Event name: National Zoo Report

Event time and place: Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington D.C. May 4, 2025

During my visit to the National Zoo, I explored two buildings housing themed animal collections: the Small Mammal House and Amazonia, with the latter guided by Dr. Merck. These spaces are designed not only to house animals but also to educate visitors and support the well-being of the animals. Both buildings offered engaging and informative experiences through various educational approaches for visitors of all ages.


The Small Mammal House groups diverse small mammals from around the world, highlighting their unique adaptations and characteristics. Each exhibit included information plaques that typically provided the species name, geographic range, natural habitat, diet preferences, conservation status, and behavioral adaptations. Among the featured species was the Fennec Fox from Africa, which inhabits deserts and consumes a varied diet of insects, lizards, mice, birds, bird eggs, plants, and fruit, with its most distinctive trait being remarkably large ears that help detect prey underground. The Prehensile-tailed Porcupine from South America inhabits tropical forests and feeds on leaves, flowers, shoots, and roots; interestingly, it can climb immediately after birth and uses its prehensile tail for balance. Another fascinating species was the Golden-headed Lion Tamarin, also from South American tropical forests, which feeds on insects, spiders, bird eggs, and fruit. This species is endangered due to habitat loss and hunting, and visitors are encouraged to support shade-grown chocolate to preserve their tree habitats. The fourth species I observed was the Brush-tailed Bettong from Australian shrublands and forests, which consumes fungi, roots, bark, fruit, and small animals, playing an important ecological role by aiding forest regeneration through dispersing fungal spores in its feces.

Beyond standard information panels, the Small Mammal House featured several informative displays that enhanced the visitor experience. A "Moonlight" nocturnal exhibit with reverse lighting allowed visitors to observe nocturnal animals as they would behave in their natural environment. Additionally, an educational display featuring a giant anteater skull explained its long tongue adaptation through both visual and tactile elements. These additional displays enhanced visitor engagement and reinforced the information presented on the text panels.

The Small Mammal House appears designed for a general audience, including both children and adults, with its combination of straightforward information and engaging visuals making it accessible to a wide range of visitors. During my visit, I observed many non-SGC visitors actively reading the information plaques and spending time at the interactive exhibits. The displays that generated the most engagement were those featuring unique animal behaviors or surprising facts, such as the connection between tamarins and chocolate cultivation.


Amazonia is a regionally themed building that showcases animals and ecosystems of the Amazon rainforest, with displays emphasizing the adaptations of each species, the environmental challenges they face, and their ecological roles. Among the featured species was the European Glass Lizard, which inhabits grasslands and open forests from Southeast Europe to Southwest Asia. This unique reptile appears snake-like but has ears and blinking eyes and can detach its tail to escape predators. The Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtle from Northern South American lakes, swamps, and rivers faces conservation challenges as it is over hunted for meat and eggs, highlighting the impact of human consumption on vulnerable species. The Arapaima, one of the few surviving members of an ancient fish lineage, faces threats from overfishing, particularly of large individuals needed for breeding, raising concern about its extinction risk. Wild Guinea Pigs were also displayed, with information about their cultural significance in Andean societies as both pets and livestock, encouraging responsible pet ownership and consideration of animal origins.

The Amazonia building featured several impressive interactive and educational displays beyond basic information plaques. A beetle-shaped diagram composed of hundreds of beetle species visually emphasized biodiversity while combining scientific accuracy with aesthetic appeal. An interactive frog temperature display educated visitors about how environmental conditions affect amphibians and their susceptibility to chytrid fungus, using visuals and light-up buttons. These exhibits effectively translated complex ecological concepts into tangible, engaging experiences.

Amazonia appears designed for middle school level and above, with more nuanced ecological and conservation messaging, though its use of visuals and interactive displays makes it accessible to younger audiences as well. I observed many visitors, including children, actively engaging with the interactive displays, particularly pressing buttons on the frog temperature exhibit and examining the beetle diagram. The immersive rainforest setting encouraged visitors to spend more time exploring and learning.


Beyond simple identifying plaques, the National Zoo employs various educational strategies to enhance public understanding of animals and ecosystems. The interactive amphibian exhibit in Amazonia allows visitors to press buttons to see how different temperatures affect frogs and the spread of chytrid fungus. This hands-on approach reinforces the connection between climate change and disease, making complex scientific concepts more approachable and memorable by engaging multiple learning styles and helping visitors retain information better than through text alone. Throughout the zoo, including at Amazonia, bronze animal statues allow visitors to touch and feel the contours of various species. The electric eel statue is a notable example, offering a physical connection to an animal that would be impossible to touch in real life. This tactile learning experience is particularly valuable for visually impaired guests and tactile learners, providing a dimensional understanding of animal morphology beyond what can be gleaned from images or text.

The National Zoo demonstrates a strong commitment to animal mental and emotional welfare through thoughtful exhibit design. In the Small Mammal House, exhibits are designed to mimic natural habitats with climbing structures, water features, and varied terrain. Signs encourage visitors to observe how animals utilize these different elements of their environment, whether climbing trees or swimming. These habitat features allow animals to engage in natural behaviors and remain mentally stimulated, reducing stress and preventing the development of stereotypical behaviors often seen in captive animals without proper enrichment. The nocturnal exhibit in the Small Mammal House employs a reverse lighting system that maintains darkness during visitor hours and brightness at night. This design allows nocturnal animals to maintain their natural behavior patterns while still being observable by visitors. By aligning with the animals' biological rhythms, this system helps reduce stress and promotes natural behaviors, demonstrating the zoo's commitment to animal welfare alongside education.

The National Zoo's Amazonia and Small Mammal House effectively balance education, conservation awareness, and animal welfare. By combining interactive exhibits, environmental enrichment, and cultural context, the zoo ensures that visitors leave both informed and empathetic toward the animals and their wild counterparts. Through these efforts, the National Zoo fulfills its dual role as both a sanctuary for animals and an educational institution for humans, promoting conservation through understanding.