The National Zoo, located at 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, introduced 19-year-old Trong Nhi (trong-nEE) and her daughter, 9-year-old Nhi Linh (nEE-lin), to the District today, saying that visitors will be able to observe the pair from 10 a.m. to noon daily at the Elephant Community Center.

A gift from the Rotterdam Zoo in South Holland, Netherlands, the mother and daughter pair will be joining five other elephants that already are residents at the Elephant Trails exhibit: females Bozie (47), Kamala (47), Maharani (32) and Swarna (47), as well as a 41-year-old male, Spike.

One visitor at the Elephant trails exhibit, Krestel Coffee, told 91茄子 that it was cool to see the elephants so close up. 鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome that they鈥檙e finally able to start introducing the elephants and breeding them, especially since we get to see their interactions like two-feet in front of us,鈥� Coffee said.

鈥淟ook at the tusks on that thing,鈥� added Coffee鈥檚 friend, Charlie Gabriel, when Spike, the 41-year-old male, entered the enclosure.

Another visitor 91茄子 caught admiring the new elephants, Casey Fitzmaurice, emphasized how special this occasion was for him.

鈥淚 just happened to visit for a couple of days, so the chance to get to see these massive new elephants on their first day out of quarantine was truly special,鈥� Fitzmaurice said.

Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh have already begun introductions with Spike and the other female elephants, facilitated by the elephant keepers. In these introductions, which the zoo has dubbed 鈥渉owdy introductions,鈥� the elephant team, allow the elephants to communicate and interact safely from behind a barrier.

Keepers observe these interactions to understand if the elephants are comfortable within each other鈥檚 presence, looking for calm and positive movements in their behavior.

One visitor asked a member of the elephant team how the introductions had been going, and he said that Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh鈥檚 introduction to Spike earlier today went well, with positive interactions, and ended with the elephants separating on their own.

Based on recommendations in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums鈥� Species Survival Plan (SSP), the National Zoo plans to breed Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh with Spike in hopes of fortifying the Asian elephant鈥檚 declining population in a healthy and genetically diverse manor.

In a press release, Bryan Amaral, acting associate director of animal care, said the National Zoo is thrilled with the progress Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh are making with their transition. Amaral said, 鈥渙ur animal care staff and [the new elephants] continue to learn from and about each other. While this is another sign of our commitment to Asian elephants, it also is significant for the sustainability of the Asian elephant population in North America as well.鈥�

According to the zoo鈥檚 press release, the population of Asian elephants that originate from only 13 countries have suffered population decline due to habitat loss, conflict with neighboring human populations and poaching. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers the species endangered with estimates of between 30,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants remaining.

Updates on Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh鈥檚 progress can be found on the National Zoo鈥檚 Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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The half-mile trail, which runs through the southeastern edge of the National Zoo near the Duke Ellington Bridge, is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. While community members are happy to see it reopen after four years, some are unsatisfied with the current schedule, including D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.

鈥淭here are many, many people in the District who use the trail and would like to see the hours extended,鈥� Norton said.

The Zoo Loop Trail is an important connection between northwest D.C. and the heart of the District, said Washington Area Bicyclist Association Communications Director Colin Browne. Pedestrians and cyclists can use it for commuting and recreation instead of traveling on busy streets.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a way to keep you away from traffic and is just generally delightful,鈥� Browne said.

The trail allows users to bypass a narrow tunnel path on Beach Drive, which Browne said is unsafe because of its proximity to two lanes of car traffic.聽

鈥淭here鈥檚 a low barrier which isn鈥檛 going to protect anybody from falling,鈥� Browne said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not space for two people on bikes or even a person walking from the opposite direction to be able to pass each other.鈥澛�

A sign near the tunnel entrance reads 鈥淐aution: trail narrows鈥� and suggests cyclists dismount their bikes.

Because the Zoo Loop Trail is closed when it鈥檚 dark, pedestrians and cyclists must travel through the tunnel during a period of low visibility. This could put them more at risk of being struck by a car, according to a .

鈥淭he zoo tunnel along Beach Drive is notorious and people have felt unsafe there for a very long time,鈥� Browne said.

Under the trail鈥檚 current schedule, Browne said people cannot use it for their commutes home. The path is also popular for recreational use, which is being restricted due to its hours of operation, Browne said.聽

鈥淭he zoo has a different set of priorities for how it uses its space that is affecting people鈥檚 ability to move through the city,鈥� Browne said.

The trail hours are tied to the zoo鈥檚 operating hours, said Annalisa Meyer, National Zoo deputy director of communications. This is to maintain accreditation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since the trail runs through the zoo鈥檚 secondary animal containment perimeter.

Meyer said industry security standards require the zoo to have a continuous perimeter fence.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 achieve that security-wise without closing the bike path gates outside of operating hours,鈥� Meyer said.

