Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2017

A porcupette born this week will go on exhibit this weekend.

Credit for the photo goes to whoever at the zoo took it. I got it from their facebook.

 

Very cute looks like a squirrel north American?

 

Prehensile-tailed porcupine.

 

Smithsonian Scientists Track Endangered Bird Through its Annual Cycle for the First Time Ever

First Clouded Leopard Cub Produced with Cryopreserved Semen

The cub was born at Nashville zoo and they will be doing a facebook live interview with Dr. Heather Robertson, DVM tomorrow at noon on their facebook page.

 

Keeper Update: Orangutan Redd Has Four Teeth

 

I just uploaded several photos of the closed Bird House and Flight Cage, as well as the soon-to-close (apparently the closing date changed) Bird Plateau to the gallery. They can be used as comparison when Experience Migration opens.

 

In early February the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) released their tentative agenda for their March 2nd meeting.

https://www.ncpc.gov/DocumentDepot/Tentative_Agendas/TentativeAgenda_Current.pdf

In the above document there is a section labeled "Projects anticipated for review over the next six months". Under that are two zoo related projects, the Bird House renovation and the future parking garage. This means that hopefully by late summer, early fall we should know more about both projects.

The Bird House renovation is obviously what will become the future "Experience Migration" exhibit. You can read more about that here: Smithsonian’s National Zoo To Build “Experience Migration” Exhibition Dedicated to Migratory Birds

The parking garage project is exactly what you think it is. The zoo will be constructing a parking garage that will hopefully help with the zoos current parking problems. I don't know when construction will actually start, but I doubt it'll start this year. Based on what I've read the garage will have 1,300 spaces. The zoo currently has 859. There will be a bridge that takes visitors to a mid-zoo entry point. Lots A, B and D will be used for animal exhibits and/or visitor amenities. No clue about what will happen to lot E.

 

Bei Bei is now more or less separated from Mei Xiang (or will be soon, anyways). He lives in the 3rd (largest) yard but can apparently still climb over to see Mei Xiang. I suppose something temporary has been set up up to allow this.

Bei Bei becoming independent

 

Bao Bao is Settling into Her New Home
Smithsonian to Convene Earth Optimism Summit April 21–23
Spring Events at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

 

Smithsonian Study Reveals Tool-Using Sea Otters Not Closely Related

 

thank you

 

The Bird House renovation is listed as an action item for commissions April sixth meeting.

The parking garage project is still listed under "Projects anticipated for review over the next six months".

https://www.ncpc.gov/DocumentDepot/Tentative_Agendas/TentativeAgenda_Current.pdf

 

Bird House renovation project design (62 pages)

https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects/2017/7673_Project_Design_Apr2017.pdf

Project synopsis (25 pages)

https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects/2017/7673_Project_Synopsis_Apr2017.pdf

Project letter (1 page)

https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects/2017/7673_Project_Letter_Apr2017.pdf

Construction is scheduled to begin in October.

 

Twelve Cheetah Cubs Born at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

 

I recently visited the zoo and I saw that the old Giant Anteater exhibit is not going to be replaced not by Bush Dogs, but by Patagonian Cavy or Mara. This makes sense because Mara live in Patagonia, where they are used to living in the cold temperatures. Bush Dogs, however live deep in the jungles where they are not used to the cold winters of D.C.

 

Did you talk to someone at the zoo that told you this or are they already there?

 

Boo.

 

Yes, the sign was already there.

 

I am a little sad that Mara are going into the exhibit and not the bush dogs. Many zoos have mara and not many have bush dogs. In fact, I just checked the zoo site, they already have created the page for the rabbit-like rodent.
Patagonian Mara

 

Well that's disappointing. Would've been much cooler to see bush dogs. However this does bring back some memories for me of times I went to the zoo when I was little (these used to be kept next to the gibbons iirc).