Introduction

By Isabella E. (All media by author)

            In Washington D.C., hundreds of museums, memorials, and historical sites vie for tourists’ attention. There are destinations for every interest, from World War II to Asian art to space travel. In comparison with these distinctive sites, you might expect the Smithsonian National Zoo to disappear into the background. In fact, the Zoo continues to be a popular destination, welcoming 2 million visitors from around the world every year. Since its founding in 1889, the National Zoo has had a universal appeal: children, adults, casual visitors and even scientists are interested in observing live animals up-close. Not even the Museum of Natural History can replicate that experience.

The National Zoo is located on 153 acres of Rock Creek Park, which is itself a historical location in D.C. Today, the Zoo cares for about 2,700 animals from around the world. In the more than 130 years since the Zoo was founded, our understanding of science and animal welfare has developed dramatically, and the Zoo has evolved along with it.

History of the Zoo

The story of the National Zoo begins with William T. Hornaday, chief taxidermist of the U.S. National Museum and early leader of the conservation movement. Hornaday was concerned by the rapidly declining population of American bison, and he believed that bringing back specimens for display at the museum would raise public awareness and help encourage bison conservation (Andrei). He then decided that the Smithsonian should have a zoo with live bison. In 1888, the Department of Living Animals was created and Hornaday worked to begin a captive breeding program for bison. For a short time, the animals were housed on the lawn of the National Museum, but as the menagerie grew, it was clear that they needed a new space. In 1889, President Cleveland signed a bill passed by Congress, officially creating the National Zoo for “the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people.”  The Zoo was placed near Rock Creek (in an area that would become Rock Creek Park in 1890) and designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The Zoo officially opened to the public in 1891. Although the architecture of the Zoo has changed greatly since then, the central path, the Olmsted Walk, remains largely the same. In the early years, the Zoo’s collection grew as foreign governments donated animals and species were gathered on expeditions. The Zoo even reached out to the foreign consular services, requesting certain species and providing information on the best practices for care and transport (See the historical document in Further Reading). The ultimate goal was to build a zoo that could rival the zoos that already existed in Berlin, Paris, and London.

Beginning in the 1950s, the Zoo began to focus more on improving animal health and establishing breeding programs. A full-time veterinarian was hired and in 1965, a research center was created to study animal reproduction and behavior. Only a decade later, the research center moved to a new facility in Fort Royal, Virginia, the Conservation Research Center (now called the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute). The Research Center elevated the Zoo to become a pioneer in the captive breeding and reintroduction of endangered species into the wild, like the golden lion tamarin, black-footed ferret, and Przewalski’s horse. Since 1975, the Zoo has worked with the Chinese government to bring back the giant panda from extinction.

In the 2000s, the Zoo underwent a long process of remodeling. Its exhibits were modernized and designed to be healthier for the animals, according to research by the Zoo’s scientists. The Asia Trail, with animals like giant pandas, red pandas, clouded leopards, and fishing cats, was finished in 2006. Elephant Trails, a high-tech indoor and outdoor facility that has been LEED certified, opened in 2013.

The Zoo Today and Tomorrow

            Today, the National Zoo’s mission is to “save species   by using cutting-edge science, sharing knowledge and providing inspirational experiences for our guests”. Although zoos around the world have been criticized by animal rights activists for keeping wildlife in captivity, even critics have to admit that zoos offer an opportunity for awe-inspiring, formative encounters with wildlife. Emma Maris, a zoo critic, wrote in her opinion piece in the New York Times:

“I once overheard two schoolchildren at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington confess to each other that they had assumed that elephants were mythical animals like unicorns before seeing them in the flesh. I remember well the awe and joy on their faces, 15 years later. I’d like to think these kids, now in their early 20s, are working for a conservation organization somewhere.”

Besides providing educational experiences, the Zoo’s role in species conservation is more important than ever because of the threat of climate change and rapid biodiversity loss. The Zoo’s expertise in captive breeding has already been instrumental in supporting endangered species and even preserving species at the brink of extinction. For example, the Zoo has been an “ark” of refuge for critically endangered amphibians like the Panamanian Golden Frog, breeding the frogs to preserve the species in captivity. In a similar vein, the Zoo has also been freezing sperm from corals in danger of extinction and finding ways for corals to artificially reproduce. In the future, genetic material from the Zoo might be necessary to reintroduce these species into the wild.