Since October, Norton has been working to extend the trail鈥檚 hours of operations.聽 The congressmember said she has a special interest in the topic because of her position as chair of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Norton said she thinks the best options are either extending the zoo鈥檚 hours of operation or building a new secondary fence around the trail. On behalf of the zoo, Meyer said neither option is feasible due to financial and accreditation-related reasons.

鈥淲e are really wanting to make sure that we are keeping people safe and have to abide by accreditation rules in order for us to do that,鈥� Meyer said.

Norton said she is also exploring legislative options to extend the trail鈥檚 hours.聽

In November, Norton requested the House Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies 鈥� which has jurisdiction over the zoo 鈥� add a provision to its upcoming appropriations bill directing the zoo to extend the trail hours in a way that maintains its accreditation.聽

Norton has not heard back from any subcommittee members but said she is still hopeful. While the congressmember would need to 鈥渨ork very hard鈥� to get the provision added, she said she believes there is still time.

鈥淚t’s not yet in any of the House or the Senate [bill] versions, but I think it’s noncontroversial and I’m hoping to get it in,鈥� Norton said.

The congressmember said she is also organizing a virtual town hall for community members to voice their opinions on the trail hours. She has invited the zoo, DDOT and the National Park Service to attend. The AZA has said it is willing to participate in the event, according to a .

Norton said her team is still working on setting a date for the town hall.

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The Endangered Animals Art Project will consist of 10 sculptures placed on lamp posts along Connecticut Avenue, each depicting an endangered animal local to the region.

鈥淲e want it to feel as local as possible and really relevant to where we are because public art has to do with where we鈥檙e situated,鈥� project manager Hannah Jacobson Blumenfeld said. 鈥淲e want to honor that and reflect that in the sculpture.鈥�

The District鈥檚 only endangered species 鈥� the Hay鈥檚 spring amphipod 鈥� is currently the one animal confirmed to be featured in the project. A tiny freshwater crustacean shaped like a shrimp, it is found exclusively in Rock Creek Park.

The amphipod is colorless and semitransparent because it lives mostly underground, although the upcoming sculpture may take some liberties with its pigment.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 sort of our mascot because it is very, very specific to Rock Creek Park,鈥� Blumenfeld said. 鈥淲hich feels special and important to showcase that.鈥�

Carolina Mayorga, the project鈥檚 lead artist, is creating the Hay鈥檚 spring amphipod piece. The rest of the artists have yet to be decided but they will all be local residents like Mayorga. Blumenfeld said an artist interest form would go live this week and a panel will be organized later to choose the creators.

The project鈥檚 organizers plan to complete installation around fall 2023. Each lamp post will have a unique QR code attached to it that leads to information on the sculpture, its artist, the represented animal and anyone who sponsored it.

One sculpture will be placed outside the Woodley Park Metro station, with another near the Cleveland Park Metro stop. The rest of the art will be located on the east side of Connecticut Avenue, the same side of the street as the National Zoo.聽

Blumenfeld said the chosen posts are spaced out evenly to create a sense of connection between the two neighborhoods.

鈥淭he idea of connecting neighborhoods through a walking path and using sculpture and art as a wayfinding mechanism is a really special part of this project,鈥� Blumenfeld said.

Cleveland Park Main Street, Woodley Park Main Street and Capitol Hill Arts Workshop partnered to organize the project.

CPMS Manager Cassandra Hetherington said the idea came from her wanting more public art in the area, as well as something to further connect the two neighborhoods to the zoo.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a way of really creating community through public art,鈥� Hetherington said.

While the art project is divided between Woodley Park and Cleveland Park, WPMS Executive Director Robert Meins said the two neighborhoods both have the same interest in highlighting the zoo, which brings a lot of customers to local businesses.

The art project will also be a hub for community events. This includes scavenger hunts leading people to each sculpture and trick-or-treating at the lamp posts on Halloween.聽

Hetherington said she wants to have afternoon concerts at each installation with local musicians playing songs about animals. Meins said it would be 鈥渇antastic鈥� to have an expert from the Smithsonian Institution or World Wildlife Fund deliver a talk about the endangered animals.

The project draws inspiration from the in Capitol Hill, which Blumenfeld also managed for CHAW. Installed in 2014 and expanded in 2020, it features 20 animal sculptures illustrating various lettered street signs in southeast D.C.

Blumenfeld said her experience with the previous installation helped her better prepare for the endangered animal project鈥檚 logistical requirements.聽聽

鈥淲orking in a public space brings different constraints, but also leads to increased creativity,鈥� Blumenfeld said.

The art needs to be placed at a certain height on the lamp posts to 鈥� the alphabet animal project鈥檚 original koala went missing soon after being installed. The sculptures must also be made with specific materials that last in the elements. They cannot weigh more than seven pounds because of wind, Blumenfeld said, but also need enough holes so air can blow through.

