Animal caretakers from around the country Wednesday will once again show off their furry/scaly/creepy/crawly charges during the annual Association of Zoos and Aquariums congressional reception.  

The AZA’s lobbying visit, which is expected to overrun the Rayburn Cafeteria from 6 to 8 p.m., provides lawmakers and staff the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with exotic species. The featured attractions most likely to be passed around at this year’s shindig include:  

Baby servals

Kangaroos

Clouded leopards

Young cheetahs

Sloths

Chinese alligators

African black-footed penguins

Panamanian golden frogs

Lionhead rabbits

Keel-billed toucans

Ravens

Dumeril’s ground boas    

Egyptian tortoises

Spectacled owls

Polish chickens

Prehensile-tailed skinks

Sunbeam or rainbow boas, and  

Nine-banded armadillos

Event organizers said Zoo and Aquarium Caucus co-chairmen Daniel Lipinski, D-Ill., and Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., have signed up to get their wild kingdom on, and noted that Rep. José E. Serrano, D-N.Y., is set to be honored at some point during the evening.  

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