Smithsonian National Zoo: Asian Elephants

 As with all modern zoos, to house Elephants has got to be a #1 priority.  Elephant habitats at accredited zoos probably have more requirements than any other mammal.  Where Elephants were once a mainstay of any zoo, today they are increasingly rare, and generally when you do encounter them, they live in august, multi-range spaces with state of the art healthcare and enrichment possibilities.  They also live in communities, ideally with multi-generational members.  

The National Zoo has been home to Asian Elephants since it first opened in 1889.  Over the years members have joined the herd as national gifts.  In 1961 India presented an Elephant to President Kennedy, and in 1976, Jimmy Carter received an Elephant from Sri Lanka. 

In the early 2000's the zoo began the process of overhauling its Elephant Hall into a state of the art LEED facility with all the necessary components to care for newborns.  The main building re-opened to the public in 2006, and the upgraded and completed exterior yards were finished by 2013.  At the time the zoo was home to 5 elderly females and the younger daughter of one.  Three of the old girls had spent time together at the same elephant orphanage on Sri Lanka before spending their younger years on various other adventures.  In 2018, Spike was transferred in from the Tulsa Zoo.  He had previously mated with the younger female while they had been at the Calgary Zoo.  Great hopes for another love match was in the wind, and while they enjoyed one another's company, no pregnancy resulted.

In 2022, a mother-daughter pair were transferred from the Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands.  In 2024, the younger female, Nhi Linh, became pregnant, and earlier this year gave birth to her first calf, Linh Mai.  At 12, Nhi Linh demonstrated a lack of mothering instincts and the decision was made to place the primary initial care of Lihn Mai in the hands of the keepers.  As she has grown more independent, one of the older females, Swarna, age 51, has stepped in and demonstrated "auntie" care giving instincts.  As I observed during this visit, Swarna clearly enjoys Linh Mai's proximity, but even as the Matriarch, she doesn't dote over her little charge the way a mother might.  I feel like Linh Mai is set to become a very independent elephant.

With the loss of some of the older girls, the present herd consists of 7 elephants.  On the day of my visit, Spike (45) and Nhi Linh (13) (were chilling in the side yard with the large swimming pool.  Maharani (36), Swarna (51) and Linh Mai (6 mo.) were in the barn, and then Swarna and Linh Mai transitioned to the side yard.   Finally, Bozie (51) and Trong Nhi (23) were in the Main Valley, the largest exterior habitat.  

NHI LINH and SPIKE

Nhi Linh and Spike in the Swimming Pool Yard.

MAHARANI, SWARNA & LINH MAI

Interior Elephant Barn.

Maharani, Linh Mai and Swarna

Parting pic of Maharani.  She's the largest by height and weight of the herd.

Linh Mai and Swarna in the side yard.

BOZIE & TRONG LINH 

Bozie

Bozie moves over to the pool in the Valley Yard.

Bozie and Trong Linh (background)

Trong Linh

Smithsonian National Zoo: American Trail

As far back as the late 1800's when the National Zoo set up shop at its current location, a pathway was established along the western flank of the park.  The main pathway was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of Urban communal landscape design with nothing short of Central Park in New York City on the top of his resume!  President Grover Cleveland signed the law establishing a "National Zoological Park" in Washington, DC to be located on 163 acres along a steeply sloping ridge above an oxbow curve on Rock Creek.  While the growing city bloomed on the plateau above, Frederick and his crew set about laying the foundation for the zoo. 

1910 Map of the National Zoo
from the National Archives

Zooming in on "Beaver Valley": 10 = Wolves, 8 = Bears,
9 = Sea Lions, and 13 = Beavers

The turn around was stunning, and less than two years later the initial thoroughfare of the zoo opened to the public in 1891.  Just west of the main promenade lay an even steeper slice down the backside of the hillside formed by a smaller creek, more like a seasonal run.  Paths were added and this area was christened Beaver Valley.  The year was 1898.  By 1910, it was well peppered with cages and enclosures of various sizes--none large by today's standards, and guests could encounter a range of North American fauna their over the years and decades that followed.  The 1910 map of the park indicates Bears, Wolves, Beavers and Sea Lions; and descriptions from other sources indicate that Elk, Puma, Bobcats, Prairie Dogs, a range of raptors, North American River Otters, and such called the place home. 

As time wore on, incremental changes were made mostly to repair existing infrastructure.  In the 1930 WPA era the area noted as home to wolves was replaced by a series of more naturalistic habitats with faux stone-like concrete walls and "cave" entrances to off-view holding areas, and moats to ensure the public could see the animals without bars.  An innovation first introduced in Hamburg, Germany in 1880's.  The wolves were replaced with Bears and Puma.  in 1976! what a long time to wait, a functional storm water system was retrofitted into the valley.  And just over 30 later, the Zoo green-lighted an ambitious redesign of the entire valley from just north of the WPA habitats to the very top which leads to a plaza on the edge of the Asian Elephant's largest yard.

