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WATCH: National Zoo’s panda cub goes virtual for livestream

By Will Vitka

Locals aren’t the only ones keeping it virtual during the pandemic — the Smithsonian National Zoo’s fluffy panda cub Xiao Qi Ji did it it too. He was the star of a free livestream the Zoo is hosting Wednesday from inside the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat. It as a mix of prerecorded and live segments where the panda team will took viewers behind the scenes. “You’ll experience an up-close, real-time look at Xiao Qi Ji as he walks, climbs, tumbles and explores his indoor habitat,” the National Zoo said. “See how the Panda Cams are operated, take a virtual tour of the panda house and get the answers to some of your most-asked questions.” Check out the video below.

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Hundreds of guinea pigs fill Massachusetts sanctuary with squeals, purrs and lots of love

By The Associated Press
SALISBURY, Mass. (AP) — Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs. Depending on who you ask, tending to the daily barrage of guinea pig needs can be either a fairy tale or a horror show. For Smothermon, it’s often a mix of both. “If I could figure out how to get out of this at this point, I probably would,” Smothermon joked. “But I do believe that to a certain extent, I probably wouldn’t get out of bed if I didn’t have this.” Smothermon is the owner of the Guinea Pig Sanctuary, in Salisbury, Massachusetts, roughly 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Boston. On any given day, 350 to 400 guinea pigs are housed in a modest workspace, split into cages stacked from the floor to ceiling.
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