Wild Fun in Washington DC

Take a walk on the wild side with a visit to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington DC. This 163-acre park in the heart of the city is a fantastic place to see and learn about the 2,000 animals representing nearly 400 species. You’ll get to see some of the rarest animals in the world as nearly a quarter of the animals are members of the endangered species list including Asian elephants, white-naped cranes and western lowland gorillas.

The undisputed stars of the zoo are the giant pandas. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are two adult pandas on a ten-year loan from China as part of a research, conservation and breeding program. And then there’s their cuddly cub Tai Shan who was born in captivity on July 9, 2005. They live in an exhibit designed to simulate the lush rocky terrain of their natural habitat in China.

A variety of great apes and other primates can be viewed both indoors and outdoors throughout the zoo. The best times to see the lowland gorillas and orangutans are in the morning and mid-afternoon, as they are usually napping in the middle of the day.

If you’re fond of big cats and big roars, you can see five Sumatran tigers (two adults and three cubs) and four African lions at the National Zoo. Learn about spots and speed at the Cheetah Conservation Center, home to three young male cheetah brothers and a two-year-old female.

There are a variety of aquatic animals that can be seen at the National Zoo. Get an up close view of American Alligators, Cuban crocodiles and Amazon River tortoises in the Reptile Discovery Center. Then watch a giant Pacific octopus move gracefully through the water at the Invertebrate Exhibit.

There are plenty more colorful creatures to see at the National Zoo, so make sure you block off the better part of a day for a visit.