The project is currently in the fundraising stage. Hetherington said the organizers need to raise a little under $20,000 before applying for matching funds from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Fundraising efforts will focus on both individual donations and larger business and nonprofit sponsors.聽

The organizers will host fundraising events next year, including a trivia night in February run by Capital Trivia, Hetherington said. Prospective players should expect some questions about endangered animals.

Hetherington said the project has already received positive feedback from the public. The Advisory Neighborhood Commissions serving Woodley Park and Cleveland Park have also expressed support, as well as the neighborhoods鈥� citizens associations, Meins said.

鈥淚 think after two and a half years of the [COVID-19] pandemic, people really want to be involved in something that is positive and that brings people together,鈥� Meins said.

The post New street art project will bring endangered animals to northwest DC first appeared on 91茄子.

Groups including Ward 3 Housing Justice and the Wardman Hotel Strategy Team are petitioning officials across District departments to further assess the project鈥檚 potential to meet community housing needs. The advocates have already done this themselves, developing independent housing concepts and architectural reviews of the former hotel.聽

鈥淲e鈥檝e talked about doing a presentation to the [D.C.] Council staff, to all the council members, to try and let them understand why we鈥檙e thinking this way,鈥� said Robin Diener, a member of WHST.

Located next to the Woodley Park Metro station, the Wardman Park Hotel closed in January 2021 after its owners filed for bankruptcy. The property was sold at auction to real estate firm Carmel Partners for $152 million the following winter.

Carmel Partners plans to demolish the vacant hotel and build two apartment buildings with a total of 900 units. In accordance with district inclusionary zoning requirements, the developer will include 72 affordable housing units at the Wardman site 鈥� 8% of the total occupancy.聽

The project has 鈥渋ncredible potential鈥� to provide more affordable housing in northwest D.C., said Margaret Dwyer, convenor of W3HJ. Dwyer said affordable units are accessible to people earning up to 60% of the District鈥檚 median family income. That equals a family of four making .

鈥淭here鈥檚 really very little family housing [in Ward 3],鈥� Dwyer said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 very little housing for folks who work hard and […] can鈥檛 live at the Wardman with these luxury apartments.鈥�

Ward 3 Housing Justice and the Wardman Hotel Strategy Team believe more affordable units can be added to the project through further government oversight.

This includes Large Tract Review, a process administered by the city鈥檚 Office of Planning to assess a project鈥檚 potential neighborhood, quality of life and environmental impacts. Dwyer said the review would help community voices be heard and promote additional affordable units at the Wardman.聽

鈥淚t could only be good for the community,鈥� Dwyer said.

While a Large Tract Review is required on a development site three acres or larger, it has not been conducted at the Wardman due to a dispute over the project鈥檚 eligibility.

鈥淚t seems to me that it is illegal not to have performed it,鈥� Diener said.

A spokesperson for the Office of Planning said the development project covers just under 2.8 acres. Conversely, Carmel Partners鈥� to the Historic Preservation Review Board in January describes the work site as 9.5 acres. An independent review from architect Jim Schulman, provided to 91茄子 by Diener, estimated the project would impact at least seven acres.

鈥淭he building that is being torn down is 4.75 acres alone,鈥� Diener said.

The Office of Planning said it would not conduct an LTR at the Wardman unless the work site grows larger than three acres or commercial use projects like offices or retail spaces are added.

While an LTR cannot require an increase in affordable housing units, advocates believe the process would bring more pressure from city officials.聽

The Office of Planning said while it encouraged the developers to provide more affordable housing units, 鈥淐armel Partners has consistently stated their intention鈥� to provide the minimum 8%.聽

鈥淭hey never were really interested in looking at what the city needs in terms of affordable housing,鈥� said Meg Maguire, chair of Northwest Opportunity Partners Community Development Corporation.

Carmel Partners did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

NWOPCDC previously developed an for the Wardman, which projected the site could have 500 affordable units. This would have met a fourth of the city鈥檚 goals for affordable housing in the area.

The District鈥檚 affordable housing goals

When Mayor Muriel Bowser announced citywide affordable housing goals in 2019, the Rock Creek West area had the highest at 1,990 units built by 2025. District officials believe they can add even more, up to 2,400 units, according to the 2021 .

Some members of W3HJ and WHST disagree.聽

鈥淭he programs that we have now, the tools that we have now, aren鈥檛 up to that task,鈥� Dwyer said.

Halfway to 2025, 69 affordable units 鈥� or 3.5% of the goal 鈥� have been created in Rock Creek West, according to a last updated in September.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to need creative thinking and action [from the city] to seize [affordable housing] opportunities when we have them,鈥� Maguire said.

