The panda cam is back online at the Smithsonian National Zoo, though the zoo itself was taking a little more time to reopen after its recovery from the government shutdown, according to FOX News.
The web cam was live again on Thursday morning, when it gave fans of the pandas a chance to see the larger panda cub "wriggling" about as the mother bear, Mei Xiang, put her paws under her chin to watch her cub play.
The camera reached capacity, which is 850 connections at one time, within 10 minutes of being back online, Pamela Baker-Masson, the spokeswoman for the zoo, said to FOX News. All viewers are limited to watching the cam for only 15 minutes before they have to refresh the page, thereby allowing others a chance to view the camera as well.
The Smithsonian National Zoo reopened to visits from the public on Friday. Zoo staff members needed to have time to check all the buildings in the facility and grounds. The zoo is also working to restore the schedules of all of its staff members, Baker-Masson said.
Over the weekend, visitors got to visit for free, though the zoo resumes normal business hours and prices on Monday.
The National Zoo is a member of the Smithsonian group of museums. It receives 70 percent of its funding through the federal government. In addition to the panda cams, the zoo also has an additional 13 live webcams where viewers can watch the animals online. The cameras normally receive thousands of visitors a day, and it doesn't seem like the government shutdown has put a dent in that number, with the cameras reaching capacity so quickly after being turned back on.
The National Zoo is one of only four zoos to feature live cameras on the pandas. The cameras are operates by volunteers because the zoo deemed them nonessential, part of the reason they were victim to the government shutdown.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
