Zoo

From the National Zoo:

“This morning at about 11:40, a keeper heard a commotion from the Cheetah Conservation Station cheetah yard. When the keeper investigated, he found a white-tailed deer on the ground in the exhibit with cheetah siblings Carmelita and Justin. Sadly, the deer was dead. Zoo staff removed the deer from the exhibit by 11:54 a.m. A necropsy report will be conducted to ensure the deer didn’t carry any diseases. Our animal care team will also check the cheetahs, but all signs point to them being unharmed. There were no known witnesses to the incident, but it appears the deer jumped into the enclosure.”

“Dear PoPville,

No one who is familiar with Rock Creek Park and its deer population will find this surprising, but I thought these presumably wild deer having breakfast by the back entrance to the Zoo made for a wonderfully ironic picture.”

Photo: Abby Wood, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

From the National Zoo:

“Bao Bao is becoming a master at giant panda locomotion! She climbed up on the rockwork in Mei Xiang’s enclosure early Wednesday morning all by herself. She took a little tumble, but she was completely unhurt and Mei Xiang quickly came to her side. Undeterred by gravity, she soon was at it again and pulled herself back up on to the rockwork. Mei ended the climbing session shortly after her second successful attempt.

Wednesday keepers offered Bao Bao her first taste of juice. Since Bao Bao showed interest in the juice, they will likely use that as a reward during future training sessions with her.

Keepers have noticed that Mei Xiang may be ready to take Bao Bao outside. In the next week you may notice Mei Xiang and Bao Bao exploring different parts of the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat together – including Mei’s newly cub-proofed outdoor areas! But don’t rush to the Zoo to see the two of them quite yet. Bao Bao will not be visible to the public until January 18 (only FONZ members will be able to see her from January 11 to January 17). If Mei does choose to venture outside with Bao Bao, the panda team will close the area around the panda habitat to provide quiet for the bears. But panda cam viewers will still be able to see them on the cams.”

Photo: Abby Wood, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

From the National Zoo:

“Bao Bao had a busy day Friday! She was very active and spent the entire day in one of Mei Xiang’s large indoor enclosures. That was the first time she has spent an entire day outside of the den!

Keepers also weighed Bao Bao early Friday morning. She is now up to 13.2 pounds (6.26 kilos).

As Bao Bao’s teeth are starting to come in, she also occasionally bites down on bamboo. But she’s still nursing and won’t start to sample bamboo for another few months.

The keepers are laying the groundwork for training with Bao Bao. They reward her for moving or looking toward them when they interact with her. Right now her reward is a tiny evergreen branch or a tiny piece of bamboo to play with, but when she gets older she will get small treats for choosing to participate.”

From the National Zoo:

“We have the safety report on the Nov. 18 incident when a zebra seriously injured a veteran keeper. Gates were left unlocked (which is against protocol), allowing the zebra Gumu to enter the same space with the keeper. There were no engineering or mechanical failures, and the facility meets AZA standards.

Thanks to the heroic and quick-minded responses of staff and a volunteer keeper aide, the zebra was distracted and contained and the keeper was rescued from further injury. Gumu is fine. We continue to keep our colleague in our thoughts and wish him a speedy recovery.”

More details here.

Photo by Abby Wood, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

National Zoo got some great shots yesterday:

Photo by Abby Wood, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Couple more after the jump. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.

Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.

Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

Photo courtesy of the National Zoo

From the National Zoo:

“Today was another weigh-in day! The cub now weighs 10.8 pounds (4.9 kilos). And keepers have noticed that she is responding to the noises she hears. When the keepers enter the den to take her for weights and measurements, she orients herself toward them. They also have been talking more when they are around her, which they hope will make her more familiar with their voices. So far they have just been referring to her as “cub” or “baby,” but soon the cub will have a name!

Today is the last day to rock the vote for the cub’s name! Add your vote to the more than 115,000 votes that have already been cast. The cub’s name will be revealed at a ceremony on December 1, which will be open to the public.”

Ed. Note: I recommend jumping to the first minute :)