The Rock Creek West roadmap estimates the largest share of affordable units will come from converting existing buildings. The Wardman is identified as an 鈥渙pportunity site.鈥�

鈥淲hy have a beautiful goal of basically 2,000 new units of affordable housing and then not do everything possible to reach that goal?鈥� Dwyer said.

Interior demolition has already begun at the Wardman, according to the Office of Planning spokesperson. A Woodley Park Community Association newsletter from Aug. 28 stated Carmel Partners advised the group exterior demolition would begin in September. As of Oct. 9, exterior demolition has not begun.

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Van Thof is raising suicide awareness in other ways on her own. She places stickers around the neighborhood and its bridges reading 鈥淒on鈥檛 Jump.鈥� An embedded QR code leads to a memorial website with an calling for the suicide barriers.聽聽聽

She continues to try to get in touch with city council members and Mayor Muriel Bowser to share the story of her late partner Dr. Peter Tripp.

Tripp, 29, died by suicide at the Taft Bridge on April 13.聽

鈥淧eter in life was so much more than everything I can say about him in death,鈥� Van Thof said.聽

The veterinarian loved to read fantasy and philosophy books and play board games. He was the oldest brother of four. Van Thof said Tripp was an 鈥渁vid鈥� platelet donor and also donated bone marrow and stem cells.

Tripp had no documented history of mental illness, did not voice concerns or struggles to his partner and had never sought mental health support, Van Thof said. If a barrier had been on the bridge, Van Thof said she believes Tripp could have received help.

鈥淪uccessful suicides are impulse decisions, and that鈥檚 why this barrier is so important,鈥� Van Thof said. 鈥淚 know that if it was there, it would have cut through that impulse for Peter.鈥澛�

After recent media coverage on the barrier movement, Van Thof said she is optimistic and 鈥渄efinitely seeing progress.鈥�

鈥淚t seems like there鈥檚 a lot more support than negativity,鈥� Van Thof said.聽

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is now working with her to spread awareness and lobby the necessary local politicians. Getting the word out now will hopefully streamline the project later, Van Thof said.

聽鈥淲hen there is an action step my goal really is to have all of D.C. behind it,鈥� Van Thof said.聽

The first step is funding, Van Thof said, followed by approval from various city and federal groups. The city then must hold public hearings to gather public opinion on the project.聽

Van Thof was told it could take six months to start the process, but said she thinks it will take a couple of years before construction begins.聽

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a long road, but it鈥檚 better to know that now and I don鈥檛 really care how long it takes,鈥� Van Thof said.

A D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner investigation found 50% of deaths by suicide involving a bridge between January 2010 and June 2022 occurred at the Taft Bridge, ANC 3C Commissioner Janell Pagats .

The project has earned support from some members of local government

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C passed in favor of the barriers on June 22. The resolution noted barriers were built on the nearby Duke Ellington Bridge in 1986, a decrease in suicides there. Plans to build similar fencing on the Taft Bridge were made around the same time but 鈥渄elayed and subsequently abandoned,鈥� according to the resolution.

ANC 1C passed the on July 20, after Pagats shared it with ANC 1C Commissioner Fiona Clem. While a majority of the Taft Bridge falls under ANC 3C, a portion is zoned in ANC 1C.

鈥淭he bottom line is that we did this to support our neighbor,鈥� Clem said.聽

The commissioner said she believes the ANCs鈥� support is critical. The resolution shows 鈥渋f and when鈥� D.C. Council pursues the project, the neighbors who would be affected are behind it, Clem said.聽聽

Like Van Thof, Clem is aware the project could take a long time.

鈥淐hanging infrastructure in Washington D.C. takes a while,鈥� Clem said.

A DDOT spokesperson said currently, there are no plans to install suicide barriers on Taft Bridge, citing 鈥渆xtensive coordination鈥� needed between the Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, National Park Service and State Historic Preservation Office.聽聽

CFA Secretary Thomas Luebke stated in an email the organization looks forward to reviewing a design but first needs DDOT to submit a proposal.

In addition to CFA approval, Clem said D.C. Council needs to approve the project and the resulting legislation would then need approval from Congress.聽

A spokesperson for D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) said Cheh thinks it is 鈥渁 good idea worth exploring鈥� and 鈥渦rges鈥� the mayor to consider funding sources.

鈥淏arriers on bridges save lives,鈥� said Jill Harkavy-Friedman, senior vice president of research at AFSP.聽

Harkavy-Friedman stated in an email bridge barriers reduce the number of suicide deaths by 40% to 100%, depending on the location and structure.聽

鈥淐urrently, the most effective tool we have for reducing the number of suicide deaths is by limiting access to lethal means because that allows time for the crisis to de-escalate and for help to arrive,鈥� Harkavy-Friedman said.

