Zoo

Photo via Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Ed. Note: Porcupette is my new favorite word.

From the National Zoo:

“The Small Mammal House welcomed a prehensile-tailed porcupette yesterday afternoon! The baby appears to be doing well and is nursing. The porcupette will stay on exhibit with parents Bess and Clark for several months. We don’t know yet if our porcupette is a male or female.”

via Smithsonian’s National Zoo

From the National Zoo:

“For the first time in 25 years, we’re making room for an endangered Bornean orangutan baby! The 19-year-old parents to be, female Batang and male Kyle, bred in January. Batang is not due until mid-September, but keepers are already acclimating Batang to the experiences of motherhood and training her to care for an infant.

We announced Batang’s pregnancy through a Facebook Live broadcast of her ultrasound.”

Photo: Jacqueline Conrad, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

From Smithsonian’s National Zoo:

“For the first time in 32 years, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s American Trail team celebrated the arrival of a sea lion pup, born June 26 to 11-year-old mother Calli. Keepers watched the birth in an off-exhibit area and continue to closely monitor the pup, which appears to be nursing, moving and vocalizing well. Animal care staff are allowing Calli and pup time to bond, so it may be some time before keepers can determine the pup’s sex. This pup is the second for Calli and the first for 8-year-old father, Jetty. (more…)

Photo Credit: Rachel Rofino, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Well, my work is done here – goodnight.

From the National Zoo:

“Small Mammal House keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are celebrating the birth of three critically endangered red-ruffed lemurs born April 5 to 6-year-old mother Molly. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan recommended that Molly breed with the Zoo’s 7-year-old red-ruffed lemur brothers, Coronado and Cortez.

Animal care staff check the nest every day and have observed Molly nursing and carrying the babies, which appear to be healthy and strong. Zoo veterinarians will perform a complete physical exam on the lemurs and determine their sexes in the next few weeks. Keepers covered a portion of the enclosure glass with corrugated plastic to help the babies acclimate to their environment. Visitors can view all three adult red-ruffed lemurs and the babies in the Small Mammal House’s mixed-species exhibit. (more…)

via @NationalZoo

From the Smithsonian’s National Zoo:

“Our 6-week-old fennec fox kits have names! The male has been dubbed Teddy—short for Theodore—and the female is Hokees, which means “my love” in Armenian. Hokees appears to enjoy the addition of veggies to her diet.”

“Dear PoPville,

The National Zoo just posted a video of two itty bitty fennic fox kits during feeding time. It is the best.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Jennifer Williamson

To the animals of course I wish a speedy recovery but for the mental health of parents with small children – I really, really wish speedy recovery. In the meantime – to the Amazonia exhibit!! It’ll take “three consecutive weeks of negative test results” before the Kids’ Farm exhibit reopens.

From the National Zoo:

“The Smithsonian’s National Zoo has temporarily closed the Kids’ Farm exhibit because E. coli stx 1 gene bacteria was discovered in a few of the animals. The animals are now being managed under quarantine protocols. At this time, no staff have been affected and no animals are showing any signs of disease. While E. coli exists all around us, and even in us, some types of E. coli are “pathogenic,” meaning they can cause illness. (more…)

#BeiBei climbed up a tree this morning! And mamma bear Mei Xiang helped him climb back down #WeSaveSpecies pic.twitter.com/5rj03N923A

— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) February 8, 2016

From the National Zoo:

“After several attempts this morning, ‪#‎BeiBei‬ climbed up a tree! And mamma bear Mei Xiang helped him climb back down. ‪#‎WeSaveSpecies‬”