Pandas at the National Zoo in DC
Monday, January 25th, 2010Whenever I go to Washington D.C., I make sure to do two things: Stop in at a wonderful, independent bookstore, Politics & Prose and visit the National Zoo to see what changes have occurred next. It’s always something — for instance, if you arrive before the end of January, you might be able to say so long to Tai Shan, the Zoo’s four and a half year old Giant Panda, who is on his way to China in order to participate in a breeding program designed to help increase the Giant Pandas in the wild. It’s difficult work, but someone’s got to do it, because there are only 1,600 wild giant pandas left, and Tai Shan has been picked for the job.
The big farewell will occur on January 30th, 2010, at the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat. The day has been set aside to celebrate the departing panda as well as the zoo’s continuing dedication to panda conservation. In addition to saying farewell to Tai Shan, you and you friends and/or family may learn about how the zoo operates, educating patrons about how Tai Shan was conceived, raised and cared for; you’ll also get to meet the other pandas, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang.
On hand will be panda interpreters to answer questions about the endangered species. Zoo reproductive scientists, veterinarians, and nutritionists will all talk variously about panda reproduction, about how to care for these rare creatures daily, and what it takes to keep the bears fed, considering that, for the most part, they eat only a specific variety of bamboo. At the FedEx Card Delivery Station, kids can make Tai Shan a card, to say goodbye or to write about their best memory of the giant panda. The cards will then be sent via FedEx along with Tai Shan to China. You’ll also see snapshots of Tai Shan, following his progress since birth, sponsored by Land O Lakes Butterstick. Why did Land O Lakes get involved? When Tai Shan was born, he earned the nickname “Butterstick” because he was no bigger than one. It makes for a natural connection to the butter company.
Of course, no one would go to DC and spend only a day there. In the past, I’d stay with friends, but over the years, as people move away, or acquire families of their own, I find it much easier and, frankly, more comfortable to find a good hotel of my own in which to stay. If you’re like me and want to do the same, you can go here and find some great rooms.