The researcher also said studies have shown full-length barriers do not lead to suicides on nearby bridges or by other methods. A in Australia found these barriers are cost-effective. Conducted across the country, it reported a return of $2.40 for every $1 invested over 10 years on top of reduced suicide rates.聽聽

After barriers are installed on Taft Bridge, Van Thof said she will turn her focus to 鈥渢he rest of the bridges that kill people in D.C.鈥� and work to pass the . Introduced in Congress last year, the bill establishes a U.S. Department of Transportation program to install bridge barriers nationwide.

鈥淚 wish none of it was necessary,鈥� Van Thof said. 鈥淚 wish I wasn鈥檛 here doing this, but this is what [Tripp] would want. This is how good of a person he was, that he would do something like this.鈥�

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Seventy-five animal-residents at the Smithsonian National Zoo had received at least one dose of the Zoetis vaccine since last week, a zoo spokesperson said.

Zoetis began developing the animal-specific Covid vaccine last year after a dog in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus. Zoetis is donating around 26,000 doses to over 100 zoos across 41 states and in 13 countries, according to spokesperson Christina Lood.

鈥淲e have a long history of supporting zoo veterinarians, and we are proud to continue to help them provide a high standard of care and protect their special and unique animals from COVID,鈥� Lood said.

The National Zoo鈥檚 first round for their orangutans, one western lowland gorilla, a white-eared titi monkey named Henderson, and the two emperor tamarins, Flex and Poe. They鈥檝e since all received their second shots, according to zookeepers. The larger primates are fully vaccinated and the smaller ones are at least halfway to vaccine immunity.

The Zoo鈥檚 felines all took their shots, exception for the lions and tigers that in September. They need to test negative for three months before receiving their first doses.

According to several zookeepers, the otters continued getting vaccinated and the cows and alpacas received their first shots when the bobcats chose not to cooperate that day. Those in charge of dealing with animals at the National Zoo said they love to talk about the animals but a policy restricted their ability to comment freely or be named for this publication.

Violette Rivera said she loves to see the sea lions since they don鈥檛 have them back home at the Philadelphia Zoo.

鈥淚 guess it鈥檚 kind of sad that they’re at risk even in their enclosures, but I鈥檓 glad the zoo is protecting them,鈥� she said about the zoo鈥檚 various animals.

Rivera said her daughter Eloisa liked to watch the smaller primates. While inside the small mammal house, Eloisa hopped alongside the brush-tailed bettongs.

鈥淚t’s depressing that the zoo鈥檚 trying to keep these animals from extinction and they could still get Covid,鈥� she said.

John and Darlene Raptis visited the Amazon house, where keepers fed Flex, Poe and Henderson their breakfasts.

鈥淚f it’s safe for them. then sure, I have no problem with it,鈥� Darlene said about the animal-vaccines.

After a quick prick, keepers reward the animals with their favorite foods. Siamangs Bradley and Ronnie receive raisins, Zoo Spokesperson Jen Zoon said, while keepers give grapes to the red pandas Asa and Chris Anne.

鈥淎ll of the Smithsonian鈥檚 National Zoo鈥檚 primates take part in positive reinforcement training,鈥� Zoon said, 鈥渨hich allows our animals to voluntarily participate in their own healthcare and lessens the need for anesthesia.鈥�

The National zoo focused on species deemed highest risk for infection, which included primates and felines, according to several zookeepers. The list includes others such as the otters, red pandas, and hoofstock like Alpacas. The shots continue as vaccines become available and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and D.C. Department of Health.

Zookeepers employ strict safety measures and zoo policy requires animal care and essential staff to mask indoors. Some exhibits erected new barriers to help social distance guests from the residents.

Identifying which species face the greatest risk of infection evolves as science does due to a lack of long-term studies.

The USDA鈥檚 National Veterinary Services Laboratories announced in November the first two confirmed cases globally of the virus that causes COVID-19 in two spotted hyenas at a Colorado zoo.

鈥溾�嬧�媁e are still learning about SARS-CoV-2 in animals,鈥� USDA said in a press release, and based on the information available, they find a low risk of animals spreading the virus to people.

However, USDA noted people with COVID-19 can spread the virus to animals during close contact.

鈥淚t is important for people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to avoid contact with animals, including pets, to protect them from possible infection,鈥� USDA said in a press release.

The Zoetis vaccine must be used within a specific timeframe, with the second shot delivered several weeks after the first. The dose remains the same for all animals, Lood said, with the second shot acting as the booster.

鈥淥ur scientists continue to evaluate the potential need for a third shot,鈥� she said.

In September, six African lions, one Sumatran tiger and two Amur tigers tested presumptive positive for the virus that causes Covid-19. The National Zoo announced in October the animals鈥� conditions improved.