In 2014, the Committee on House Administration held a hearing on the management of the Zoo. In this hearing, the Zoo was described as a “zoo truly provided for and by the people” because it relies on taxpayers and offers free admission to all. The National Zoo is the only federally funded zoo in the U.S., but it still relies on donations because federal funds only cover part of its research and capital budget. In 2011, the Zoo planned to close the Kids’ Farm exhibit (an exhibit of farm animals geared towards children) due to lack of funding, but a donation of $1.4 million from State Farm Insurance prevented that from happening. Like many other public attractions, the Zoo has been impacted by the pandemic financially. After 63 years, the Friends of the National Zoo, a nonprofit organization that helped to fundraise for the Zoo by providing memberships, had to close because of the revenue lost by the pandemic. It is not clear how this will affect the Zoo in the long term.

The pandemic has also affected the Zoo in other ways. Six lions and three tigers tested positive for COVID-19in September 2021, showing symptoms of lethargy, decreased appetite, coughing, and sneezing. As of October 15, the big cats have recovered well and a few vulnerable species like orangutans, gorillas, and monkeys have been vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine made specifically for animals.

Despite these challenges mentioned above, the Zoo continues to be a popular destination and an important part of D.C. life. Last weekend the Zoo was full of families and children, despite the continuing pandemic restrictions. During this pandemic, the Zoo has created virtual educational programs to bring the zoo experience to kids around the U.S. and especially those in the D.C. public school system. Kaden, a Zoo educator, describes the experience of leading D.C. schoolchildren in a virtual field trip to the Amazonia exhibit: “Seeing students’ faces light up, still behind screens in this digital world, and being able to bring them a new experience of exploring a rainforest together, brought me joy every day.”

For those who call the DMV area home, the Zoo offers employment and volunteer opportunities. Cindy, who has been a volunteer for 18 years, shared that her passion is “getting others to see the beauty and wonder of our Zoo animals so they will be inspired to protect all animals and the habitats they live in. It really starts with the children — they understand”. Kim, who works as an interpreter at Zoo, believes that she makes a difference “not just locally but all over the world due to D.C.’s tourists taking knowledge home about how to treat animals and the environment”. Brandie Smith, former curator and now acting director of the Zoo, is also proud to be a part of the organization: “Being part of the Smithsonian Institution is special…I’ve been privileged to work in this profession, working with some of the most amazing and most incredible colleagues in the world.”

Although the National Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the United States, it has remained relevant over the years by developing animal health and conservation research while maintaining the Zoo’s educational value. The Zoo’s five-year Strategic Plan (2020 – 2025) lays out four areas of focus: animals, education and learning, science, and the guest experience. Though much else has changed, these focus areas still call to mind the Zoo’s original mission, “the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people”.

Map:

Further Reading:

• Kolbert, Elizabeth. The sixth extinction: An unnatural history. A&C Black, 2014.
  • The first chapter of this book gives greater background information on the plight of amphibians around the world, including the Panamanian Golden Frog. The conservation work of the National Zoo is also highlighted.

• Smithsonian Institution. Animals Desired for the National Zoological Park at Washington, D.C., United States of America. Government Printing Office, 1899. EBSCOhost, search-ebscohost-com.proxy.library.cornell.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbhl&AN=edsbhl.title.156739&site=eds-live&scope=site.
  • This historical document includes a request written by Samuel Langley, secretary of the Smithsonian, for foreign consulates to send specimens to the Zoo.

• Smith, Diane. Yellowstone and the Smithsonian: Centers of Wildlife Conservation. 1st ed. University Press of Kansas, 2017.

• • This book tells the story of the parallel development of the Smithsonian and Yellowstone. Even before it was designated as a National Park, Yellowstone was the source for many animal specimens sent to the Smithsonian National Zoo, and the National Zoo was deeply involved in bison conservation in its early years. This reciprocal relationship helped to make wildlife like bison an iconic symbol of the American West.

• Hoage, Robert, and William Deiss. New Worlds, New Animals: From Menagerie to Zoological Park in the Nineteenth Century. Illustrated, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996.

• • This book, published in collaboration with the National Zoo, describes how zoos have changed from ancient history to today. Specifically, the book shows how the evolution of zoos from symbols of elite wealth and power to educational public institutions mirrors a change in the way Western society perceives nature.

