By Ben Barry
Wholesome footage shows tigers, opossums and elephants playing in the snow in their zoo enclosures.
Videos show pandas, Persian onagers, sea lions and cheetahs playfully enjoying a snow day at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology in Washington DC, US.
The zoo was closed to visitors on Monday and Tuesday due to the snowfall but the animals and their caretakers made the most of the occasion.
This was the first time that the giant pandas experienced major snowfall, the pair – named Qing Bao and Bao Li – took the opportunity to climb, dive and summersault across their habitats.
Across the zoo, the sea lions took the plunge into the freezing cold water, including a 16-year-one named Sidney – who enjoyed the snow as it blanketed the area.
Even the Asian elephants ventured outdoors to get involved in the fun and were rolling around in the thick snow.
While some zoo animals view the snow as an opportunity to play, others were curious about the snow.
Over at the conservation science campus in Front Royal, Virginia, the cheetahs were inquisitive about the layer of snow covering their habitat.
Cheetahs acclimate well to Washington-area winters, developing thick coats of fur to keep them comfortable.
The footage was filmed on Jan. 8, 2025.