The Oakland Zoo to protect large cats and bears against COVID-19 in July, and Vice President of communications Erin Harrison said vaccinating their animals became a highly regimented and painstaking process.

鈥淭hese animals live there. They don’t have a choice.鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淭hey’re in captivity, and it’s our responsibility to keep them safe.鈥�

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums help keepers and veterinarians coordinate with one another nationwide for best practices and information sharing, Harrison said.

After vaccinating their animals, she said anti-vax groups targeted her staff and harassed them by phone, email and social media.

鈥淚t was disconcerting, you know, our head vet was getting hate calls. She was really shaken and I felt horrible,鈥� Harrison said.

Keepers come in contact with animals every day, Harrison said, and that keeping them safe is crucial. Zoo keeping isn鈥檛 a lucrative profession, she said, and keepers dedicate their lives to the animals they care for.

鈥淭hey’re the ones that build these relationships and trust with their animals and they always want the best for them.鈥�

The post Animals at the National Zoo seek herd immunity first appeared on 91茄子.

A harbinger from the 80s returns to the District in a time of transportation troubles.

With 60% of the District’s 7000 series trains pulled from service and facing inspection, their older 1980s counterparts now see increased use. Set to retire by 2024, the commuter crisis presents one last great ride for the 3000 series fleet, with more returning to service each day.

鈥淲e are working as hard as we can to get that legacy fleet back out there, but it takes time, as I’m sure you can imagine.鈥� WMATA General Manager Paul Wiederfield said at a Metro Board Activities meeting last Thursday.

Early in the pandemic, the 6000 and 7000 series made up most metro service, with the 3000 series sitting in cold storage. However, when a red line train pulled apart for the second time last year, the 6000 series was recalled and replaced with some of the 3000s, said Chief Operating Officer Joseph Leader.

The majority of 3000 trains remain in storage, he said. They were first introduced in 1987 and were manufactured by Italian rail car company Breda.

As of Monday, WMATA said the 3000 series made up 24 of the 40 trains in service.

A look inside the Adams Morgan Woodley Park-Zoo station reveals sparsely populated halls. A handful of passengers sit socially distanced across the platform. Blinking chyrons display a 16-minute wait until the next train arrives. After three minutes, the chyron said it would arrive in 15.

Eventually, the air begins to howl, prompting those waiting to look up from their phones. The 3000 series becomes immediately identifiable from its faded grey exterior, which at one time likely appeared as off-white. A dark crimson stripe runs the length of its shell with red, white, and blue vertical stripes across its front.

The crowded train emerges, dumping scores of passengers out into the station. Those standing at the far end of the platform chase after the caboose pulling past, as the retro-metro currently runs with six cars instead of the usual eight.

Michael Hart, owner of Hart鈥檚 Desire in Adams Morgan, said his employees generally commute from two separate directions; some take the train north from Virginia while others head south from Tenleytown.

He said his business adjusted quickly this time around after having gone through reduced service during the pandemic. He and his employees worked to increase their communications rather than rely on transportation alone. Some employees come in 15 minutes early or wait to leave until the next shift arrives. Overall, Hart said his staff was comfortable adapting to the delays.

鈥淣o one’s stressed out. We’re just rolling with the flow. So it definitely was a faster transition versus last year,鈥� Hart said.

Hart said he鈥檚 disappointed in the city鈥檚 metro system, and that he鈥檇 expect the nation鈥檚 capital to have the best of the best.

The war-weathered 3000 trains offer function in place of beauty.

鈥淏eing a Washingtonian, I’m a little embarrassed to have people come to my city and not get good quality Metro trains,鈥� he said.

The main concern for his employees, he says, remains on getting to work safely.

The 3000s are no 6000s, but may still grimace from comparison with 2000s.

鈥淭he general response is the twos were not as reliable historically as the sevens and the sixes,鈥� Wiederfield said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we started to move them out of the fleet as we had those vehicles available.鈥�

In any case, returning the older trains to service offers its own set of challenges.

鈥淲e’ve got to maintain them, we鈥檝e got to keep a very close eye on them, on maintenance, so that鈥檚 the issue,鈥� he said.

The 3000 series were built to be compatible with the 2000 trains, so a two may connect with a three, but never with a six. Both underwent rehabilitation starting in 2004 to replace their propulsion systems among a number of improvements to overall reliability.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not the best product we have, but it is what we have. Weiderfield said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what we have in the closet right now, so we gotta pull it out and use it.鈥�

WMATA announced basic service on October 19th, calling for 31 six-car trains, the minimum required to operate its current schedule with no gap trains or spares, Leader said at the meeting. This milestone was reached on October 20th, with the second phase focused on targeted improvements. On the red line, additional trains plan to be added to maintain peak service with gap trains helping improve reliability. This second phase calls for 44 trains and is expected to reduce the wait to 12-15 minutes, Leader said. Once sufficient trains return to service, they will begin to increase from six to eight cars to help with overcrowding.

