Free Zoolights!

It's that time of year again, and this time ZooLights is free! (except for souvenirs, junk food, and parking)

For anyone who goes, you can help some of the hungry people (and hippos) in Washington, DC by bringing canned goods to fill one of Uncle Happy's old hippo crates.  That's going to take a LOT of food. 

 

 This year, there are trains--big light up ones, little ones to see, and even one to ride!

Can you spot the hippo saying "hi" to Thomas?  Thomas is a little bit blurry because he wouldn't stop moving.

The gin-GRR-bread lion habitat contest made me really hungry; my stomach even started growling like a lion.  This one is my favorite because I also like to spend time at the National Gallery of Art Scultpture Garden

Those are just a few of the fun things to do and see.  I'll post more of my photos of the lights later!

Zoo Friends

Since I had some time off last weekend, I brought Opie and some of the other hippos to the zoo to visit some of our friends. 

The Otter Brothers invited us to play a game of tag,



Mr. Leo offered us lunch, but service was taking a long time, so he got a little grumpy,



The 'mingo party thought we would enjoy a dip in the jacuzzi and shrimp cocktail,



And the Donkey family invited us to join a game of football...or rugby...or something....



We stopped in to say hello to a lot of our other friends, too, but one of our new favorite things to see at the zoo is this nice statue of Uncle Happy!

Meet ??? the Octopus

Since Happy and Tai Shan have moved away, I decided to make a new friend at the zoo.  Meet "???" the Giant Pacific Octopus.  Poor "???" doesn't have a name yet, but you can help name him. 

I was very pleased to meet "???" but I didn't shake his hand(s)--we just gently high fived--or eighted--through his aquarium glass.  He isn't very "giant" at three pounds, but that's okay.  I'm not very big for a hippo, either.

UPDATE--Mr. ???'s new name is Octavius!

Squeaky and Tai Shan

Hippo's friend Squeaky also wanted to see Tai Shan before he left America.

It was a nice snowy day to enjoy Winter at the National Zoo.

Even big kitties, which normally are not fond of water, seemed to enjoy a bit of snow on the snout.

Squeaky checked on the progress of the elephant walk construction. Elephant-sized path: check. Big bath tub: check. Elephants: elephants? Where are they?

Humans outnumber the critters at the zoo today. Maybe the elephants are hiding. Or helping to plow the parking lots to make room for all the visitors.

She sees him! She seems him! Tai Shan!

Snow makes pandas hungry.

Eating can get tiring.

Time for a snooze in the snow.

And time for lunch. An apple sandwich and bamboo fries, please!

Goodbye, Tai Shan!

It's a sad day for Washington, D.C., and the National Zoo. Our own baby panda, Tai Shan, has grown to a rambunctious 4-year-old and it's time for him to travel to China to start meeting all the panda ladies.

The crowds were thick, so Hippo observed from the balcony.

Tai Shan, like any little boy, doesn't seem too concerned with the commotion. He's most interested in his fruit pop.

Mom munched on her own snack next door. Is she going to miss Tai Shan? Or is she dreaming of a new baby panda joining the family?

Daddy is very relaxed, enjoying a quiet nap on his heated rock.

Bon Voyage, Panda Boy!

My pal Tai Shan, the National Zoo's "baby" panda, has his bags packed to leave on February 4 and is all ready to meet his new friends in China. Here he is-mid-snooze-practicing for the time difference.

I guess he didn't want to pay extra for his bags and have his bamboo snacks confiscated at security, because he's traveling on FedEx! First class on FedEx probably means he will have more leg room, and won't have to put up with anyone kicking the back of his seat or reclining their seat into his lap.

Bon Voyage Mr. Happy Potamus!

Happy, the Nile Hippo from the National Zoo left yesterday on his 800 mile road trip. I'll miss my friend, but I hope he likes his new home with roommates Patti and Puddles!