Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2019

New at the Zoo: Amur Tiger Nikita

What Are Orangutans Thinking?

Training Swarna for Tooth Radiographs

Exploring Peru’s Wilderness From the Air

 

Because of a new policy by the Smithsonian, you can now host your own private event at the zoo.

Host an Event at the Zoo

According to this article by the Washington Post, you can even the rent the entire zoo if you want too, for the low price of $150,000.

 

Imagine going to visit a zoo, and then you show up at the gate to find out it's closed because some jackhole rented out the entire place for a day.

~Thylo

 

I missed this when I first read the presentation, but according to it the Smithsonian plans on updating the zoos current master plan soonish.

 

Well there are enough circumstances when zoos announce that they will close early for a special (private) event or their own fund-raising gala.

 

Very true. I was more making a joke out of it. I would imagine it'd cost quite a pretty penny to rent these zoo spaces.

~Thylo

 

Three Animals Die at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Second Kiwi Chick Hatches at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute This Year

 

Did the idea of building a parking garage so they could turn a parking lot into more zoo exhibit space for giraffes, rhinos, etc. go away? I remember there was some action on that last year. Also, what is going on with building a new elephant space for bull elephants? Is that still in the plan?

 

Especially sad for the loss of their main oryx.

 

The plans for the garage fell through. I believe it was deemed too expensive, and they would likely never get their money back. I presume the garage plan will be reviewed again once the master plan is updated.

Based on this, it seems the 'bull exhibit' turned into an expansion of 1st yard for a slightly expanded space, and an elephant enrichment/training area. As far as i'm aware this was approved. I haven't been to the zoo in a few months, so I have no clue if they started this, and for all I know it could totally be done now.

 

This is the natural order of things really. He - bull Rohit - seems to have been killed in a fight with a younger suitor and probably a new male will take over soon (pending also some AZA recommendations to that effect).

One of the other losses - a male whooping crane Alta was also quite notable. He was an important breeding partner for the recovery program and 3 chicks of his still reside at SCBI. Other chicks have become part of the release program already. He was only recently moved to the Front Royal site in mid December 2018 with his partner.

The 32-year old male died way past his prime and leaves his current female partner without a mate. The Center has 11 other birds in the newly opened center.

BTW: On December 16, 2018 the new Whooping Crane breeding complex opened. One pair was transferred from the NZP site and the other 5 mated pairs were transported from the Patuxent breeding center.

 

NCPC Approves Revised National Zoo Perimeter Fence Plans

The rest of the article is about the other projects (not related to the zoo) they reviewed at the meeting, if you care at all about those.

 

Guess I didn't pay enough attention to anything after the first line.

 

The naked mole rat queen gave birth to a litter of seven.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wa...938c82-43bb-11e9-8aab-95b8d80a1e4f_story.html

 

Per the zoos Facebook:

 

Are Izzy and Mo are still there?

 

Yes.

 

Asian Small-Clawed Otter Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo

 

One of the female wallabies behind the Small Mammal house has a joey that's starting to stick its head out out of her pouch.

 

From the zoos Facebook: