Event name: Smithsonian Natural Zoological Park
Event time and place: May 4th, DC
On Sunday May 4th, I went to the Smithsonian Natural Zoo for an excursion. I took advantage with my fellow scholars in order to see many of the exhibits they had to offer, being able to see the majority of the zoo. Specifically, we spent the most time in the Small Mammal House and Amazonia exhibit (Courtesy of Dr. Merck).
The first exhibit I really spent time at was the small mammal house. This was an indoor display of multitude of different small mammal species. With animals like tigers, lions, bears, pandas, even elephants taking the zoological spotlight, it is always a treat to see the lesser appreciated mammals. Even though all the species within the house are mammalian, the types of animals are vast. Ranging from little monkeys and lemurs to felines and even from the fox family. 4 species that I took note of were the Fennec Fox, Cotton-Top Tamarin, Sand Cat, and Red Ruffed Lemur. Each species in the house was accompanied by a set of informative graphics to the left or right or both sides. Each of these graphics included at minimum, an anatomically correct drawing of the animal, their scientific and common names, their habitual range and biome, typical diet, and brief description. This was typically supplemented with an extra "Fast" or "Fun" fact, a descriptor of their behavior or where they lie on the risk scale. For example, the fennec fox is the smallest of its family yet has the biggest ears to body ratio. The Cotton-Top Tamarin lives in Northern Colombia. The Sand Cat lives in Temperatures ranging from 0-25 Degrees Fahrenheit, and the Red-Ruffed Lemur is endangered! While most of the information is given through these plaques, there are some extra interactives. There was a nocturnal section that was darker from the animal's comfort and spectator's immersion. There was one board that displayed x-rays of some of the animals. These little extra sources of knowledge are welcome, and they serve to attract more attention than a standard plaque. I saw more people intrigued by the interactives than the plaques, but neither compared to the gravitational pull of the animals. It appears to me that overall, the information in this hall is designed so that anyone above the elementary school age can fully understand and so most ages can enjoy it.
After enjoying all of the cuddly little creatures, I was able to see a few more (Larger) animals and grab a warm pretzel for lunch. Soon enough it was 1pm and Dr. Merck was about to enter Amazonia. As we entered, Dr. Merck immediately made note of the roseate spoonbills that were freely roaming. This is the special feature of the Amazonia exhibit, some animals are free to fly and move around. Dr. Merck highlighted and provided information on multiple species that were in the exhibit. Generally, the information given by the zoo for most of the animals seemed less than that of the Mammal House. Some species got the same treatment and exposition as standard, but for many species the only things shown were an illustration and their scientific/common names. Luckily, Dr. Merck was there to fill in the gaps and then some. One species he highlighted early on was the freshwater stingray, which apparently has what are most comparable to ears on the top of its head. Another animal he took time on was the arapaima. Describing the Arapaima, Dr. Merck explained how certain fish can utilize the electricity expressed by other animals to know where they are and therefore locate prey or flee from predators. A third species that I gained information on, was the Matamata turtle. These reptiles are experts at camouflage and don't have a beak like most other turtles, because of this, they use suction to eat contain their prey rather than bite force. After exploring the downstairs, we were led upstairs to the jungle section which is one of the most unique areas in the zoo. As soon as you enter, you can feel the atmosphere and air change. It does feel that they've done justice to the actual feel of rainforest. This is the hall's most interactive feature. While other halls/exhibits employ displays, the way that Amazonia interacts with you is ye being the Amazon. You have no choice but to interact because are standing in the forest yourself. This level of interactivity was enjoyed by everyone, so much so that people were mostly looking up and around rather than at the information. Similar to the small mammal house, it felt as though this hall was meant for anyone to enjoy, and those above elementary education to comprehend. Before we left, there was one final area containing amphibians, and even coral. One creature really caught my eye, caecilians. These are an incredibly unique amphibian, almost snakelike. There was the standard amount of information for these guys, but Dr. Merck added his expertise.
The zoo does understand that reading is not the only way to learn, and these instructions want people to learn. Individuals like to be engaged in other ways that isn't scanning informative words. As stated above, the Amazonia interactivity is perfect example of this, but I found two others. The "Think Tank" is an incredible hall, with so much information lying within. This hall takes the spectator on journey throughout the development of human and primate consciousness. Yes, there is a lot to read, but there is so much more to see and watch. The hall itself is structed in a sort of timeline manner, and you can enter at any step of the way. There is so much information it piles into you, and then you can even see some of that knowledge acted out in the large display containing many primates in the center of the hall. There are interactive pages to flip through, drawers to open and even brain put on display so you can compare sizes. Another exhibit that provided non-text education was the "Zoo in your backyard" exhibit. This was a short and sweet walk that captures what goes on in the common backyard. By relating the concept of a zoo to one's own backyard, it creates an ecological understanding that is realized without more spew of words. Using the informative strategy of familiarity, zoogoers are able to experience the biology of their own homes and then find some wonder in that.
When visiting a zoo, it's an inevitable feeling if empathizing with the animals. I always rhetorically ask myself "what if I was in a cage all day?". Obviously, the developers of the zoo are aware of the psychology of these animals and aim to take precautions, so they do not experience mental harm. One creative way I saw the keepers tackle this, was through feeding habits, specifically the Pandas and Elephants. They made it so that instead of receding the greens on silver platter, both of these animals had to work/adapt for it. The pandas now had more of challenging way to consume so they can feel more immersed and wild. The elephants were fed so that the location of where the food came from changed constantly, to simulate the struggle of finding food. It's a simple and creative way to make animals feel like wild animals. Another way that I observed the zoo interested the animals was with the primates. With animals that have such dexterity and climbing ability/desire, the zoo knows it has to make their environments stimulating and active. In every primate enclosure that I witnessed, I saw just that. Toys and branches galore in order or these animals to have fun. One specific feature involving the orangutans allows them to climb from one part of the zoo to the next through these overheard wires. Unfortunately, I did not see it happen, but that fact that is something they have the chance to do is admirable.