Zoo

Photo: Jessie Cohen/Smithsonian’s National Zoo

From Change.org:

“The Smithsonian Institution—the world’s largest museum and research complex—includes the National Zoological Park, 19 museums and galleries, and nine research facilities around the world. This Petition arises from a recent announcement made by the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park.

On Monday, June 15, 2014, the National Zoo issued this press release, announcing the public had exactly six days to visit the Invertebrate House before it would close permanently.

Public reaction has not been favorable. One article reporting on the closing stated this:

“Having the nation’s zoo suddenly and with little public warning close a long-standing exhibit is unprecedented. Public comments on the Museum’s Facebook page are overwhelmingly shocked and negative, including some from volunteers that work at the Zoo.”


Wired’s Gwen Pearson spoke with Zoo Director Dennis Kelly, who said the Zoo plans to open a “Hall of Biodiversity” in 20 years (!) in which invertebrates may or may not be exhibited live. Meanwhile, no plans have even been made for the empty space occupied by the Invertebrate House, and Pearson reports “the building space the Invertebrate exhibit occupied will remain empty for the foreseeable future; the only plans are to clean the facility up.”


The Zoo recently completed a $52 million renovation of the Elephant House, and another $53 million project to house pandas. These investments promote two species, albeit highly visible and popular ones, while invertebrates make up 97% of all described species on earth, according to Pearson’s article.

Over two million people visit the National Zoo each year. Long-time visitors have fond and educational memories of their visits to the Invertebrate House, which exhibits cuttlefish, octopi, blue crabs, anemones, orb-weaving spiders, honeybees, leaf-cutter ants, and butterflies, among many other species. (more…)

Photo: Jessie Cohen/Smithsonian’s National Zoo

From the National Zoo:

“The Smithsonian’s National Zoo Invertebrate Exhibit, home to dozens of small aquatic and terrestrial species without backbones, will close to the public Sunday, June 22. The last day to visit the Invertebrate House is Saturday, June 21.

“This difficult decision is not a reflection of the importance of invertebrates or how we feel about them,” said Dennis Kelly, Zoo director. “The exhibit has been a hidden gem cared for by passionate and expert staff. But this was a necessary decision for the financial and operational health of our organization.”

Closing the Invertebrate Exhibit permits the Zoo to reallocate funding, staff and resources to other areas of the Zoo that need attention. With overall costs escalating, the Zoo must adapt its activities and programs to live within its existing budget while continuing excellent animal care and planning for the future. (more…)

Photo: Janice Sveda, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

From the National Zoo:

“SCBI Front Royal welcomed a clouded leopard cub April 10! Clouded leopards are rare in the wild and difficult to breed in zoos.

Adult males can become very aggressive towards adult females during breeding, but the late SCBI scientist JoGayle Howard found a way to keep the peace. She discovered that if males and females were paired together at a very young age they have a much better chance of breeding successfully.”

From the National Zoo:

“Watch the lion cub swim tests from this morning! As you’ll see each cub had a slightly different reaction to the water, but all passed and will be on exhibit in a few weeks!

Naba’s two older cubs will be on exhibit starting Friday afternoon!”

Photo by Abby Wood,Smithsonian’s National Zoo

From the National Zoo:

” It’s been a busy few weeks at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat. Bao Bao is now going outside with Mei Xiang regularly in the morning. She has been busy exploring, and Smithsonian Channel captured her first attempt at climbing a tree. Now she climbs high in the trees in Mei Xiang’s yard without any hesitation, which is exactly what giant panda cubs would do in the wild. As with any new climber, she’s had a few falls, but panda cubs are built to withstand them and Bao Bao is no exception. In addition to the keepers, Mei also has an ever watchful eye on her cub and is always ready to help if Bao Bao needs her. Part of going outside is learning to come back inside. But Bao Bao has not quite mastered shifting back inside at the end of the day. Sometimes she follows Mei straight inside and other times she chooses to stay up in the trees.

Bao Bao may not be shifting inside like an adult panda yet, but she started tasting more foods aside from sweet potato. Keepers have started giving her mini fruitsicles—small versions of the frozen fruit-filled treats Mei Xiang and Tian Tian recieve. Bao Bao enjoys them, but so does Mei. She usually helps Bao Bao finish the last bites of her fruitsicles.

The panda house will be closed Wednesday, April 23, but pandas will be outside in the morning and early afternoon as usual.”

From the National Zoo:

“Last week, keepers started introductions between Shera and Naba’s cubs! Keepers watch these interactions closely in the event that the cubs need to be separated. Fortunately, everyone has been getting along fine.”

Photo: Connor Mallon, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

From the National Zoo:

“It’s a great big world outside and soon it will have a little Bao Bao in it! Seven-month-old Bao Bao will have access to her mother Mei Xiang’s larger yard this week beginning each day around 8 a.m., weather depending. Bao Bao will be given the option to explore outside with her mother if the temperature is at least 35 degrees Fahrenheit with no precipitation. Although Bao Bao will have the option to go outside, she may decide to stay inside the panda house. It may take several weeks before Bao Bao is venturing outside with Mei Xiang regularly.

In preparation for Bao Bao’s outdoor debut, keepers have cub-proofed the giant panda yards. Giant pandas are very adept climbers, and cubs especially spend time climbing trees. The trees in Mei Xiang’s yard have been collared, and some tree limbs have been trimmed for Bao Bao’s safety. Keepers have placed bales of hay around the grotto and yard to cushion any potential falls.”