On Monday, WMATA announced in a press conference that 40 trains currently operate, having added eight since Friday. 24 of the operating trains are 3000 series.

The most crowding on the redline appears around 5 pm, especially between Metro Center and Judiciary Station, Leader said. He said that congestion had not reached more than 100 passengers per car, considered overcrowded during the pandemic. The busiest trains had over 90 passengers per car and crowding is monitored each day, he said.

The Woodley Park Adams Morgan-Zoo station appears relatively uncrowded by these pandemic standards. Within the retro-metro, passengers sit across faded blue cushions while others lean up against the doors beneath the warm fluorescent lights. It鈥檚 not uncommon for at least one seat to remain available even during the 5 pm peak hour here. The biggest challenges to transportation in the neighborhood lay just outside the station.

鈥淚 drive a lot. and I can tell you, you can literally see when Metro has issues. The roads get cluttered,鈥� Hart said while stuck in traffic along 16th street. 鈥淎nd it takes me longer to get from store to store to be able to run my business because a lot of people don鈥檛 want to trust public transportation anymore. They鈥檙e losing trust.鈥�

The 3000 series chugs along nonetheless, hoping to help before they鈥檙e turned into scrap. On several occasions now, it’s shown up its modern peers; first the sixes and later the sevens. Once again, those set to replace them fail, tasking the retro-metro with riding the rails once more.

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The would include adding bike lanes along the 2.7-mile stretch of Connecticut Avenue from Legation Street to Calvert Street, NW. The $4.6 million project would also remove the street鈥檚 reversible lane system, which allows traffic to flow in either direction to reduce rush-hour delays.

While vehicles driving along Connecticut Avenue may usually encounter reversible lanes, traffic has not been reversing directions during the coronavirus pandemic. But many residents hope that change becomes more permanent.

鈥淐onnecticut Avenue is our main street. 鈥� It鈥檚 where our grocery store, our pharmacy and everything else is,鈥� said Bob Ward, a Cleveland Park resident of 17 years. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also like a commuter highway.鈥�

Northwest residents hope that removing the reversible lane system and adding bike lanes can help make Connecticut Avenue safer and prevent confusion for drivers entering a reversible lane. Ward, who heads , a group of residents focused on development issues, said residents in the area have been concerned about safety along Connecticut Avenue for years.

Efforts to remove the reversible lane system along the traffic-heavy street date back to at least 2003, according to the reversible lane study project website.

Neighborhood commissions in Northwest D.C. have also formalized their support for reducing the speed limit for vehicles from 30 mph to 25 mph.

Robert Finley, who chairs the neighborhood commission representing Cleveland Park, Woodley Park and surrounding areas, said he noticed collective support among residents he spoke with to remove the reversible lanes along Connecticut Avenue.

Neighborhood commissioners expected to hear from the department about next steps during the summer, Finley said. They鈥檙e unsure when DDOT will announce whether it will support the proposal, go with another option that doesn鈥檛 include bike lanes or keep the reversible lanes in place.

DDOT did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story.

In response to public questioning, DDOT said the proposal supported by the four neighborhood commissions is a safer option than another option which would remove the reversible lanes without implementing bike lanes. This is because it would reduce collisions between cyclists and vehicles while also keeping pedestrians safe from cyclists riding along the sidewalk.

Janell Pagats, a neighborhood commissioner who represents part of Woodley Park, said she鈥檚 witnessed various accidents and near accidents along Connecticut Avenue. Pagats has lived across the street from the Smithsonian鈥檚 National Zoo for over 11 years.

Over 1,500 crashes were reported to police within the 2.7 mile Connecticut Avenue stretch during 2015 through 2019, to a report released by the department in June 2020. Over two-fifths of the collisions took place during reversible lane operation.

The study also said about a third of the crashes reported during reversible lane operation from those five years involved a pedestrian, and about a fifth involved a cyclist.

Pagats, who chooses not to drive a car, said adding bike lanes along Connecticut Avenue can also help the District move away from carbon-intensive methods of transportation.

鈥淲e need to make big, bold moves,鈥� Pagats said.

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Now, as the pandemic appears to be slowing in certain parts of the country and multiple pharmaceutical companies are developing vaccines, museums are starting to reopen using new systems and approaches to keep visitors safe.

The was one of the first museums to reopen after the initial closure of all museums in the D.C. area.聽

Aliza Bran, media relations manager at the museum, said the museum quickly switched over to offering individuals digital programming after the initial closure, focusing on monthly spy chats offered online and trivia challenges once or twice a month.聽

鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fun, and we have new material based on whatever theme that鈥檚 chosen,鈥� Bran said.

