Washington National Zoo: America's Panda Central!
The National Zoo, Washington DC's 163-acre zoological park set within the Rock Creek National Park, is one of the most comprehensive zoological parks in the nation, featuring more than 2,000 animals representing 400 diverse species. The National Zoo is a part of the Smithsonian Institution and admission is free – although parking does require payment. The National Zoological Park is a division of the Smithsonian Institution, which includes 18 museums and galleries, as well as the National Zoo.
The zoo is a large, complex and diverse organization with a comprehensive mission: demonstrate leadership in animal care, science, education and sustainability. Because of that mission, the zoo is much more than just a place where people can see wild animals.
Open to the public 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25), we are home to 2,000 individual animals of nearly 400 different species. Its best known residents are the giant pandas from China, Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and their cub, Tai Shan, one of the few offspring successfully born and raised in captivity and which will soon be leaving for its new home back in its native homeland.
The Zoo is a member of the American Public Gardens Association and serves as a research, conservation and education center for endangered species, boasting a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital and extensive research facilities. The zoo also maintains a 3,200-acre rural campus in Front Royal, Virginia, near Shenandoah National Park (closed to the public.) Zoo personnel are active in field stations in China, Gabon, Spain, Venezuela, Panama and Nova Scotia.
To view all of the animals and exhibits at the National Zoo takes several hours. Visitors should plan to utilize free maps available at the zoo entrance and plan ahead to ensure you don’t miss anything. Be prepared to walk a great deal, and dress appropriately for the weather. To avoid crowds, arrive early in the day or after 2 p.m. Weekdays are usually less crowded than weekends, and fall and winter are less crowded than spring and summer.
Special events occur often. Check the National Zoo web site before visiting to see details of the zoo's schedule.
Posted on May 9, 2012 by Jim Brown
