Smithsonian National Zoo: Washington DC Zoo Animals And Wildlife Conservation

Not too long ago, comedian Ben Stiller almost single-handedly revived interest in the wealth of museums around the US, and of those museums, the one most synonymous with prestige and scholarship remains the Smithsonian. Yet, most associate the name with the museum, given the considerable media attention toward global warming and the need for wildlife conservation. The Smithsonian National Zoo also offers a perfect offering for a weekend with the kids or just as an educational outing among adults.

The Washington DC Zoo highlights education, science and sustaining wildlife; besides the obvious care for animals from all corners of the world. Ever since its inception in 1889, much of the National Zoo's specialty derives from its educational programs geared at all ages and specialty levels. These are comprised of informative exhibits of zoo animals for all, special academic programs for teachers on biodiversity, and even training of future zoo professionals on how best to go about maintaining and caring for zoo animals.

One of the most prominent and popular features the Washington DC Zoo offers comes through its partnership with Fujifilm. In the hopes of better understanding the habits and life of giant pandas, the National Zoo offers free live feed of the zoo's pandas through the internet. Ideally, the constant monitoring of the pandas will allow scientists and lay visitors the opportunity to watch pandas living at their own whims; it also may help in discovering a means to conserve and repopulate the endangered species from its meager 1,600 to a healthier level. The National Zoo has already committed to building a new giant panda habitat after researchers discern what conditions prove ideal for the giant pandas. It will surely offer even more impressive zoo visiting experience when built sometime in the future.

In terms of the future, the National Zoo focuses heavily on wildlife conservation. While the world has an abundance of biodiversity, the zoo stresses the need for wildlife conservation to maintain the diversity for the appreciation of succeeding generations. The Washington DC zoo ambitiously intends to become recognized within a decade as the preeminent zoo in the world. The zoo hopes to do so by making it possible many animals are no longer seen as simply "zoo animals," but rather viable parts of world's interweaving fabric of living organisms.

Not every cause can successfully parlay itself into a box office hit to garner widespread interest; but certain causes remain because of the academic excellence and altruistic intentions it serves. The National Zoo remains an amazing asset to the world because of its fantastic direction and array of educational outlets. It may not have the star power of a Ben Stiller movie to help boost attendance; but with live video feed of giant pandas, the National Zoo surely has not lost public adoration just yet.


Sources:
Berry, John. "Future Plans." Friends of the National Zoo. Smithsonian National Zoological Park. 20 Aug. 2007. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/AboutUs/FuturePlans/?nzp s=navbar.

"Biodiversity Academy Program." Science Teachers Academies. Smithsonian Institution. 20 Aug. 2007. http://www.scienceteachersacademies.si.edu/bio/bio _pro.html.

"Conservation and Science At the Smithsonian's National Zoo." Friends of the National Zoo. Smithsonian National Zoological Park. 20 Aug. 2007. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/conservationandscience/d efault.cfm.

"Giant Panda Facts." Fujifilm USA. Fujifilm. 20 Aug. 2007. http://www.fujifilmusa.com/pandas/pandaFacts.jsp.< br />