunate.

 

I think these changes happened last year after the incident at the Cincinnati Zoo. Although the big cats barriers may have been up before then. I think it's mostly for safety, but it's a disadvantage for photographers. I'm hoping they change their minds and leave the panda exhibits alone. I feel they would really ruin the look of the exhibits.

 

Reading the Hormones

 

Smithsonian Scientists Develop Free Tool To Better Understand How Animals Use Their Home Ranges

Endangered Kiwi Chick Hatches at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

 

Elderly Red-Fronted Lemur Dies at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

In Search of a Three-Ounce Bundle of Panda

 

Another article about the Sumatran tiger-cub :

‘Boy!’… This Sumatran Tiger Cub Is Adorable

 

Five mara pups were born earlier this month.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10155597543062902

 

Where do the cavys live in the zoo? I don't recall seeing them.

 

Old giant anteater exhibit.

 

Endangered Przewalski’s Horse Dies at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

 

Vote to Name Our Two Scimitar-horned Oryx Calves at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Instiute

National Zoo on Twitter

 

The panda house is closed as they wait to see if Mei Xiang is pregnant.

Is the National Zoo’s giant panda pregnant? Could be, the zoo says.

 

Sumatran Tiger Cub Update: Supplemental Feeding

 

First-ever Screaming Hairy Armadillo Pups Born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo

 

A PUPdate on Sea Lion Catalina and Gray Seal Birdie

 

Here's a video about the zoo creating a beak for their Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Karl.

 

two red-rumped agoutis were born on August 31.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

 

Dama Gazelle Calf Born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo