Sunday, April 6, 2014

Smithsonian National Zoo

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

I am sharing some of the scenes and animals we saw while visiting the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC on Saturday.. The highlight of the trip was seeing the Giant Panda cub.. Bao Bao .

 One the top line is the male Giant Panda Tian Tian ( t-Yen t-Yen) his name means "more and more". He was born 1997. On the bottom left is the momma Mei Xiang (may-Shong) she was born 1998. Bottom right is the new Panda cub named Bao Bao, born on Aug 23 2013.





To me Bao Bao is growing fast, she looks almost as big as her Mom to me..But, I think the photo is deceiving, in person Bao Bao was not that big.



Daddy Tian Tian was outside when we arrived at the Giant Panda exhibit..The Giant Pandas are rare and endangered, only 1600  survive in the mountain forests of China. The Smithsonian Zoo has a research and breeding  agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. This agreement and Giant Panda program is thru 2015.  Mei Xhang and Tian Tian are the focus of research, conservation and a breeding program to preserved these endangered animals.



  The O-line is a transportation system for the Orangutans..It give the Orangutans the freedom of movement and an expanded living area and location.  The O-line goes from the Tower 1 at the Great Ape house to the tower 8 at the Think Tank. The O-line crosses the Olmsted Walk to the thrill of zoo visitors..


An Orangutan he/she looks deep in thought.

It was a nice day with temps in the 60's, we saw flowers blooming and turtles sunning themselves.. The Smithsonian Zoo also has a wonderful Bird House. I will be sharing some of the exotic birds seen from around the world on another post. I hope you can stop back to see the birds of the National Zoo.


Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit  Mosaic Monday and more
 from  Our World Tuesday

 Thanks to our host: Mary our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  I wish everyone a happy week ahead!
I hope you enjoyed our quick visit to the shore and seeing the birds. 

61 comments:

  1. Hi Eileen
    and thanks for your comment!
    Oh, I think you took a lot of photos with such georgos fellows! They are so sweet the Giant Pandas and of course the little one too! You want to hug them. Glad there are some places for them in zoos.
    Fun for the Orangutangs with the lines to swing in and walk on.
    Yes, I'm also glad the Wiungter is finally over, now we want sun and warmth! Have a nice week you too! /Pia

    ReplyDelete
  2. the pandas are too cute. love the orangutan set-up they have.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The pandas are awesome! To me, they are the true idea of a teddy bear. Nice shot of the orangutan, too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a wonderful share.
    I love how you displayed the photos too.
    Hope you are having a beautiful Sunday !
    Willow

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful are the panda bears and I love panda bears! You orang-utan have too put in the picture and I think its great red hair lol ..... Also your tower of turtles and your waterfalls are very nice and the daffodils.
    Very fine evening Eileen.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've always loved pandas!
    They look so "relaxed". Perhaps in my next life I can be one of those-LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This was a nice way to begin my morning. Thanks for your zoo share. We never hear about the Pandas once they get older.....just glad they do! Hope you enjoy your Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, pretty animals, love them, cheers Eileen.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great shots of the pandas. I saw pandas at the Memphis zoo a few years ago and could have watched them for hours. The orangutans do have a great place to roam.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello Eileen!!
    You sure had a lovely time,visiting the zoo!!The Giant Panda,looks so cute!!Gorgeous pictures!!Thank you for sharing!!Wish you a happy new week!!
    Dimi...

    ReplyDelete
  11. I loved seeing the Pandas! The waterfall is really nice too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh Eileen,
    le foto del Panda sono meravigliose... Bao Bao è magnifico !!
    Peccato debba vivere per tutta una vita rinchiuso in uno zoo.. questa è la cosa più triste da accettare.
    Un saluto Myriam :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Eileen, beautiful animals.
    Beautiful photos!!! I have to go to the zoo. I was a long time ago.
    Have a nice week.
    Greetings.

    ReplyDelete
  14. These are just beautiful photos to see! The pandas are adorable, and the orangutans just so adventurous!

    ReplyDelete
  15. So fun to see these photos! Thanks for sharing them.

    ReplyDelete
  16. My son went to college in Washington DC and one of our favorite places to visit was the zoo! It was always fun to see the orangutans swinging up on those cables. You were lucky to see the pandas, as once it gets hot they stay hidden.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love pandas, there are a pair in Edinburgh Zoo, our female is called Tian Tian and we've been told that means Sweetie! They're taking an interest in each other at the minute so we may be lucky and have a baby panda quite soon....

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Eileen. It looked like you had fun day at the zoo. The baby Panda is gorgeous and it was special to be able toa see him. Also that was a Lovel set up for the orangutan.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow! Look at all those turtles. Love the orangutans and Pandas.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Eileen, Wow! I sure do love seeing the Giant Pandas. I was lucky to have seen one in San Diego at their zoo many years ago. Wonderful snap shots of the beautiful animals! Have a great coming week!

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a treat to get to see the big Panda! WOW! And looks like you had a good day and took lots of neat photos. I'll come back to see more when you get them posted! Happy Sunday my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I will be sharing your post with one of our granddaughters, she loves pandas!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lovely photos Eileen.....thanks for sharing this.

    Enjoy your week,
    Ruby

    ReplyDelete
  24. oh eileen, these are really wonderful!! i have been seeing glimpses of them on facebook and thinking how much you must have enjoyed this!!

    we will be in d.c. on thursday, for the cherry blossoms, i do hope they are open and still on the trees. i have never been to the zoo and i think we just might have to make time for it. we will be there until saturday, for the parade, so i think we can make time. i also wanted to go to the botanic garden, did you go??

    i am so happy you posted these, i did not know there was a zoo in d.c.!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. wow, you got some great shots. i love the views. i bet you had a great trip there. enjoyed the post. ( :

    ReplyDelete
  26. Dearest Eileen; Good Morning!
    Wow, I wish I could see lovely panda♡♡♡ In Japan, we have pandas zoo in Tokyo, Wakayama; very far from my pref. (^^;)
    I smiled 'Orangutan in deep thoughts'♪

    Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

    ReplyDelete
  27. Pandas are very cute - they look like the have pyjamas on!
    I saw two at the Guangzhou zoo in China many years ago - it was very exciting.
    They seemed very 'chilled out' to the point where I wondered if the bamboo shoots made them sleepy!

    ReplyDelete
  28. so many great photos. but, it's the pandas that've won my heart. that baby is precious. i look forward to seeing your bird photos. have a great night~

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Eileen,
    What great photos of your day at the zoo. The panda bears look so cuddly and soft. What fun those orangutans must have on the zipline.
    Have a wonderful week.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Those panda pictures are fantastic! I enjoyed the seeing the sights of the zoo with you, and look forward to your bird post!

    ReplyDelete
  31. What a perfect day to visit the zoo!! And to visit the pandas. So terribly sad that there are so few of them left!! Such lovely creatures!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Giant panda looks so cute. The way the monkeys up looks funny! All are beautiful photos!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Marvelous photos of the Panda bear and the monkeys. Amazing !
    I wish you a sunny new week, Eileen.
    Best regards, Synnöve

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love that Zoo and you got some great shares taken while there. Would you believe, we went all that way one time and the Pandas were off exhibit, I was so disappointed, but then the next time, they were out, all wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Lovely panda photos, Eileen. They're my favourites. I read somewhere that all pandas remain the property of the Chinese state. Apparently they only allow us to have them on loan. We've got a pair up in Edinburgh zoo, and the lady panda is about to go on heat, so we've got our fingers crossed that we'll hear the patter of tiny panda paws before long! Have a great week, Bonny @ just saying ...

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi Eileen,
    A great series, especially the panda is really great.
    Greetings Irma

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love Panda cubs!! Bao Bao is absolutely beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Great photos! I love going to the National Zoo, and only yesterday we were talking about another visit. Have a great week Eileen!

    ReplyDelete
  39. aww, i love the pandas! they are such adorable animals.

    thanks for sharing your beautiful photos of your day at the zoo. what a great start to my day.
    have a lovely week ahead~

    big hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Pandas are so cute. Zoo's sure have come a long way over the years!!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. The baby panda is adorable -- that is the best thing about zoos that they are saving animals and learning how to protect them. How fortunate you are to live so close to this wonderful place.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Oh my goodness what gorgeous photos!! I think it would be awesome to see a Panda!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Really enjoyed your mosaics!
    I have not been to the zoo in years - need to do something about that.
    Thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  44. A great place to visit and the pandas look so cute. I really like the turtles all lined up and sunning themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  45. What fun, delightful photos for the day, Eileen!! I do love the pandas and the orangutan, too!! Thanks so much for sharing the fun!!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Beautiful animals and great photos ~ Happy Week to you ~ xoxo

    artmusedog and carol (a creative harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  47. Wonderful shots of the panda. I absolutely LOVE the sweet orangutan.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Great shots of the pandas and orangutans.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Loved this trip to zoo. I think I liked the Pandas the most.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Such a fun day! The O-Line looks fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Woderful shots, Eileeen! Pandas are sooo cute :)Turtels, flowers..your wonderful nature pics made me feel like I was there with you :)Happy Tuesday!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Great info, Eileen. Just been reading on the bad situation Orangutans are going through.

    ReplyDelete
  53. It's hard not to think of pandas as cute cuddly bears. You took some terrific shots at the zoo and long may the breeding programme continue to be successful.

    ReplyDelete
  54. The Pandas are darling. We have a pair at the Metro Toronto Zoo on loan from China for 5 years. We are hoping to go see them in the Spring!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Great captures. It's been a long time since I visited a zoo. I'm glad they are working to preserve the pandas, but it's sad to think there are so few left.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Pandas are so cute!!! I have seen aome at the San Diego zoo, some years ago! Thanks for sharing your beautiful shots, dear Eileen!!

    ReplyDelete
  57. I don't think I have ever seen a Panda. I was curious about the line system for the Orangutan. Are you saying they walk across those lines outside a cage over above you? Amazing! One would think they would jump down.
    Thanks for posting and for stopping by my blog. Always great to hear from you. Have a wonderful week.

    ReplyDelete

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day." "T...