patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Smithsonian's National Zoo

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Elephant Mail Accepted Through March 11

What advice would you give to an elephant moving into a new home? The national zoo's elephants are all ears.

It's not easy to move into a new home. It's tough for everyone, and elephants—who are known for their ability to remember things—are no exception. The Smithsonian's National Zoo is asking kids to help the zoo's elephants get adjusted to their new Elephant Community Center, which opens to the public on March 23. The new elephant center will give the elephants "ample space for socializing, training and playing, and [will give] visitors the chance to get an up-close view of these incredible animals," according to a zoo statement. The zoo and Washingtonian magazine invite elementary school-aged students in the Washington, DC region to write letters to the elephants on one of the following topics and mail them to Washingtonian, according to a …

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Flamingo Chick Hatches at the National Zoo

The latest arrival to the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo is white and fluffy, but it will be pink soon.

  One of the newest additions at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo is a flamingo chick. According to zoo officials, the chick hatched on July 29, and its gender is still unknown. The zoo's flock of 63 birds normally produces 15 fertile eggs each breeding season, zoo officials said. This year, however, the flock had irregular mating patterns—which produced only six eggs. Then, because of improper nesting environments, only one egg remained. Bird House keepers are raising the chick by hand. They feed the chick a formula that mimics crop milk and "flamingo pellets," which help turn the chick's feathers pink. The chick will join the flock in the outdoor flamingo exhibit within the next few months. Zoo visitors will be able to …

Got a Hot Tip?
 
 

Videos