National Zoological Park (United States) facts for kids
Front entrance
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| Date opened | May 6, 1889 |
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| Location | 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Land area | Zoo: 163 acres (66 ha) SCBI: 3,200-acre (1,300 ha) |
| Coordinates | 38°55′52″N 77°02′59″W / 38.93111°N 77.04972°W |
| No. of animals | Zoo: 2,000 SCBI: 30–40 endangered species |
| No. of species | 400 |
| Annual visitors | 1.8 million (2019) |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Major exhibits | Amazonia, American Trail, Asia Trail, Bird House, Giant Panda Habitat, Great Ape House, Kids' Farm, Reptile Discovery Center, Small Mammal House, Think Tank |
The National Zoological Park, also known as the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. It is part of the famous Smithsonian Institution, and you can visit for free! The zoo opened in 1889. Its main goal is to help people connect with animals. It also works to save wildlife and their homes around the world.
The National Zoo has two main locations. One is a 163-acre park in Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C.. This part is close to the city center. The other location is the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia. This huge 3,200-acre campus is a special place. It trains wildlife experts and helps rare animals have babies, both naturally and with special help. The National Zoo is approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Together, the two places are home to about 2,700 animals from 390 different species. About one-fifth of these animals are in danger of disappearing forever. Most animals are on display at the Washington, D.C. campus. You can see birds, great apes, big cats, Asian elephants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic animals, and many more! The SCBI campus focuses on 30 to 40 endangered species at a time. The National Zoo was one of the first zoos to start scientific research programs. Since it's part of the Smithsonian, the zoo gets money from the government to help run things. In 2008, a new plan was made to improve the zoo's exhibits.
The National Zoo is open every day of the year except for December 25 (Christmas Day). It was closed for a while during the COVID-19 pandemic but reopened on May 21, 2021.
Contents
- History of the National Zoo
- The Zoo Today
- Zoo Exhibits
- Notable Animals
- Special Programs and Events
- Friends of the National Zoo
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
- Incidents at the Zoo
- Images for kids
- See also
History of the National Zoo
The zoo began in 1886 as a small animal department at the National Museum. On March 2, 1889, the U.S. Congress officially created the National Zoo. It was made "for the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people." In 1890, it became part of the Smithsonian Institution.
Three important people helped design the zoo. They were Samuel Langley, William Temple Hornaday, and Frederick Law Olmsted. Hornaday was the zoo's first director. He took care of 185 animals when the zoo first opened on May 6, 1889. They wanted the zoo to show animals to the public. They also wanted it to be a safe place for wildlife, like bison and beaver, that were disappearing.
For its first 50 years, the National Zoo mostly showed off one or two types of exotic animals. But then, many wild animal species started to disappear quickly. This was due to human activities. In 1899, a bighorn sheep was brought to the zoo by Charles "Buffalo" Jones. Zoo staff then began to focus on saving entire species. Many of these were popular zoo animals, like elephants and tigers.
Some exotic animals were given to the zoo by U.S. presidents. Often, these were gifts from leaders of other countries. Famous animals included Billy the pygmy hippopotamus. He is an ancestor to almost all pygmy hippos in American zoos. Another was Rebecca the raccoon, a pet of President Calvin Coolidge.
In the mid-1950s, the zoo hired its first full-time animal doctor. This showed how much they cared about animal health. In 1958, a group called Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) was started. This group helped the zoo get all its money from the Smithsonian. This made the zoo financially stronger. It allowed for new growth and improvements. FONZ also started education and volunteer programs. They raised millions of dollars each year for the zoo.
In the early 1960s, the zoo started focusing on breeding and studying animals that were in danger. In 1965, the zoo created a research division. This group studied how zoo animals reproduce, behave, and live. They wanted to learn how to best care for the animals.
In 1975, the zoo created the Conservation and Research Center (CRC). In 2010, it was renamed the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI). This name is also used for all the science work done at both zoo locations. At the 3,200-acre Virginia campus, rare animals live and breed. These include Mongolian wild horses and scimitar-horned oryx. SCBI now focuses on animal reproduction, genetics, and training conservation scientists.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–21, the zoo was closed for several months. This was done to keep everyone safe.
The Zoo Today
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The National Zoo has changed a lot. Animals now live in natural groups, not alone. Rare and endangered species, like golden lion tamarins and Sumatran tigers, are having babies. This shows how successful the zoo's conservation programs are. The zoo's research team studies animals both in the wild and at the zoo. They study how animals reproduce, their behavior, and how they live in their environment.
