National Zoo

Yesterday was a day off of work for everyone, so we decided to head a few hours south to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
 

 This is a clouded leopard...

 Asian Elephants - see their little ears?  Their home is being renovated...

 Cute Mallard couples - 

They have really beautiful bronze sculptures around the zoo.  
 

 Lunch time!  We brought our own...these were taken in between swatting at bees...

 Our friend Denny and his pal Sarah...his $3.00 cup of "organic and bird friendly" coffee...

 A sweet girl and her daddy...

 Kyle had way too much fun yesterday!

 Golden Lion Tamarin...

 Meerkats....

Two toe sloth...the Golden Lion Tamarins were sitting all over him and running back and forth across him.  Sloths do everything slow, even digestion apparently.  God's creation is vast, unique and amazing...
 

 Loved the gorillas.  This guy sat with his arms folded for the longest time just checking everyone out - then he decided to pick his toes....

 They have a butterfly house...

 So beautiful to have these lovely creatures fluttering around...

 The Sumatran Tigers were beautiful and we think they had the male and female separated.  The female was mellow and wandering around her space - the male was crying out all afternoon and pacing...we think he was unhappy he couldn't get into her space...

 The lionesses were cute and playful...

This is part of Lemur Island.  So beautiful...

We had such a great day.  It was sunny, but cool, the animals were all enjoying the weather too, except the giant pandas which were in their indoor displays and both sound asleep...did you know they eat 40 pounds of bamboo a day? As Tim said "That's alot of fiber!" 

We saw orangutan's, cheetah's, zebras, sloth bear, red pandas, octopus, jelly fish, scorpions, crabs, a Komodo dragon, Chinese alligator, poison dart frogs, shrews, a Kiwi...and many, many more!

The National Zoo is a part of the Smithsonian system - that means there is no admission charge but parking is $16 for the first 3 hours and $22 after that. 


We ended the day at Great Falls, Virginia - I am saving those photos for tomorrow.

I am thankful to live close to so many amazing things.