US Government Shutdown: National Zoo snared by closures, Panda Cams go dark

World
Europe

02:56

The ongoing partial government shutdown in the US is affecting some of Washington's most popular residents. The National Zoo closed its doors to the public this week. It also turned off its much-loved Panda cams -- video feeds 'watched' all over the world. CGTN's Roee Ruttenberg has more.

ROEE RUTTENBERG WASHINGTON "On a typical day, there'd be a steady stream of people entering these gates. Families, school groups, tourists from around world. The Smithsonian's National Zoo welcomes more than two million people each year. But now its gates are closed."

The sign at the front entrance greets disappointed visitors. Like the Robson's who brought family visiting from Madagascar.

NEVO ROBSON ZOO VISITOR "We've visited all the lovely museums in Washington, and here we are today visiting the zoo, it's closed, and we're very disappointed."

The Waheed family says they've only found out about the closure when they arrived.

TARIQ WAHEED TOURIST "Our son loves animals, and really want to see the zoo."

On social media, Zoo officials tweeted: 'Due to the government shutdown, Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are closed. We will update our operating status as soon as the situation is resolved.' But these European PhD students -- hoping to spend their last hours in DC at the zoo - didn't see any notifications online.

The government-backed zoo doesn't charge admission and with the shutdown now well into its second week, there's no incoming revenue stream to offset the cost of keeping it open to the public. But it's not the first time a shutdown has shut this place down.

'No big deal. We were in DC during the Obama days' tweets one woman - recalling the 2013 government shutdown.

Another writes: 'Sorry to hear this.' tweets another. 'It also affects the panda cam.' 'We are all thinking of them.' Indeed, the Washington zoo's giant pandas have a giant global following. That's largely thanks to a 24/7 camera that streams live images of Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Bei Bei to tens of thousands of followers around the world.

This week, the much-loved Panda-Cam went dark. The broadcast needs resources to run it - they say mainly staff deemed 'non-essential.' But don't worry, say zoo officials. Because zoo keepers are considered 'essential' and that means the pandas, and all of the animals here are still being fed and cared for.

ROEE RUTTENBERG WASHINGTON "By law, these 'essential' employees must still come to work -though they won't get paid during the shutdown. And while there may be disappointment outside of these gates, the public can rest assured, the zoo continues to function on the inside. Roee Ruttenberg, CGTN, in Washington."