The National Zoo also has programs to teach students, teachers, and families about animals. They train wildlife experts from all over the world. This helps create a network to support conservation globally. The zoo uses online tools to reach people everywhere.
Future plans include making the zoo's buildings more modern. They also want to expand their education and research efforts. As part of a 10-year plan, Asia Trail was created. This area has habitats for seven Asian species. The Kids' Farm exhibit, which opened in 2004, will also stay open thanks to a donation. Elephant Trails, opened in 2013, is a new home for the zoo's Asian elephants.
The zoo is supported by taxes and is free to visit. It attracts about 2 million visitors each year.
National Zoological Park Police
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The US National Zoological Park Police (NZPP) are officers who work only at the National Zoo. They also work at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. This police force is one of the oldest in Washington, D.C. It was created in 1889.
NZPP officers are federal law enforcement officers. They have full police powers in Washington, D.C., and Virginia. They work closely with other police agencies to keep the zoo safe. They are the first people to respond in case of any emergency.
Zoo Exhibits
Asia Trail
This area opened in October 2006. It has exhibits with an Asian theme. Along with the former giant pandas, you can see sloth bears, fishing cats, red pandas, clouded leopards, and Asian small-clawed otters. Many animals in Asia Trail are listed as endangered.
David M. Rubenstein Giant Panda Habitat
The zoo's giant panda habitat has three outdoor areas. It also has an indoor area with rocks and a waterfall. This exhibit was made to look like the pandas' natural home. The habitat is currently empty. The zoo's pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cub Xiao Qi Ji, went back to China in November 2023. They were part of a special program to save the panda species.
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian were on loan from China. They had four cubs together through special breeding methods. Their first cub, Tai Shan, was born in 2005. Tai Shan now lives in China. In 2013, Mei Xiang gave birth to two cubs. One, a female named Bao Bao, survived. In 2015, Mei delivered two more cubs. The surviving male was named Bei Bei. Bei Bei also traveled to China in 2019. On August 21, 2020, Mei Xiang gave birth to a male cub named Xiao Qi Ji. She was the oldest giant panda in the U.S. to give birth at 22 years old. Xiao Qi Ji means "Little Miracle" in English.
Elephant Trails
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In 2008, the zoo started building Elephant Trails. This is a new home for its Asian elephants. The first part opened in 2010. It added a large barn and two new yards. One yard even has a pool! There is also a quarter-mile walkway through the woods. The total outdoor space for elephants is 1.9 acres.
Elephant Trails is a big program to save Asian elephants. It helps scientists care for elephants in zoos. It also helps save them in the wild. The old Elephant House was closed for renovations until 2013. It is now the Elephant Community Center. This indoor exhibit has many signs to teach visitors. Seven Asian elephants live at Elephant Trails. They are Spike (a male) and six females: Bozie, Kamala, Swarna, Maharani, Trong Nhi, and Nhi Linh.
Lemur Island
Lemur Island is an island surrounded by water. It is home to a group of male ring-tailed lemurs, collared brown lemurs, and black-and-white ruffed lemurs.
You can also see Uncle Beazley near the island. This is a fiberglass statue of a Triceratops. It was made for the 1964 New York World's Fair. The statue is named after a dinosaur in a children's book called The Enormous Egg.
The Small Mammal House
Most of the zoo's smaller mammals live in the Small Mammal House. You can see many different species here. These include golden lion tamarins, emperor tamarins, pale-headed saki monkeys, dwarf mongooses, chinchillas, two-toed sloths, fennec foxes, and naked mole rats.
A pair of white-nosed coatis live behind the building. Even though they are not mammals, you can also find Von der Decken's hornbills and a green aracari in this building.
American Trail
The American Trail exhibit shows many animals found in North America. These include California sea lions, grey seals, North American beavers, North American river otters, bald eagles, and common ravens.
The exhibit also has a cafe called Seal Rock Cafe. It offers food made from local and sustainable ingredients.
Great Ape House
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The Great Ape House opened in 1981. It has two main areas. One is home to six western lowland gorillas. The other houses seven orangutans. The orangutans can even travel between buildings! They use the "O-Line," which is a series of high cables. This lets them move above visitors.
Think Tank
The Think Tank helps visitors learn how animals think and learn. It opened in 1995. It has many interactive displays. These teach you how animal scientists study animals. The zoo's orangutans sometimes come here for demonstrations. Other animals kept here include land hermit crabs and brown rats.
