The National Zoo is in the heart of urban Washington,
D.C., and sits in Rock Creek National
Park, one of the largest urban parks
in
the world.
The Zoo boasts both natural areas, like those in Rock Creek
Park, and landscaped areas large and small that are like
those found in many backyards throughout the D.C. area.
Thus, the Zoo's backyard contains diverse habitats that
support a variety of plants and animals that are
typical of eastern North American ecosystems.
Visiting the Zoo gives you a chance to learn about these habitats, then compare them to what you find in your backyard or outside your apartment building or school. If you live close to the Zoo, you will find many similarities. If you live far away, you'll see many differences.
Some areas of the Zoo are landscaped to attract or support certain animals, such as butterflies and bees, or to recreate the look of a habitat not naturally found in this part of the country. When you visit them, see if you can identify the features that make them unique.
Some of these areas are:
- Zoo in Your Backyard Exhibit
- Butterfly Garden
- Wetlands
- Beaver Valley
- Hardy Cactus and Succulent Garden (between Small Mammal
House and Great Ape House)
- Native American Heritage Garden (around the boardwalk beside the Small Mammal House)
The
interdependence of plants and animals also becomes clear
in these areas. We hope visitors come away understanding
that, to help wild animals survive, we need to protect
the plants that form a key component of their habitats.
The reverse is also true: Many plants can't survive without
animals to pollinate their flowers or disperse their seeds.
The Zoo is a great place to look for birds. Find out which wild birds can be seen at the National Zoo when and good places to bird watch here.
