LYCOS RETRIEVER 
National Zoo: Years
built 195 days ago
The National Zoo is open every day of the year, except December 25. April 3 to October 31, the grounds are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the buildings are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. November 1 to April 2, the grounds are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the buildings are open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Elephants have a tragic history of suffering and premature death at National Zoo due to inadequate and unnatural conditions, including an exhibit that measures less than one acre in size. From 2000 to 2005, the National Zoo exhibited five elephants, two of whom are now dead. The first, Nancy, was euthanized in 2000 after suffering for years from foot infections and arthritis. The second elephant, Toni, was euthanized at age 38 in January 2006, after becoming so crippled from arthritis that she could no longer bear weight on her front legs. In an attempt to take weight off her aching joints and feet, she frequently leaned against the walls or her elephant companion Ambika, stretched her trunk over the fence and leaned her weight on it, and lowered her back end onto a large tire in the elephant yard.
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"This is a giant leap forward for the National Zoo," said zoo Director John Berry, who joined the staff about a year ago after the Asia Trail construction was underway. "Our goal is to renovate the entire zoo from top to bottom and bring everything up to Asia Trail standards."
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