This week at the zoo: Saying goodbye to the pandas and discovering the charm of Basil the opossum
This week, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park is bidding farewell to their beloved giant pandas as they prepare to return to China. Visitors clad in panda-themed attire have flocked to the zoo to pay their last respects. To commemorate their departure, the zoo staff is hosting a Panda Palooza, a multiday event featuring panda-themed movie screenings, kids’ activities, and panda-shaped cake for the bears. These pandas have become iconic figures in D.C. over the past 50 years, with panda pancakes and panda cake pops being sold at nearby restaurants, panda tote bags being sold by the D.C. metro, and the Washington Mystics women’s basketball team adopting Pax the Panda as their mascot.
During my recent visit to the zoo, I ventured to the Small Mammal House to see a different yet intriguing animal. As I made my way past South American prehensile-tailed porcupines and Australian brush-tailed bettongs, I stumbled upon Basil the opossum. He was peacefully asleep, his furry body curled into a ball, his chest rhythmically rising and falling. When Mimi Nowlin, a keeper at the Small Mammal House, entered his enclosure carrying a tub of capelin, Basil’s lone eye fluttered open. He stood up on his tiny legs, eagerly approaching Nowlin as she offered him a piece of fish with silver tongs. Basil waddled forward, opened his toothy mouth, and chomped down on the treat. A few minutes later, he eagerly licked the empty tub. I was completely enchanted by this little creature!
When I read last month that the National Zoo was acquiring a Virginia opossum, I couldn’t contain my excitement. Opossums are truly nature’s superheroes, as I have previously written. They have a unique diet of bugs and trash, and possess a remarkable immunity to snake venom. But this news prompted a question: why would a zoo choose to display a Virginia opossum, a species that is not endangered or considered rare? In the eyes of most Americans, opossums are simply backyard animals. It is even likely that wild opossums roam the grounds of the National Zoo at night, as they tend to make their burrows in the nearby park. So, the curiosity remained as to why the zoo decided to showcase this particular animal.
Basil spent his early life in the wild, presumably in the wilds of Washington, D.C. Someone found him when he was just a few months old and brought him to City Wildlife rehabilitation center in May. His back was covered in puncture wounds, and his left eye had been injured, possibly from a cat attack. After several weeks of treatment, Sarah Sirica, the staff veterinarian and clinic director at City Wildlife, performed surgery to remove his injured eye.
Normally, rehabilitated animals are released back into the wild. However, Basil had two reasons why he couldn’t be released. Firstly, opossums already have poor eyesight, so with only one eye, Basil would have a low chance of survival in the wild. Secondly, Basil was simply too friendly and comfortable around humans to thrive on the tough streets of D.C. “We want them to be wild, reactive, and aloof,” said Sirica. But Basil was just a quiet and easygoing little guy. He didn’t mind being held, either.
These situations present challenges for rehabilitation facilities. They cannot keep every animal that is unable to be released, so they typically have to euthanize them. Luckily, Sirica heard that the National Zoo was interested in acquiring an opossum, so Basil was spared. He spent a few weeks recovering in Sirica’s office, occasionally peeking out when offered food and sometimes being held like a burrito by a student trainee in a cozy towel.
Historically, zoos were not in the business of acquiring injured opossums. They originated as menageries, opulent displays of exotic animals maintained by kings and aristocrats to showcase their wealth, power, and dominion. Menageries existed in the Tower of London during the Middle Ages and were favored by figures such as Montezuma and King Louis XIV of France.
The modern concept of a zoo, one focused on scientific study rather than entertainment, did not emerge until the early 19th century when the Zoological Society of London established its exotic animal collection in Regent’s Park for private research purposes. In 1847, it opened its doors to the public. Other cities, including Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., followed suit, each establishing their own public zoos. By the end of the 1800s, every city in the world sought to have its own public zoo, according to Nigel Rothfels, a history professor at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and author of “Savages and Beasts: The Birth of the Modern Zoo”. A city’s zoo became part of its identity, much like an opera house or an art museum.
Rothfels explained that zoos were initially seen as sources of recreation, education, and scientific opportunities. It wasn’t until the 20th century that the notion of conservation was added as a fourth goal. As species began disappearing, zoos took on the role of conservation sites. For example, the Cincinnati Zoo made efforts to save the passenger pigeon until the last one perished there in 1914.
Throughout the 20th century, zoos were regarded as arks, Rothfels noted. They played a vital role in replenishing populations of endangered animals such as American bison, golden lion tamarins, and black-footed ferrets.
Recently, a new mission has emerged in American zoos: sparking enthusiasm for the local wildlife that coexists with humans. It’s like supporting local businesses but for animal interactions. Modern zoos emphasize presenting animals in the context of their natural habitats, which increasingly includes local flora and fauna, according to Dan Ashe, president of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The focus is shifting from collecting animals to fostering appreciation for them.
This shift towards showcasing backyard animals is an exciting development for zoo experts and historians. Mason Fidino, an ecologist at the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute, expressed his enthusiasm, stating that while elephants and rhinoceroses are fascinating creatures, it’s important to remember that even our own backyards are ecosystems. By featuring local species, zoos encourage people to develop compassion for species they may not have otherwise considered.
This trend is evident across zoos in the United States. The Oakland Zoo introduced its California Trail exhibit in 2018, showcasing black bears and condors. The Houston Zoo followed suit in 2019 with a wetlands exhibit featuring bald eagles and alligators. Zoo Miami debuted “Florida: Mission Everglades,” a $33 million exhibit in 2016, home to panthers, wading birds, and alligators found in the state’s national parklands. Vernon Kisling, a historian and former animal curator at Zoo Miami, expressed his delight at this shift, stating that he had suggested a similar idea in 1979, but it did not garner interest at the time. He described the present transformation as “tremendous.”
Despite their evolution, zoos remain places where animals are kept in captivity. Many people criticize zoos solely for this reason, especially when they feature animals that can be seen in nearby parks. However, zoos offer a unique opportunity to observe animals habituated to human presence, allowing visitors to witness their behavior, hear their sounds, and even smell their scent. According to John Fraser, a conservation psychologist and director of mission impact at the Alaska SeaLife Center, zoos provide a chance to truly understand animals, not just see them.
While Basil will need some time to adjust to his new home, he will soon serve as an animal ambassador, as envisioned by Sarah Sirica. He will likely participate in “Keeper Chats,” where visitors can watch him enjoy his breakfast while Nowlin gently strokes his ears. Visitors will have a closer encounter with Basil compared to other zoo residents, such as tigers and lowland gorillas. In addition to observing Basil, visitors will learn fascinating facts about Virginia opossums. For example, they consume ticks, carrion, and a variety of other pests and unappealing items. Moreover, they are known to get very cold in the winter.
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