This post was written by Laura Bell, Digital Archives Intern, Smithsonian National Zoological Park (Exhibits Office) and Smithsonian Libraries (Dec. 2017-May 2018). What do most people picture when they more »
Tag: Smithsonian National Zoological Park
This post was contributed by Kristen Bullard, librarian for the National Zoological Park.
Have you ever wondered why Rusty the red panda was paired with the female, Shama? Or been curious about how the black-footed ferret was saved from extinction in the wild? If so, then this Valentines’ themed post is for you!
One of the truly wonderful “perks” of working at the Smithsonian Institution is being able to participate in presentations of current research. Recently I was lucky enough to attend a daylong Science Convivium at the Front Royal, Virginia headquarters of the National Zoological Park’s science arm, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI). What’s a convivium, you ask? Briefly, according to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary a convivium is a convivial gathering. Hmmm, alright. And if you’re being convivial you’re “relating to, or occupied with feasting, drinking, and good company”. Well, there was definitely good company, a nice lunch and a wine and cheese social hour in the afternoon!
In February the Libraries deposited the 10,000th publication in the Smithsonian Digital Repository, part of the Smithsonian Research Online program. This milestone was achieved with a collaborative paper by Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute researcher Ben Hirsch and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo geneticist Jesus Maldonado.
The first elephants acquired by the National Zoological Park were ‘Dunk’ and ‘Gold Dust’ in April of 1891.
Charles Hedley, Wild Animals of the World: Being a Popular Guide to Taronga Zoological Park Sydney, Australia: Trustees of Taronga Zoological Park, 1923 You might want to visit a zoo more »
Polar bears (family name Ursus maritimus) are the largest land carnivore in the world today. Males typically reach an adult weight of between 880 lbs to over 1300 lbs; females more »