Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2017

Got it. One more thing, on the other news post, you guys said the north American river otters passed away. I think. Didn't really look hard enough. Well, a volunteer told me that the otters were just moved. Or was he trying to cover up something. Either way, the mustelids will be coming back this year. Don't know when, but at least they're coming back.

 

BTW, Mustelids = Weasels, Otters, Minks, Stoats, Badgers.

 

A read that it passed away. A sign on the exhibit said that the species would return in 2017.

 

Thank you.

 

Where I am right now, it's snowing! Hope the zoo releases a video about it. I could just see it now: Bei Bei's First Snow Day!

 

If the snow reaches DC

 

I don't think Bei Bei has been allowed to go outside recently after his tummy surgery. He may miss out on winter this year. But if it's like last year, they will bring snow into his inside exhibit.

 

Last time I went to the zoo on Dec. 30, the Cheetah and Grevy's Zebra enclosures were closed off for what I believe is wall construction. I have noticed that one of the Cheetahs was looking at the zebra like chow time. Are they still doing construction? Are the cheetahs and zebras still blocked off?

 

As of January 2nd, the zebra and cheetahs are still blocked off.

 

The nonbreeding male Guam kingfisher at the bird house passed away on January 7th at the ripe old age of 17.

 

An article on New York Times about the male kingfisher death
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/01/10/us/politics/ap-dc-national-zoo-rare-bird-dies.html?_r=0

 

The zoo posted on Instagram that the baby orangutan Redd, is learning how to climb and separate his body from mother Batang.

 

The oscar fish in Amazonia have reproduced, all offspring (and parents) are on exhibit.

 

I wonder how much money the zoo produced for their Electric Fishes Demonstration Lab campaign, because in early December when I checked to see the total money, it just disappeared. The last thing I saw was about $19000 or $20000.

 

They reached 100k. The exhibit should open later this year, probably sometime during the fall.

 

They're aiming for November, but considering the design isn't done (it may not have even started yet) it could vary. The exhibit will also include some other South American Gymnotiformes.

 

They did say it would be a mix species exhibit.

Do you know the species? I know they have some at the zoo, would it just be those?

 

The only species I know of they're keeping there is the Electric Eel.

 

I thought they had black ghost knifefish, I know they did early last year.

 

I'm not sure. I don't even know if all the species currently on exhibit in that area will remain, but I doubt it.

The zoo already has a species of knifefish on exhibit. Sternarchorhynchus retzeri, Retzer's elephant-nose knifefish.