We may be biased, but pandas are the greatest animals on earth. And it’s tragic that the Smithsonian National Zoo’s beloved live panda cam is dark amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.
The National Zoo had stayed open during the first 11 days of the shutdown by tapping into unused dollars from the previous year.
But that cash ran out and when the zoo closed its doors, the cam was turned off.
The government funding feud leaves giant panda bears Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Bei Bei — whose days spent tumbling in their enclosure and chomping on bamboo have been broadcast to tens of thousands of fans 24/7 for years — without an audience.
“The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is closed due to a federal government shutdown. The Zoo’s live animal cams require federal resources, primarily staff, to run and broadcast. They are deemed non-essential and will not stream live until the federal government reopens,” the zoo wrote online. “All the animals continue to be fed and cared for.”
The zoo’s somewhat less popular elephant, lion and naked mole-rat streams have also been shut down, but the panda cam has long been a fan favorite.
In 2015, when Mei Xiang gave birth to twin panda cubs in 2015, it drew nearly a million viewers.
The camera is also used by zoo volunteers to collect behavioral data on the giant pandas.
Federal funds make up approximately 70 percent of the Zoo’s operating budget.
When it’s open, the zoo is free to visitors.
Some on social media aren’t too happy about losing the panda cam:
It was horrible enough that thousands of American workers are out of jobs or working w/o pay because our “president “ is having a meltdown. Today because of the shut down, the panda cam at the National zoo went dark. The end times are near. Hide your children and your wives??
— Katherine (@MrsKAYLandis) January 2, 2019
The panda-cam at the National Zoo has gone dark. This government shutdown has gone too far. https://t.co/uJSvrxYuN9
— Benjamin Wenger (@BengerMarques) January 2, 2019
I realized I'm affected by the government shutdown when I saw that the DC zoo's Panda Cam is turned off. Absolutely outrageous. https://t.co/S3xRTHWoSO
— Preston Huennekens (@Preston_Hue) January 13, 2019
Trump is a traitor…and a thief of joy
Bye-bye Bei Bei: National Zoo's panda cam goes dark amid government shutdown https://t.co/9JZhimdrJl
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) January 13, 2019
THIS SHUT DOWN HAS GONE TOO FAR. TAX RETURNS AIGHT BUT SHUTTING DOWN THE NATIONAL ZOO PANDA CAM???? UNACCEPTABLE !!!! pic.twitter.com/KrOX6H33qK
— Jacqueline? (@bbyguerrilla) January 10, 2019
I can handle federal workers not getting paid, but panda cam going dark? That's the last straw. I'm pissed.
— Ben Thompson (@ReverendRambo) January 1, 2019
This cuts deep
— Andy Sutton (@dmbfanmd) January 1, 2019
The shutdown has upended the lives of government workers in a number of agencies — 800,000 of them have been furloughed or are working without pay.
It has also forced changes in the lives of people who depend on government services, from food assistance recipients to people trying to get married.
Our favorite panda, Mylo, is still touring Washington, D.C. but is obviously upset at the lack of cam time.
Mylo the Panda in front of a snowy White House.
While the Panda Cam is down, we offer these pics:
