Brandie Smith
The Guardian
What holds, and what fails, under pressure, standards and accountability.
Brandie Smith reads as The Guardian because her leadership of the Smithsonian's National Zoo is organised around protection, of species, of ecosystems, and of the public trust that conservation depends on. She has steered one of America's most visible zoological institutions through funding pressures and post-pandemic operational disruption without compromising programmatic integrity.
“We didn't have any visitors, but we had to keep working. So if we're responsible for the living collection, I'll actually never forget that moment because the world is closing down because of COVID and our team gathered in our line in Tiger Building. And the offices there have this kind of bunker-like feel. And we were there.”
“I think people really enjoy watching the panda cam because they're seeing them how we watch them. We decided we're going to do something a little bit different this year because it's not just people in the United States, but people around the world are watching the PandaCam. We want to do it during the daytime.”
“A lot of people don't realize this. Pandas are taxonomically, they're carnivores, and they are bears. They are true bears. And they have evolved to take advantage of a more plentiful resource. They don't have to chase down their food. It pretty much just grows up around them as they sit there.”
“Well, it's actually really interesting. So, the female has a very narrow window where she is reproductively viable, but the males goes through something called rut. So it's much longer. So basically for months that could overlap multiple females estrus, the males are basically, they're looking for a mate.”
The David Rubenstein Show: “Brandie Smith”
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