Where the Wild Things Are

Take a look at the residents of the Smithsonian's National Zoo in 1973 with these newly digitized images.
July 26, 2018, by Marguerite Roby

We recently digitized and made available nearly 700 color slides of animals from the National Zoological Park (NZP) in 1973. These slides depict a broad and adorable cross section of the Zoo’s residents at that time.  Some of the inhabitants were downright animal celebrities, including pandas Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling, Smokey Bear (also known as Smokey the Bear), and Ham the space chimp. Others play to the camera as if they were Instagram veterans. Note that several kinds of animals living at the zoo at that time aren’t among NZP’s current tenants, including chimpanzees, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, and African elephants. Click through below to meet Biggy the crocodile, white tigresses Rewati and Mohini, orangutans young and old, and many more.

Pause
1 of 20
Cape Buffalo at National Zoological Park

Cape Buffalo at National Zoological Park, November 1972, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3875

Giant Panda, Hsing-Hsing or Ling-Ling, at National Zoological Park

Giant Panda, Hsing-Hsing or Ling-Ling, at National Zoological Park, March 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3763

Female White Tiger (Tigress) "Rewati" at National Zoological Park

Female White Tiger (Tigress) "Rewati" at National Zoological Park, October 1972, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3772

Chimpanzee "Ham" at National Zoological Park

Chimpanzee "Ham" at National Zoological Park, September 1972, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3776

White-Bearded Gnus, or Blue Wildebeests, at National Zoological Park

White-Bearded Gnus, or Blue Wildebeests, at National Zoological Park, February 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3787

Dik-Diks at National Zoological Park

Dik-Diks at National Zoological Park, February 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3805

Two-Toed Sloths at National Zoological Park

Two-Toed Sloths at National Zoological Park, February 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3813

Nile Hippopotamus and Baby at National Zoological Park

Nile Hippopotamus and Baby at National Zoological Park, November 1972, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3830

Red Panda, or Lesser Panda, at National Zoological Park

Red Panda, or Lesser Panda, at National Zoological Park, November 1972, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3833

Grant's Zebras at National Zoological Park

Grant's Zebras at National Zoological Park, February 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3858

Saltwater Crocodile "Biggy" at National Zoological Park

Saltwater Crocodile "Biggy" at National Zoological Park, February 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3879

American Black Bear "Smokey Bear" at National Zoological Park

American Black Bear "Smokey Bear" at National Zoological Park, March 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3886

Young Orangutan at National Zoological Park

Young Orangutan at National Zoological Park, September 1972, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-3943

Indian Elephants "Ambika" and "Shanti" at National Zoological Park

Indian Elephants "Ambika" and "Shanti" at National Zoological Park, May 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-6849

Masai Giraffes at National Zoological Park

Masai Giraffes at National Zoological Park, April 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-6867

Red Kangaroos at National Zoological Park

Red Kangaroos at National Zoological Park, April 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-8155

Old World Greater Flamingo and American Flamingo at National Zoological Park

Old World Greater Flamingo and American Flamingo at National Zoological Park, June 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-8226

Aldabra Tortoise at National Zoological Park

Aldabra Tortoise at National Zoological Park, July 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-9473

Adult Male Orangutan "Archie" at National Zoological Park

Adult Male Orangutan "Archie" at National Zoological Park, August 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-9509

Male Bengal Tiger "Ramana" at National Zoological Park

Male Bengal Tiger "Ramana" at National Zoological Park, March 1973, by Francine Schroeder, SIA Acc. 11-009, 73-9642

Related Resources

Related Collections

Leave a Comment

Produced by the Smithsonian Institution Archives. For copyright questions, please see the Terms of Use.