Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2018

Woo at the Zoo: Andean Bears

 

Great explanatory feature into reproductive cues and embryonic diapause and how to determine Andean bears are in estrus or really pregnant. It is highlighted we know more about giant panda reproduction with that for Andean and sloth bear being the bare minimum. Hopefully, this will change and benefit better bear breeding and more cubs being born.

 

With the acquisition of five new elephants over the past five years, the social dynamics of the elephant herd at the Smithsonian National Zoo have changed to a certain extent.

Have the Calgary Girls (Kamala, Swarna, and Maharani) been fully integrated with the Smithsonian Girls (Bozie, Shanthi, and Ambika)?

If the Calgary Girls have not been integrated with the Smithsonian Girls, this is my follow up question.

Are the Calgary Girls (Kamala, Swarna, and Maharani) kept separate from the Smithsonian Girls (Bozie, Shanthi, and Ambika) because of confliction over hierarchy?

With the acquisition of Spike, the social dynamics have changed to a certain degree.

Will Spike ever share the same space with Bozie, Shanthi, and Ambika for socialization purposes or just with Kamala, Swarna, and Maharani as the only breeding aged female is Maharani?

 

I was there last week on a day they thought might be the last for them to be on exhibit. They did indeed breed that morning, but I was unable to see them on exhibit together before the separation due to their choice.

 

Nine flamingo chicks have hatched.

Cute animal alert! Nine flamingo chicks hatch at National Zoo.

The panda house is closed as they begin the count down to another cub or the end of Mei Xaing's pseudo pregnancy.

U.S. National Zoo closes panda habitat for possible pregnancy

 

Elephant yard 1 expansion:



Submission materials: https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects..._1_Expansion_Submission_Materials_Jul2018.pdf

Project synopsis: https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects...Yard_1_Expansion_Project_Synopsis_Jul2018.pdf

Supplemental Perimeter Fencing:

Submission materials: https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects...eter_Fencing_Submission_Materials_Jul2018.pdf



Project synopsis: https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects...erimeter_Fencing_Project_Synopsis_Jul2018.pdf

 

Two Golden Lion Tamarins Born at Smithsonian’s National Zo

 

Golden Lion Tamarin Infant Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/washing...thsonian-planning-for-permanent-security.html

Conneticut Avenue


Bus lot drop-off



Lower zoo



Edit: To anyone that isn't gonna read the article and just gonna look at the pictures:

 

Will there be any new exhibits by next summer? I'm going to the zoo next summer for my annual zoo trip.

 

There should be a new naked mole-rat exhibit later this summer, other than that, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

 

Giant Panda Mei Xiang Will Not Give Birth

 

As you might expect, the proposed security changes have been quite controversial. Here is a blog post by someone that is against (it includes a petition that you can sign if you yourself are against the proposed changes).

The National Zoo’s proposed fences and checkpoints are “security theater”

 

Went to the zoo yesterday, nothing really of note other than the zoo no longer has Przewalski's horses. They're still listed under the small mammal section on the website, but they were no where to be found yesterday.

 

I think you may be correct that their last one died. I saw a RIP post of a regular visitor on facebook and I could not remember how many of them they had left at the zoo.

 

I hope the zoo does not replace them and picks a smaller hoofstock species to replace them. The zoo does great work with the species SCBI, but the exhibit was not really ample.

 

What.

If you mean you want them to continue keeping them at SCBI and bring a new species to the zoo, I agree. Granted I doubt they would stop keeping them at SCBI anyway.

 

I meant that I hope the National Zoo does not replace the asian-wild horse in the exhibit because it was really not the best exhibit. Instead the zoo could plant the exhibit and bring in a smaller hoostock species such as pudu or tufted deer.

 

Personally I hope the still undeveloped hillside space near the elephants is used for wild horse, takin, Indian rhino, or some combination of them. I like the suggestion of tufted deer (already kept at SCBI) filling the old wild horse exhibit and I agree it would need modifications before they’re brought in.

 

Literally was just thinking that. Hopefully the zoo has some plans for that area in the future. I like Asia Trail, but I've always felt like it was missing something, that hill being filled in would help the area lot in my opinion.