National Zoological Park is a marvelously appearing, 163 acre zoological park that is surrounded by the Rock Creek Park and is set at the center of Washington D.C. The fantastically constructed zoological park is a home to 2,000 independent animals belonging to appropriately 400 assorted species. The largest research complex and museum on the planet, the Smithsonian Institution houses this all time favorite zoological park.
The park has a multifarious mission of displaying precedence in animal maintainability, aid, learning, and science. Welcoming up to 2 million tourists from within the nation, regional community, and global world, the zoological park is one of the most favored tourist spots. This oldest zoological park of America allows its visitors to get free admission in its premises. One of the popular occupants of the zoological park are Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and giant pandas. However, the park accommodates various other animal species such as small mammals, birds, aquatic species, great apes, reptiles, big cats, amphibians, insects, Asian elephants, etc.
As a member of the American Public Gardens Association, the park is involved in useful activities such as providing learning facilities, investigating, and preserving the insecure animal species. It takes pride in the widely constructed research service centers and veterinary medical facilities. In 2008, the newfound plan was presented for the park with a view to fulfill the purpose of promoting its designs and exhibitions.
Attractions at the National Zoological Park
The National Zoological Park is a large complex park that entertains its visitors through its various stimulating and amusive wildlife attractions. The park serves the visitors all around the year and assures them of a uniquely exciting visit each time they explore its elating premises. It proudly houses a wide range of celebrated events, special programs, incomparable exhibits, animal houses, trails, science centers, conservation institutes, shopping and amenities centers, etc., to name a few.
Great Cats
Featuring the famous African lions and Sumatran tigers, the Great Cats is a fabulous exhibit that serves the visitors on the Lion/Tiger Hill. The exhibit gives a great view of the full grown lion and tiger species settled in separate yards. These animals are raised in a specialized and gracious manner under professional animal care. The visitors get a chance to learn about the personalities, habitats, and other exciting aspects of the animal species.
Think Tank
The Think Tank is an interior exhibit of the zoological park that includes a mutual consideration of the question- “What is thinking”. The visitors get to learn about the biological thinking procedure, where thinking is outlined as an activity which takes place with the existence of three significant components that include flexibility, intention, and image. Here, the visitors get to experience the personality patterns of the orangutans species of the animal kingdom. The orangutans swinging, moving, and mounting over the order of cables and towers called the ‘O Line’ form incredible scenes to enjoy for the visitors.
Cheetah Conservation Station
Corresponding to the earthy Savanna environment, the Cheetah Conservation Station allows the wildlife lovers to catch the spectacular visuals of the cheetah and Grevy’s zebra species placed individually in a beautiful grassland scene. Besides, it provides a firm platform for analyzing the attributes and behaviors of the cheetah species, so as to develop the process of animal husbandry at the zoo. The station operates a program for fulfilling the purpose of sustaining and enhancing the overall well-being and health of the cheetahs housed in the zoo.
Kid’s Farm
One of the newest addition to the National Zoological Park is the Kid’s Farm that houses diverse animal breeds found in a farm setting. Ossabaw Island’s hogs and San Clemente Island’s goats are uncommon farm animal species that fancy the children’s visit at the Kid’s Farm. Children get to learn more about the farm animals through the interactive sessions of the exhibit. The Pizza Garden and Giant Pizza Playground are the arresting extensions of the exhibit for the children aging from 3 to 8 years. Moreover, the exhibit has a skillfully designed barn that houses goats, cows, rabbits, donkeys, hogs, and alpacas.
Bird House
Explore the widest species of birds at the zoo’s exhilarating extension- the Bird House. The house incorporates a number of bird exhibits that feature a broad variety of birds. One of its prominent exhibits is the Outside Exhibit, which presents birds living outside the home grounds, covering the house building. Spectacled owl, brown pelican, scarlet ibis, greater rhea, kori bustard, blue-billed curassow, king vulture, etc. Another celebrated exhibit of the house is the Wetlands exhibit, which includes spacious pathway crossing beauteous wildlife plantings and a distinctive group of ponds. Birds displayed at this exhibit are mallard, wood duck, and black-crowned night-heron.
Camps at the National Zoological Park
The National Zoological Park hosts exciting camps for both the young and the old. The Winter Camp is a salient one that provides four days of dynamic entertainment sessions exploring the animal kingdom. Held at the famed Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), the Overnight Camp is an expressive and fun gathering camp. It allows the participants to know the reasons behind the extinction of animal species and the scientific measures taken to eradicate the extinction. Apart from the educational part, the participants enjoy making sketches, cards, and other artifacts related to wildlife with the help of recycled substances, pressed leaves, and pressed wildflowers.
Event Hosting at National Zoological Park
The National Zoological Park makes available a great opportunity for the corporate organizations and firms to host their events in a learning and amusive wildlife surrounding. Gatherings, evening receptions, company outings, and other related events are usually conducted at the park. The events can be organized in an uncommon, elating, and amazing way in this naturally stupefying environment.
The park provides different event hosting sites for the companies. The open spaced, gracefully built site – the Amazonia Rainforest is famous, where the invitees explore the newly designed frog exhibit and interactive attractions at the Amazonia Science Gallery.
Visit at the National Zoological Park
Being a favorite tourist destination in Washington D.C., the National Zoological Park is well crowded during the months of April and May. The various animal exhibits and centers of the park open at 10 am and close down by 6 pm. Due to limited parking space, the parking lots fill up by 10:30 during peak times. Since the park contains steep courses and hilly tracts, the visitors are recommended to wear cozy clothes and footwear to make the trip enjoyable. The visitors can use wheelchairs and strollers available at the park if need be.
Pack your bags and make your trip to the Washington’s renowned destination – the National Zoological Park to look into its gracious wildlife beauty and tranquilly composed natural sceneries.
