APPENDIX 7 

 Report on the National Zoological Park 



Sir: Transmitted herewith is a report on the operations of the 

 National Zoological Park for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1951. 



During the year 1,768 individual animals were added to the collec- 

 tion by gifts, deposits, purchases, exchanges, births, and hatchings. 

 Among the accessions were many rare specimens never before shown 

 in this Zoo. The addition of new kinds of animals enhances the value 

 of the collection, which is maintained not only for exhibition, but for 

 research and education, thus fostering the Smithsonian's established 

 purpose of "the increase and diffusion of knowledge." 



Valuable opportunities for research are afforded students of biology, 

 particularly vertebrate zoology, as well as artists, photographers, and 

 writers. Only methods of study that do not endanger the welfare 

 of animals or the safety of the public are permitted. 



Services of the staff included answering in person or by phone, mail, 

 and telegraph questions regarding animals and their care and trans- 

 portation; furnishing to other zoos and other agencies, public and 

 private, information regarding structures for housing animals; co- 

 operating with other agencies of Federal, State, and municipal gov- 

 ernments in research work ; and preparing articles for publication. 



The stone restaurant building, which was constructed in the Park 

 in 1940, is leased at $23,052 a year. This money is deposited in the 

 general fund of the United States Treasury. The concessionaire 

 serves meals and light refreshments and sells souvenirs. 



VISITORS 



The estimated numbet of visitors was 3,460,400, an increase of 

 22,731 over the previous year. This was the largest attendance in 

 the history of the Zoo and was probably due to a combination of cir- 

 cumstances, such as the continued high employment in the Wash- 

 ington area, increase in travel accompanying the general economic 

 prosperity, and the frequency with which the Zoo was able to announce 

 the addition of interesting specimens to the collection. 



Before the war, early days of the week had relatively low attend- 

 ance, with an increasing number of visitors the latter portion of the 

 week and very large crowds on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. 

 Now the variation in attendance on the different days is much less. 

 There is also a considerable increase in attendance in the mornings. 

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