Today I was filled with child-like joy! Going to the National Zoo while in DC to see pandas was on my MUST DO list. I was going to see pandas!!!
Barry was a bit startled when I planned our itinerary for the week and included the zoo. When I told him that the National Zoo in Washington, DC was part of the Smithsonian network, therefore, admission was FREE, AND there were pandas here, he acquiesced to the idea. It worked out well planning both for the best weather and when we needed a break from all the museums. Barry was ready for this fun day. We knew from previous animal experiences that animals are typically most active first thing in the morning, so we made sure we got to the zoo right when it opened.
The National Zoo became home for Chinese pandas when Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing arrived in 1972 as a gift from the people of the People’s Republic of China to the people of the United States of America. (Thanks to First Lady Patricia Nixon.) Unlike Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, the later panda arrivals have instead been on loan to the US.
It was delightful watching the playfulness of these pandas.
When only one of you wants to play…
Inside feasting…includes a crisp red apple.
And of course MORE bamboo!
Getting a little full?
I never heard of the red panda. Looks more like a red raccoon to me! Just not as adorable as the Giant Panda. They are not related, but the red panda does eat bamboo. The Chinese call the red panda hun-ho, meaning fire fox. That makes more sense to me.
Very limited viewing:
Asian Elephants
Elephant Facts:
Even elephants get age spots! LOL
Meet Spike – a bull elephant at the National Zoo. He is the tallest elephant and the only one with tusks. He was born in 1981 at the Miami MetroZoo. In 1992 Spike moved to the Calgary Zoo. Before coming to the National Zoo, he spent four years at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. When Spike came to the National Zoo in 2017, he was reunited with the same three elephants he had lived with at the Calgary Zoo! You can see Spike’s age spots in the pictures below. 🙂
Southern Tamandua, an arboreal anteater. (Native to South America)
Brush-tailed Bettong (Native to Australia)
Saw a SAND CAT (although not from a great angle – LOL). Sand cats live in desert or dry arid areas within Africa and Asia. Crazy thing about them is they can seem invisible since their foot pads are covered in fur, they leave no prints. The fur is necessary to keep their paw pads from burning in the high 125 degree desert heat.
Did you know…
The WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA
The orangutans are provided a set of 50-foot suspended cables that cross over the public walkways. When the orangutans appear, park rangers block off the walkway, and you will see why in the following videos!
Snakes…There was quite a display of snakes, but I’m choosing to just show a few.
Iranian Leopard Gecko: Amazing how well it blends into the environment! These can grow to about a foot long. The shape of their tail fgives them the alternate name of Iranian fat-tailed gecko. They are noctocturnal and eat insects and smaller geckos.
Shingleback Skink – also known as pinecone lizards. Makes total sense! These are one of the few lizards that mate with the same partner every year. They can go several weeks without food because they store fat in their short, stumpy tails. Skinks have blue tongues (although this one never showed his).
European Glass Lizard – Believe it or not this is NOT a snake! Unlike snakes, this lizard has outside ear openings and eyes that blink. I would not be close enough to look for either of those details! It gets its name from its ability to “shatter” its tail (like glass) into several pieces. The tail eventually grows back.
This guy kept coming over near us. It was really cool. We stayed still watching for quite some time.
It was time to leave the zoo and head back into the city. I’m so glad we came here today!!
On our way out…looks like someone wants IN. Reminds me of the kids book, Put Me In the Zoo!
We experienced our steepest subway to street level escalator today. Unfortunately, I don’t think these pictures give the full effect. It was quite impressive.
Next blog: Ford’s Theatre and the Assassination of President Lincoln.