Maharani, 27, had a fling with Spike, 36. Officials are hoping to see the
relationship rekindled.
The formation of a national zoo was the idea of William Hornaday,
the Smithsonian’s chief taxidermist from 1882 to 1887. While on a
trip west, he was alarmed at the absence of American bison. The
once-prolific species had dwindled to just a few hundred. Hornaday
became the head of the Department of Living Animals, whose ranks
included 15 American species, including bison, housed on the National
Mall. The present zoo was established in 1889 at its current location
in northwest Washington’s Rock Creek Park.
Obviously, the animals are the zoo’s main attraction. But volunteers
(and sometimes, zookeepers) command attention, too. Outside the
zebra enclosure, a volunteer wields a gleaming white zebra skull. He
opens the jaws wide to reveal a mouthful of flat, broad teeth.
Onlookers tracking the graceful underwater maneuvers of the sea
lions are greeted by another volunteer holding a palette of skins,
including wolf, otter, sea lion and seal.
In the zoo’s Amazonia exhibit, a young volunteer wields a stainless-
steel tray bearing the newly shed exoskeleton of the tarantula crawling
around the terrarium beside her. The skeleton is big, brown, furry, and
a little intimidating. She admits she hasn’t touched it. But we can.
Amazonia, which spotlights denizens of the Amazon River, includes
a dramatic domed enclos ure thick with climbing vines and 50-foot
tropical trees. A pink roseate spoonbill crane preens, while perched
on the edge of a pond full of rays the size of banquet platters.
The bird is “ridiculously tame,” says volunteer Frank Witebsky. “It’ll
pull at your shoelaces.”
Other Amazonia residents are more elusive. “See that fuzzy brown
lump?” he asks, pointing upward to a tree branch. “That’s Howie, our
two-toed sloth. I think I was here two years before I saw him.”
these raccoon-like creatures with bushy tails and so-cute-you-want-
to-pinch-their-cheeks faces. Despite the name, the two species are
genetically unrelated. Their only commonality is that bamboo is a diet
staple. And speaking of … Clock reaches into his bag and withdraws a
fibrous walnut-sized object.
“It’s panda poop. The only Chinese product made in America. Would
you like to hold it?” he asks.
“No. Thanks,” responds a tour participant.
The topic of poop comes up more than once on these tours. At
the zoo’s Elephant Trails compound, volunteer Jane Scholz holds
a cabbage-size sphere of simulated elephant dung. Behind her,
giant glass cylinders hold sample models of the 150 pounds of fruit,
vegetables and other edibles consumed daily by an elephant. Another
cylinder yields the 50 to 60 dung balls produced as a result.
Spike, a bull male, has just arrived from Tampa, Fla., to join the
resident all-female herd of six. Three of the pachyderms — Scholz
calls them the “Calgary girls” — are loitering outside the building
where Spike is in quarantine. They recognize him from the decade
or so they spent together at the Calgary Zoo, where one of the girls,
SUMMER 2018 67 FLYWASHINGTON.COM