The National Zoological Park, commonly referred to as”the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. The zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution and does not cost admission. Established in 1889, its mission is to “provide engaging experiences with animals and create and share knowledge to save wildlife and habitats.”
The National Zoo has two campuses. The one is an area of 163 acres (66 square miles) urban park located in Rock Creek Park in Northwest Washington, D.C., Columbia, just 20 minutes from Washington‘s National Mall by MetroRail. The second area is the 3,200-acre (1,300 square miles) Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI, previously named the Conservation and Research Center), located in Front Royal, Virginia. The land is home to 180 tree species, over 850 species of herbaceous and woody plants and 40 grass species, and 37 species of bamboo. The SCBI is a non-public institution dedicated to educating wildlife experts in conservation biology and propagating rare species using natural methods and assisted reproduction. The National Zoo accredits it is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
The two facilities are home to around 2,700 animals belonging to 390 different species. Around one-fifth are threatened or endangered. The majority of species are displayed in Rock Creek Park. Rock Creek Park campus. The most well-known inhabitants include the giant pandas. However, the zoo is home to great apes, birds, large cats, Asian elephants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic mammals, smaller mammals, and others. The SCBI facility is home to around 30 to 40 threatened species present at any time, based on research needs and suggestions from the zoo and conservation community. The zoo was among the first institutions to launch an educational research program. Since it is a member of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Zoo gets federal funding to cover operating costs. An updated master plan for the Park was released in 2008 to improve the layout of the park’s exhibits and its layout. EZ Bed Bug Exterminator Washington DC
Exhibits
David M. Rubenstein Giant Panda Habitat
The Giant Panda Habitat has three outdoor areas, each with animal enrichment, an indoor area with an outcrop of sandstone, and a waterfall and viewing. The pandas in the zoo Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are loaned by the China Wildlife Conservation Association and will remain there until 2023. They are the subject of conservation research, research, and breeding programs that aim to protect the species. Pandas live in The David M. Rubenstein Giant Panda Habitat, a cutting-edge outdoor and indoor exhibit. The exhibit was designed to imitate the pandas’ rocky landscape, lush vegetation, and natural habitat.
Asia Trail
An exhibit focusing on Asia began in 2006. Alongside giant pandas, this area includes sloth bears, fisher cats, red pandas, clouded leopards, Asian small-clawed otters, and Asian elephants. In addition to the pandas, there is an exhibit originally used to house the Japanese giant salamander. The salamander is now home to a variety of Northern snakeheads.
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