Ambassadors to the Wild

Dr. Steve Monfort, Head of Conservation and Science at the National Zoo, calls Giant Pandas the rock stars of animal world. There is no better ambassador for endangered species in the wild than the charismatic Giant Panda, whose own numbers are down to a mere 1600. In this excerpt from the television documentary, GREAT MUSEUMS: The Smithsonian National Zoo: Wild Thing! curator of Giant Pandas Lisa Stevens, veterinarian Dr. Carlos Sanchez and reproductive specialist Dr. JoGayle Howard discuss the challenges and rewards of caring for this photogenic breed. At the nation’s zoo, animals are accessible for viewing by the public in an extraordinary natural habitat setting.