Smithsonian National Zoo: Parting shots

 On my way down the hill I stopped to buy a pretzel.  Slathered it in mustard and reflected on the visit.  Anytime you visit a zoo you will never know what you will see and what you won't.  If you go expecting anything, and especially something iconic--like Giant Panda's or a certain Baby Asian Elephant calf; you may very well be disappointed.  You must always remember that you are a guest in their homes.  

On the upper region of the zoo, there is a longstanding hill with a circular trail around it.  It, along with another smaller adjacent area on the lower side has formed the heart of African Animals at the zoo.   This is an area that has been under renovation now for over a year.  Most recently home to a major Cheetah habitat, along with homes for Griffon Vultures, Addra Gazelles, Sitatunga, Lesser Kudu, Oryx, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, and Grevy's Zebra.  

Over the privacy fence, you can get a sense of what the new habitats and holding structures will look like.  Of what I could see thrilled me.  Besides it's flagship public facility here at the National Zoo, the Smithsonian National Zoo also has a very large campus in nearby Virginia where it homes several Endangered species like Cheetahs, Oryx, Addra Gazelles, Przewalski's Horses, and others.  It's not open the public.  But it is where much of the actual work of breeding and transferring animals between zoos to ensure genetic diversity and thus the survival of critically endangered species occurs.  Similar satellite facilities are associate with other Zoos like the San Diego Zoo, the Columbus (OH) Zoo, the Pittsburgh Zoo, et. al.

Leaving the zoo the road passes by the opposite side of this renovation.  A similar privacy fence was in place, but you could still clearly see both holding buildings with the same design and lots more of the stylized shade umbrellas.  

Finally, reaching the bottom of the hill and visiting the Great Cat habitats, I found both Lions and Tigers napping away the warm, humid afternoon.  

For many years, a Dynasty of Lions held court at the National Zoo.  In recent years, the Alpha male and female have died.  The present Pride is clearly in flux.