• Vandersommers, Daniel. “Narrating Animal History from the Crags: A Turn-of-the-Century Tale about Mountain Sheep, Resistance, and a Nation.” Journal of American Studies, vol. 51, no. 3, 2016, pp. 751–77. Crossref, doi:10.1017/s002187581600133x.

• • This article explores the “irony of conservation” through the story of the capture of Rocky Mountain sheep for the National Zoo. It provides nuanced context to the early years of specimen-collecting for the Zoo.

• Andrei, Mary Anne. “The Accidental Conservationist: William T. Hornaday, the Smithsonian Bison Expeditions and the US National Zoo.” Endeavour, vol. 29, no. 3, 2005, pp. 109–13. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.endeavour.2005.05.002.

• • This article gives greater context into the beginning of the National Zoo. It provides insight into Hornaday’s determination to save the American bison from extinction, and how it transformed him from a taxidermist to a conservationist.

• Caring for Asian Elephants: Stories from a Real-life Zoo Guardian
  • This webpage article tells the story of Rebecca Riley, an elephant zookeeper at the National Zoo. She describes how she has built relationships with the elephants she cares for and how zookeepers create enrichment to entertain the elephants’ intelligent minds.

Works Cited

“8 Historic Photos of the Zoo to Celebrate Its 130th Anniversary.” Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 1 Mar. 2019, https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/8-historic-photos-zoo-celebrate-its-130th-anniversary.

Andrei, Mary Anne. “The Accidental Conservationist: William T. Hornaday, the Smithsonian Bison Expeditions and the US National Zoo.” Endeavour, vol. 29, no. 3, 2005, pp. 109–13. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.endeavour.2005.05.002.

“About the Zoo.” Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 7 Apr. 2021, https://nationalzoo.si.edu/about.

“Caring for Asian Elephants: Stories from a Real-Life Zoo Guardian.” Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 1 Oct. 2021,https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/caring-for-asian-elephants-stories-real-life-zoo-guardian.

“Great Cats Tested Presumptive Positive for Covid-19 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.” Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 17 Sept. 2021, https://nationalzoo.si.edu/news/great-cats-tested-presumptive-positive-for-covid-19-smithsonians-national-zoo.

Greensmith, Jessica. “Thank You, Volunteers!” Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 19 Apr. 2021, https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/thank-you-volunteers.

Kelly, Dennis, et al. “The National Zoo of Today and Tomorrow – an Innovative Center Focused on the Care and Conservation of the World’s Species | Committee Repository | U.S. House of Representatives.” U.S. House of Representatives Committee Repository, Committee on House Administration, 26 Mar. 2014, docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=101992.

“Lions and Tigers Continue to Recover from Covid-19 and First Vaccines Were Administered to Susceptible Species at Smithsonian’s National Zoo.” Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 15 Oct. 2021, https://nationalzoo.si.edu/news/lions-and-tigers-continue-recover-covid-19-and-first-vaccines-were-administered-susceptible.

Marris, Emma. “Modern Zoos Are Not Worth the Moral Cost.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 June 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html.

Novak, Erika, and Kaden Borseth. “Imaginations Run Wild with a Virtual Visit to the National Zoo.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 17 May 2021, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-education/2021/05/17/imaginations-run-wild-virtual-visit-national-zoo/.

Ponti, Grayson. “Holistic Animal Care and Conservation: A Conversation with Brandie Smith, Associate Director of Anim.” Zoophoria, 22 Jan. 2019, https://www.zoophoria.net/single-post/2019/01/22/holistic-animal-care-and-conservation-a-conversation-with-brandie-smith-associate-directo.

Smithsonian Institution. Animals Desired for the National Zoological Park at Washington, D.C., United States of America. Government Printing Office, 1899. EBSCOhost, search-ebscohost-com.proxy.library.cornell.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbhl&AN=edsbhl.title.156739&site=eds-live&scope=site.

“Smithsonian National Zoological Park.” Smithsonian National Zoological Park | The Cultural Landscape Foundation, https://tclf.org/landscapes/smithsonian-national-zoological-park.

“Smithsonian’s National Zoo and FONZ to Part Ways.” Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 4 Feb. 2021, https://nationalzoo.si.edu/donor-impact/news/smithsonians-national-zoo-and-fonz-part-ways.

“Sustainability at the Zoo.” Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 21 Oct. 2020, https://nationalzoo.si.edu/about/sustainability-zoo.