Bran said the museum is currently offering a family program for 8-13 year olds called 鈥淪pies in Disguise: Halloween Edition.鈥� The program is a webinar where families can meet former CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez and professional makeup artist Roger Riggle and learn the art of spy disguises.

鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to make it fun and keep it fun,鈥� Bran said.

Smithsonian Institution museums are utilizing free-timed entry passes where visitors can register for a time slot, plan to arrive at the time in a waiting line socially distanced apart from others, then be scanned in by Smithsonian personnel. Others utilize a similar system where visitors can purchase tickets online.

Some visitors are less enthusiastic about the reopening process, as they are still concerned about being infected.聽

鈥淔or me, no, I have not visited any museums,鈥� said Cara Todd, a resident and graduate student in the District. She said she鈥檚 both busy with schoolwork on the weekend and 鈥渓ow-key paranoid鈥� about COVID-19.聽

Although the declined to comment for this story, they did point to the protocols in place, all of which are detailed on the museum鈥檚 website in order to keep visitors safe.

Other open Smithsonian facility changes include closures of various exhibits that involve more hands-on approaches, children鈥檚 play areas, retail shops and cafes within the museums and museum hour alterations.

The , while welcoming visitors, has opted to close some of its more heavily-trafficked locations in the park such as its visitors center, certain pathways, panda exhibit and Asia trail, and a few others.聽

In addition, there are ample cleaning, distancing and monitorization processes that ensure that any and all visitors will be safe and protected from the virus while visiting the establishments of their choice.

Father of two and area local Matt Smith said he feels completely comfortable taking his children to the zoo even with the pandemic going on.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a solid experience. A few of the exhibits are unfortunately closed, but other than that, it鈥檚 been perfect weather so we鈥檝e enjoyed being outside,鈥� he said.

Some museums like the have taken to advising visitors to follow protocols in a tongue-in-cheek way, calling them 鈥淭he COVID Commandments鈥� listed both inside the museum and on the website with instructions like 鈥淭hou shalt follow directions provided by Museum of the Bible staff,鈥� and 鈥淭hou shalt follow the recommended flow path.鈥澛�

According to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser鈥檚 , the District is currently in Phase 2 of the reopening process. The city has already met a few criteria for the process of entering Phase 3, with a current positivity rate of less than 3% and sufficient healthcare capacity has been maintained in District hospitals without a surge. Still, Bowser has extended the city鈥檚 emergency order on Monday, effective through Dec. 31.聽

Many area museums still remain closed, including the Library of Congress, the National Geographic Museum, the Washington National Cathedral, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Lincoln Theatre, Ford鈥檚 Theatre and the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

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Celebrating its annual lights show, the Smithsonian National Zoo invites all to enjoy illuminated animals in a Christmas-themed environment. The show uses over 500,000 LED lights all powered by D.C.鈥檚 electric power company Pepco.

鈥淚 thought it would be emptier than this,鈥� said Husain Karam, a visitor from Birmingham, England. 鈥淚t feels like a scene from a Tim Burton movie.鈥�

Karam has been wanting to visit the zoo since his college days in Philadelphia. Despite not having animals on display at night, ZooLights was still a worthy visit for him.

鈥淚 actually don鈥檛 mind the rain. I like the somber yet pretty scenery, it feels like the Grinch is hiding somewhere,鈥� Karam said.

Accompanying Karam was Omar Madi, a Canadian on his first visit to Washington, D.C.

Madi said ZooLights was a reward after a 鈥渂oring meeting.鈥�

On a Monday night, especially a rainy one, visitors don鈥檛 get the chance to fully experience ZooLights. Live music, food and an arsenal of attractions are available to the public, but on weekend nights.

For Stuart Elnagdy, a Columbia Heights resident who visited during the weekend, a gloomy ZooLights was a missed opportunity.聽

鈥淚 think a nice walk all by myself in the zoo with the lights would鈥檝e been perfect,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hoever鈥檚 walking there on a Monday night, their week鈥檚 probably less stressful already.鈥�

Elnagdy has lived in D.C. for almost two years but this marks his first visit to see ZooLights, now in its 13th year.聽

One newly added attraction, which the Smithsonian calls 鈥�,鈥� with much pun intended, is a virtual reality headset allowing visitors a close-enough encounter with pandas Bei Bei, Bao Bao and their parents.聽

Other new attractions include the collection of animal lanterns dotted around the zoo and a promenade of lights around the zoo鈥檚 trees and plants.聽

Former favorites make a return as well with a laser show projected on the zoo鈥檚 famed Elephant Community Center, a European-styled market and multiple children鈥檚 rides.

ZooLights offers free admission and runs until New Year鈥檚 Day. On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year鈥檚 Eve, the zoo will be closed.

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