Zoo

“Panda or Pollock? Red panda Asa creates her own work of art.” via Smithsonian’s National Zoo

From the National Zoo written by Asia Trail keepers Nicole MacCorkle and Mariel Lally:

“Happy national panda day! Here at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Asia Trail exhibit, we are celebrating with giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, as well as our red panda pair, Asa and Jackie. We look forward to special days like these because they give us an opportunity to get extra creative with planning our animals’ activities for the day.

Much more panda awesomeness to see and read here.

courtesy Smithsonian’s National Zoo

From the National Zoo:

“Meet Coco! He is our new golden-headed lion tamarin. He arrived from the Fort Worth Zoo and is a companion for Bahia. Although golden-headed lion tamarins live in family groups and form life-long pair bonds, Coco and Bahia will not be a breeding pair. But you can still see them jumping from branch to branch, sharing food and vocalizing to each other, which helps maintain their pair bond. Visit them at the Small Mammal House!”

Ed. Note: Besides Giant Pandas and Red Pandas (not necessarily in that in order) – golden-headed lion tamarins are THE best. This is an official proclamation on January 9th 2020 by order of the Prince of Petworth. So it is written, so it is so.

“A clouded leopard cub at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.” courtesy Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Word of Mei Xiang not being pregnant was rough but this salves the wound a bit.

From the Smithsonian’s National Zoo:

“For the first time, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is home to rare clouded leopard cubs. The two cubs are the newest residents on the Zoo’s Asia Trail and will make their public debut Wednesday, Sept. 11. The Zoo has been home to adult clouded leopards since 2006.

The cubs are a male named Paitoon and a female named Jilian. They were born April 29 and March 24, respectively, at the Nashville Zoo. Visitors will be able to see them for short periods of time during the morning at the clouded leopard exhibit from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.

From the National Zoo:

“Reproductive scientists, veterinarians and animal keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute have determined that giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) will not give birth this year. She has been experiencing a pseudopregnancy over the past several months. (more…)