Top 10 Interesting Facts about the National Zoological Park in Washington

Smithsonian National Zoological Park – elephant house. The photo was taken by Abraham – Wikimedia Common

Top 10 Interesting Facts about the National Zoological Park in Washington

 The oldest yet the most diverse zoo in the United States is the National Zoological Park. The National Zoological Park comes under the Smithsonian Institution.

The National Zoo is much famed, thanks to the natives of this zoo. This zoo houses more than 1800 animal species including the giant pandas, African lion pride, Asian elephants, and many others.

Whether you are an animal lover or you’re not, this place is a must-visit to find these cute animals happily living in their natural habitat. The Zoological Park has many other amusing things as well, to make your visit worth the fun.

1. It is famously known as National Zoo and happens to be one of the oldest zoos in the United States.

The national zoological park was covered with snow but closed due to the government shutdown (weep…). The photo was taken by pelican from Tokyo, Japan – Wikimedia Commons

The National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution and does not charge admission.

Founded in 1889, its mission is to “provide engaging experiences with animals and create and share knowledge to save wildlife and habitats”.

2. The National Zoo has two campuses: Roth Creek Park and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Elephant fed by a zoo attendant through the bars of a fence at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 1915. The photo was taken by Willard R. Ross – Wikimedia Commons

The National Zoo has two campuses. The first is a 163-acre (66 ha) urban park located at Rock Creek Park in Northwest Washington, D.C., 20 minutes from the National Mall if traveling by Metro Rail.

The other campus is the 3,200-acre (1,300 ha) Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI; formerly known as the Conservation and Research Center) in Front Royal, Virginia.

 On this land, there are 180 species of trees, 850 species of woody shrubs and herbaceous plants, 40 species of grasses, and 36 different species of bamboo.

The SCBI is a non-public facility devoted to training wildlife professionals in conservation biology and to propagating rare species through natural means and assisted reproduction.

The National Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

3. The National Zoological Park is home to more than 390 different species with about 2700 animals

National zoological park, Washington DC, USA. Photo by pelican from Tokyo, Japan – Wikimedia Commons

The National Zoological Park is home to more than 390 individual animal species living blissfully in their natural habitats.

The most famed species among those include Asian elephants, African lions, and giant pandas. The Zoo also houses numerous species which are seemed to be endangered.

About one-fifth of them are endangered or threatened. Most species are on exhibit at the Rock Creek Park campus. 

The best-known residents are the giant pandas, but the zoo is also home to birds, great apes, big cats, Asian elephants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic animals, small mammals, and many more. 

4. It is a refuge for wildlife that are vanishing

Yummy leaf. The photo was taken by Pelican from Tokyo, Japan – Wikimedia Commons

The National Zoo is working towards helping the giant pandas with ongoing breeding, conservation, and research. This is so that one day they can safely have an opportunity to get back to their natural environment.

5. The National Zoological Park is open every day apart from Christmas Day

National Zoo Park, Washington, D.C. Photo was taken by National Photo Company Collection – Wikimedia Collection 

The National Zoo is open every day of the year except for December 25 (Christmas Day), though it was closed for a long period during the COVID -19 pandemic. The zoo reopened following this on May 21, 2021.

6. The National Zoo began as the National Museum’s Department of living animals in 1886.

National Zoo – Reptile House. The photo was taken by Sarah Stierch – Wikimedia Commons

The zoo first started as the National Museum’s Department of Living Animals in 1886. By an act of Congress on March 2, 1889, for “the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people”, the National Zoo was created. In 1890, it became a part of the Smithsonian Institution.

Three well-known individuals drew up plans for the zoo: Samuel Langley, third Secretary of the Smithsonian; William Temple Hornaday, noted conservationist and head of the Smithsonian’s vertebrate division; and Frederick Law Olmsted, the premier landscape architect of his day.

William T. Hornaday was the park’s first director and curator of all 185 animals when the park was first opened and took office on May 6, 1889.

 Together, they designed a new zoo to exhibit animals for the public and to serve as a refuge for wildlife, such as bison and beaver, which were rapidly vanishing from North America.

7. It started by focusing on exhibiting one or two representative exotic animal species

Zoolights event at the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. Photo was taken by Ahbeall – Wikimedia Commons

For the first 50 years, the National Zoo, like most zoos around the world, focused on exhibiting one or two representative exotic animal species. The number of many species in the wild began to decline drastically because of human activities.

 In 1899, the Kansas frontiersman Charles “Buffalo” Jones captured a bighorn sheep for the zoo. The fate of animals and plants became a pressing concern.

Many of these species were favorite zoo animals, such as elephants and tigers; hence the staff began to concentrate on the long-term management and conservation of entire species.

8. The Zoo has grown from what it was in its conception to being home to more animals

Smithsonian Zoo front entrance. The photo was taken by Quadell – Wikimedia Commons

The National Zoo has been the home to giant pandas since Ling-Ling, and Hsing- Hsing arrived at the zoo in 1972. Since 2000, Men Xiang and Tian Tian also lived there.

On July 9, 2005, Mei Xiang gave birth to Tai Shan, who went to China in February 2010. On August 23, 2013, Mei Xiang gave birth to Bao Bao, who went to China in February 2017; upon her arrival, she began participating in the species breeding program. 

On August 22, 2015, Mei Xiang gave birth to Bei Bei, who said farewell to The National Zoo in November 2019.

Due to an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, all giant pandas born in the zoo must relocate to China upon turning 4 years old.

9. The National Zoo has also grown technology-wise and is consequently growing its programs

View looking south in east entrance lobby – National Zoological Park, Elephant House, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, District of Columbia, DC. The photo was taken by Rosenthal, James W. – Wikimedia Commons

The National Zoo has developed public-education programs to help students, teachers, and families explore the intricacies of the animal world.

The zoo also designed specialized programs to train wildlife professionals from around the world and to form a network to provide crucial support for international conservation.

The National Zoo is at the forefront of the use of web technology and programming to expand its programs to an international virtual audience.

Plans for the future include modernizing the zoo’s aging facilities and expanding its education, research, and conservation efforts in Washington, Virginia, and the wild.

As part of a 10-year renewal program, Asia Trail – a series of habitats for seven Asian species including sloth bears, red pandas, and clouded leopards – was created.

10. The National Zoological Park attracts 2 million visitors annually

National Zoological Park. Photo by InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA – Wikimedia Commons

The zoo, which is supported by tax revenues and open to everyone, attracts 2 million visitors per year, according to the Washington Post in 2005. This shows that it is a great place to visit when in Washington, D.C., United States.