Gibbon Ridge
Gibbon Ridge is an enclosure for four siamangs.
Great Cats
Great Cats opened in 1976. It has three separate areas. The zoo rotates four lions and three tigers between these exhibits. You can see Sumatran tigers and Siberian tigers here.
Africa Trail
This outdoor exhibit looks like the African savanna. It teaches visitors about cheetahs and how to save them. Other animals here include a Hartmann's mountain zebra, addaxes, Abyssinian ground hornbills, and ostrich.
Amazonia
Opened in 1992, this exhibit is a walk-through area. It has animals and plants from the Amazon basin. You can see freshwater stingrays, silver arowanas, yellow-spotted river turtles, arapaimas, and a two-toed sloth.
The Amazonia Science Gallery is downstairs. Here, you can learn about the zoo's work to protect species. Some animals on display include Panamanian golden frogs and many types of poison dart frogs. There is also a Coral Lab with corals, clownfish, and sea anemones.
The Electric Fishes Demonstration Lab has a five-foot-long electric eel. You can also see other electric fish like bluntnose knifefish.
The Reptile Discovery Center
The zoo's reptile house opened in 1931. It shows seventy species of reptiles and amphibians. These include Aldabra tortoises, Cuban crocodiles, a gharial, Japanese giant salamanders, eastern indigo snakes, Komodo dragons, and Philippine crocodiles. You can also see an American alligator named Wally.
The Bird House
The Bird House opened in 1928. It focuses on how birds migrate. It has three different aviaries, each showing a different habitat important for bird migrations. These include a marsh environment with shorebirds and a tropical environment with songbirds. Outside, you can see larger birds like kori bustards, sandhill cranes, and American flamingos.
Claws & Paws Pathway
This is the newest exhibit at the zoo. It is a small path with exhibits for binturongs, bobcats, Pallas's cats, and a North American porcupine.
The Kids' Farm
The Kids' Farm opened in 2004. It is made for children and has farm animals. You can see alpacas, hens, miniature Mediterranean donkeys, cows, pigs, and goats. There is also a small pond with koi fish.
American Bison Exhibit
The zoo opened a new American bison exhibit in 2014. This was part of their 125th-anniversary celebration. The exhibit has two female bison named Lucy and Gally. They came from the American Prairie in Montana.
Other Animals
Other animals at the zoo include spectacled bears, black-tailed prairie dogs, Przewalski's horses, Patagonian maras, and Bennett's wallabies.
Notable Animals
Smokey Bear
One of the most famous animals at the zoo was Smokey Bear. He was the "living symbol" of the cartoon character who taught people to prevent forest fires. He was a black bear cub rescued from a fire. Smokey lived at the zoo from 1950 until he died in 1976. Millions of people visited him. He even received up to 13,000 letters a week! The U.S. Post Office gave him his own special zip code.
Smokey Bear was "married" to Goldie Bear. They hoped to have a cub to continue the Smokey Bear name. When they didn't, an orphaned cub was added to their home. He was named "Little Smokey." In 1975, a ceremony was held to say goodbye to the original Smokey Bear. Little Smokey then became "Smokey Bear II."
Ham
Ham was the first great ape to go into space in 1961. This chimpanzee later retired to the National Zoo in 1963. He lived there for 17 years before moving to the North Carolina Zoo.
Giant Pandas
From 1972 to 2023, the zoo had a special exhibit for pandas.
In 1972, during President Richard Nixon's visit to China, the Chinese government gave two giant pandas to the U.S. These were Ling-Ling (female) and Hsing-Hsing (male). First Lady Pat Nixon welcomed them to the zoo. Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing were the first giant pandas in America. They were very popular. Ling-Ling died in 1992 and Hsing-Hsing in 1999. They had five cubs, but sadly, all of them died when they were very young.
A new pair of pandas, Mei Xiang (female) and Tian Tian (male), arrived in 2000. They were on loan from China. On July 9, 2005, a male panda cub was born. This was the first panda cub to survive at the zoo. It was born through special breeding methods. The cub was named Tai Shan ("Peaceful Mountain"). Tai Shan belonged to the Chinese government. He was sent to China in 2010 to join a panda conservation center.
In September 2012, Mei Xiang had another cub. Sadly, it died after about a week. Zoo officials hoped to learn more about panda breeding from this event.
In 2011, the zoo signed a new agreement with China. This extended the panda program for five more years. It showed both countries wanted to save the species. The agreement was extended again until 2023.
