Giant panda Mei Xiang courtesy Smithsonian’s National Zoo
From the National Zoo:
“A team of reproductive scientists, veterinarians and panda keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute performed an artificial insemination on giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) yesterday morning, March 22, at 9:45 a.m. (more…)
“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.
Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.
From the Smithsonian:
“As a public health precaution due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), all Smithsonian museums in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and in New York City, including the National Zoo, will temporarily close to the public starting Saturday, March 14. (more…)
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.
Connecticut and Cathedral Ave, NW
“Dear PoPville,
Saturday night’s shooting happened right in front of our building in Woodley Park. Our coop sent Mary Cheh, Jimmy DuBois (our ANC), and MPD District 2 Commander Duncan Bedlion the following letter. This is the most serious incident in recent memory, but it’s not the only problem we’ve seen with the District’s inexplicable lack of preparation for Zoolights year after year.” (more…)
Photo by Hanart Culture
From the National Zoo:
“Visit the Smithsonian’s National Zoo for its annual holiday lights festival, ZooLights, powered by Pepco. For this free event, half-a-million environmentally friendly LED lights will illuminate the Zoo for 31 nights–Nov. 29 through Jan. 1, 2020–from 5 to 9 p.m.
This year, guests can expect dazzling new attractions, including dozens of large animal lanterns all crafted in China. Pandas, monkeys, zebras, elephants and more will be beautifully lit from within. Also new is a dreamy art installation, Entre Les Rangs, from Montreal. Walk through this award-winning exhibit, a beautiful field of lights. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Victoria Pickering
From the National Zoo:
“Bei Bei, the 4-year-old giant panda, began his journey to China this morning. He departed the Smithsonian’s National Zoo at 9:30 a.m. for Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia where he boarded a dedicated FedEx 777F plane bound for Chengdu, China. The non-stop flight will take about 16 hours. Bei Bei’s departure from the Zoo was broadcast via Facebook Live, as was his departure from Dulles International Airport. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown
From WMATA:
“Metro will make it easy for riders to get to the Smithsonian National Zoo to say bye-bye to Bei Bei, the zoo’s beloved giant panda. Free shuttle buses will drop-off and pick-up customers at the zoo’s entrance while three Red Line stations (Cleveland Park, Woodley Park and Dupont Circle) are closed for major lighting upgrades this weekend. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown
From the Smithsonian’s National Zoo:
“Giant panda Bei Bei will depart the Smithsonian’s National Zoo for China Tuesday, Nov. 19. As part of the Zoo’s cooperative breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, all cubs born at the Zoo move to China when they are 4 years old. Bei Bei turned 4 Aug. 22. (more…)
“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…)