|
When visiting our nation’s capital, one is often drawn to the more obvious choices of attractions relating to our government and its storied history. Yet, it would be a mistake to visit the center of our political universe without making a trip to what some would call DC’s “other zoo,” the Smithsonian National Zoo. There are only 500 or so politicians to see in DC, but there are over 1,800 animals and 300 species to visit at the National Zoo, and they’re far more fun to observe! Located in the District of Columbia on the capital’s northwest side, it’s one of this country’s oldest zoos and the admission is free. It sits on 163 acres and is adjacent to Rock Creek National Park, also in DC, which has its own interesting history. Rock Creek Park was established by an act of Congress on September 27, 1890, and at the time became only our country’s third national park, following Yellowstone in 1872 and Mackinac in 1875. Like the national park to which it’s adjacent, the Zoo was created by an Act of Congress on March 2, 1889, for “the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people.” The following year, it was made part of the Smithsonian Institution and plans were then drawn up for the design of the Zoo, which would incorporate not just an exhibit of animals for the public to view, but also a wildlife refuge for the vanishing bison and beaver in North America. The National Zoo is also known as the National Zoological Park, and deserving of the name due to its spacious landscape, which marked a significant departure from earlier practices of confining zoological animals to restricted cages. It also marks an important place in the history of landscape design, having been planned by Frederick Law Olmsted, who is considered the father of landscape design and who also designed New York’s Central Park, among many other urban parks. For the next 50 years or so, the Zoo focused on showing at least one or two animals of as many different species as possible, which was facilitated by the fact that animals were relatively easy to obtain from the wild. Soon, though, many species in the wild began to decline drastically because of these human activities. The fate of the planet’s animals, particularly those that were favored in the zoos, such as elephants and tigers, started to become a pressing concern. At that point, the Zoo’s staff began to change their focus from gathering a varied lot of animals to one of long-term management and conservation of numerous species. This change of emphasis marked a turning point for the Zoo, so that by the 1950s, when the first full-time, permanent veterinarian was hired, the priority was now squarely placed on the health and care of its animals. This notion was further advanced in the 1960s when the Zoo staff began to breed and research threatened and endangered species. By 1965, a research division was created to study all aspects of the Zoo’s animals, such as reproduction and behavior, while learning how to best meet their needs. This eventually evolved into the establishment of the Conservation and Research Center (CRC) in 1975, as a “refuge for vanishing wildlife.” The refuge was built on 3,200 acres in rural Virginia, specifically for rare species to live and breed in serene and expansive surroundings. The CRC is known today as the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), with its primary focus being on efforts in conservation biology, reproductive physiology, habitat research, and species relationships. The SCBI also provides for the training of conservation scientists. The Zoo was created in an era when Americans were worried about the closing of our country’s frontier and the ascendancy of urban and industrialized society. Zoo animals were reminders of the disappearing American wilderness. Today, zoo animals are a reminder of the fragile nature of our planet and our interaction with other species, as well as our responsibility to both. The National Zoo certainly serves that purpose well, and maybe best of all, the admission is free!
Related Articles -
National, zoo,
|