Mei Xiang gave birth to two cubs in August 2015. The smaller one died a few days later. The surviving cub was a male named Bei Bei ("precious treasure"). This name was chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama and China's First Lady Peng Liyuan.
Bao Bao, another cub, was healthy. She left the zoo in February 2017 to go to a panda center in China.
In August 2020, Mei Xiang gave birth to a male cub named Xiao Qi Ji. She was 22 years old, making her the oldest panda in the U.S. to give birth.
On November 8, 2023, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji left the zoo. They were flown back to China.
Special Programs and Events
The zoo holds fun events throughout the year. These events help raise money for animal care, conservation, and education.
- Woo at the Zoo – A Valentine's Day talk where animal experts share facts about animal dating and mating.
- Earth Day: Party for the Planet – Celebrate Earth Day and learn how to live in a more eco-friendly way.
- Easter Monday – A long-standing tradition with family activities and entertainment. It's a free event where you can learn about animals.
- Zoofari – An evening event with delicious food, music, and dancing. It features chefs from many D.C. restaurants.
- Brew at the Zoo – Guests can try different beers from local breweries.
- ZooFiesta – Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with music, dancers, crafts, and Latin American food.
- Rock-N-Roar – An event with live music, food, and special viewings of lions and tigers.
- Autumn Conservation Festival at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) – Meet scientists and learn about their research. You can even get a behind-the-scenes look at some endangered animals.
- Boo at the Zoo – Families with children can trick-or-treat at the zoo. There are animal encounters and festive decorations.
- Zoolights – The zoo's annual winter celebration. The zoo is covered with thousands of sparkling lights. There are special talks and live entertainment.
Friends of the National Zoo
Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) was a non-profit group. It worked with the National Zoo from 1958 to support wildlife conservation. FONZ helped with guest services, stores, and memberships. All money raised went to the zoo. FONZ memberships offered free parking and discounts. They also gave members a magazine called Wild.Life.
FONZ had 60,000 members and over 1,000 volunteers. They also offered birthday parties and day-camps. In 2021, the National Zoo ended its partnership with FONZ. FONZ then became a new organization called Conservation Nation.
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
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The Smithsonian started its Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in 2010. It is a big effort to save species around the world. It also trains future conservationists. SCBI is located in Front Royal, Virginia. It used to be called the National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center.
SCBI helps with research programs at Front Royal, the National Zoo, and other places globally. Its work helps the Smithsonian's goal to understand and protect Earth's diverse life.
Conservation biology is a science that believes saving different kinds of plants and animals is important. It helps people now and in the future.
The Institute has six main centers:
- Conservation Ecology Center (CEC): Helps save wildlife and their homes.
- Migratory Bird Center: Studies birds that travel long distances. They also look at how diseases affect bird populations.
- Center for Species Survival (CSS): Researches how animals reproduce. They want to make sure animal populations can survive in zoos and in the wild.
- Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics (CCEG): Uses genetics to understand and save different species.
- Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability (CBES): Teaches about conservation. It helps scientists, companies, and industries be more eco-friendly.
- Center for Wildlife Health and Husbandry Sciences: Makes sure every animal at the zoo is healthy and well-cared for.
Incidents at the Zoo
- In 2002, there were questions about how animal medical records were kept. The zoo's head veterinarian said the software was for sharing information, not legal documents.
- In January 2003, red pandas died after eating rat poison. This poison was put in their yard by a pest control company.
- In July 2003, a wild animal got into an exhibit and killed a bald eagle. Zoo officials believed it was a red fox.
- In 2005, a monkey died when two keepers accidentally closed a hydraulic door on it.
- In January 2005, a report looked into animal care at the zoo. It found that most animals were well cared for. It said the animal deaths that got attention were not signs of a bigger problem. The zoo then hired new animal doctors.
- In January 2006, an Asian elephant named Toni was humanely put to sleep. She was suffering from arthritis.
- In December 2006, a clouded leopard escaped from its exhibit because of a broken fence. It was safely recaptured.
- In May 2022, a wild red fox got into an enclosure. It killed 25 flamingos and a duck, and injured 3 other flamingos.
Images for kids
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Red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra)
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Golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia)
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A Komodo dragon at the Reptile Discovery Center
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Lesser kudus at the National Zoo
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A California sea lion underwater
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Pond sliders on a tree log at the zoo
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Chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) at the zoo's former Invertebrate Exhibit.
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Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
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Keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)
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Inside the Elephant House before transformation into Elephant Community Center.
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See also
- Perry Lions – the lion statues on the Taft Bridge
