National Zoo Asian Trail Exhibit Now Open
Just in time for a winter wandering, the Asia Trail at the National Zoo is now open. Feel free to gawk at the seven Asian species shivering in the cold:
- sloth bears
- fishing cats
- red pandas
- a Japanese giant salamander
- clouded leopards
- Asian small-clawed otters
- and giant pandas
No word yet on if the otters get to play with the salamander – I think that would be a short, but tasty play time.
The red panda wasn’t playing so much as pacing when this crowd checked him out last weekend. He looked like a mental ward patient, walking back and forth on a little raised ledge until he spotted a grapefruit. Then he was all about eating the fleshly fruit, a welcomed break to his confinement.
As you can tell, I worry about the larger animals in the zoo. Often they look more insane prisoners than happy-go-lucky exotic species. Yes, they live a long and pampered life, but would you want to live in a zoo?
The red panda was doing the same thing the last time I was there. EVERYONE in the crowd was talking about it. I found it very sad.
He’s probably scared for his life. The National Zoo is a dangerous place to be an animal and the red pandas were among the more notable fatalities, having died from eating rat poison.
Not to burst your bubble, but the Asia Trail has been open for months.
dc zoo is very cool – time to check it out again. pandas eat tons of bamboos. and there is a bird called happiness. and a bird that tries to sing but makes everyone laugh. and an elephant that recognizes its mirror image. oh no, that’s ny.