The Price tag was an astonishing $41,000,000.00 and the timeline was 5 years.  The result, and they're still making up-grades on some of the smaller habitats; the largest and most amazing Sea Lion/Seal habitat I've ever seen.  The main tank with wave action mechanisms holds over 300,000 gallons of water, and the adjoining habitat holds about 180,000 gallons.  Generous natural water features enhance both the Beaver and North American Otter habitats.  An expanded woodland habitat is home to wolves again.  And there are a range of iconic fowl from Ravens, American Bald Eagles to Owls and lesser raptors with the inhabitants changing over time depending upon conservation needs and opportunities.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect is the fact that the entire renovation was built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards; state-of-the-art materials and functions that account for everything from sustainably sourced elements to embedded recycling and reusable practices.  Also, in optimizing the pathway they were able to transform a crazy incline into a more manageable meander.

CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS & GRAY SEALS

The first thing you encounter is a "cave".  Inside you view the California Sea Lions from underwater.  Above is an amphitheater from which you can experience Keeper Talks. 

To see them "fly" through the water you need only be patient and quick.

Quick because they are in constant zoomies modality.

As fate and timing would have it, three keepers were engaged in a chat with lots of amazing demonstrations.

The grandstand was full, so I retreated to the far end of the habitat were there is an underwater viewing area.

Patient...

...and, Quick!

In the adjacent habitat, the Gray Seals were soaking up the rays.

And demonstrating a little tender nuzzle to nuzzle communications.

BEAVERS & NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTERS

The Beaver habitat is also the largest I've ever seen at a zoo.  It consists of two pools with a faux dam in between.  

Initially you are at the lower pool, but you can walk up and around to the backside for a wonderful view of the upper pool.  And that's where the Beaver was today!

A little further along that upper path and you're looking down into the North American Otter habitat.  Generous of land area, but less so of aquatic.  It's not horrible, but no North American Otter habitat I've ever seen compares to the one at the Maryland Zoo.  I miss it.

The pair were both out and very active doing laps in the pool and investigating their dry land digs.  

Smithsonian National Zoo: Andean Spectacled Bears

 Bears are wonderful creatures.  Did you know that there are only 8 definitive species of Bear?  The Giant Panda is considered the furthest away from the median. The proto-species in the center belong to Polar Bears and Brown Bears.  The Andean Spectacled Bear is the next furthest out from the center after Giant Pandas.  Although it shares a characteristic with the American Black Bear, which sits next to the middle pairing.  Andean Bears are also excellent tree climbers!  Unlike American Black Bears, they take it to an extreme.  They actually build platforms up in trees for the purposes of eating and sleeping.  

Like all bears, they're curious and intelligent, and like most bears they're not aggressive.  However, in the wild they are Vulnerable to extinction thanks to their one and only predator: man.

The National Zoo has a very successful history of breeding with this species as does one of my favorite little zoos in Salisbury, Maryland; where they are currently creating a new $6,000,000 habitat to continue their participation in the Andean Spectacled Bear SSP with the AZA.  So excited for the Salisbury Zoo's initiative for this species.

At the National Zoo now are two new animals, a male and a female that are in the process of becoming acquainted.  There was a keeper present to offer information and answer questions.  I remember that the previous female, Brienne, was transferred to the Nashville Zoo for her "retirement" from the SSP program.  I can't recall what he said about the male.  I wish I had taken notes and written down their names.  I know the female is young.  The most recent incumbents were Quito and Brienne who birthed a pair of males, Ian and Sean in the autumn of 2022. 

On this very warm summer morning, the two new bears were out in adjoining WPA era habitats.  The only thing I wish they would do is add some faux tree climbing apparatus to give the bears an opportunity to hang out above the ground.

When you leave Amazonia the pathway leads directly to a pair of  circa 1930's habitats which are home to the zoo's Andean Bears.  It feels very out of the way, but it is home to a successful Species Survival Program breeding project with 4 cubs having been born since 2019.

The new Female Andean Spectacled Bear.

She is beautiful with the double cream colored "bat wing" markings on her brow.  The actual markings on the face of these bears act like finger prints for humans--every one is unique.

The male was hanging out next door.  He was clearly much larger than the female.

With the Keeper chat over, and the promise of treats gone, he quickly made up his mind to return to the quiet and cooler temps of his below habitat "cave".  I was very happy to be able to see and capture images of both.  Perhaps in another year, there will be some cubs to come and see.

Smithsonian National Zoo: Amazonia, Part 3 (Amphibian Conservation Lab)

 When you depart the interactive Amazon Rain-forest, you enter into a sort of lobby that leads you to the Amphibian Conservation Lab.  The vibe is pure Rain-forest Colonial Finca with high ceiling fans and stucco archways built off of solid square columns, and walls painted in soft by warm shades of yellow.  Besides the habitats full of Frogs and Toads and Newts and Salamanders, there are viewable "lab" areas with many other tanks and spaces for specialists to conduct research--although I don't think anything actually occurs there.   All around the spaces are interesting artifacts set up in curiosity cabinets, and on shelves and attached to the walls.  Everything from a beautifully taxidermied Jaguar to a Lepidopterist's field notebook and collection of Butterfly specimens in a glass faced box.  There's even an alcove with tanks that feature endangered Corals.  

Dyeing Poison Dart Frog

Cranwell's Horned Frog

Eastern Red-Spotted Newt

Gray Tree Frog (top)

and

Fowler's Toad (bottom)

Fowler's Toad

Panamanian Golden Poison Dart Frog

Blessed Poison Dart Frog

Brazilian Poison Dart Frog

A Lepadopetrist's Curiosity Cabinet.  

The Endangered Corals Alcove.