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. (CQ Roll Call File Photo) 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 (Screenshot) Kangaroos (Screenshot) Clouded leopards (Screenshot) Young cheetahs (Screenshot) Sloths (Screenshot) Chinese alligators (Screenshot) African black-footed penguins (Screenshot) Panamanian golden frogs (Screenshot) Lionhead rabbits (Screenshot) Keel-billed toucans (Screenshot) Ravens (Screenshot) Dumeril’s ground boas (Screenshot) Egyptian tortoises (Screenshot) Spectacled owls (Screenshot) Polish chickens (Screenshot) Prehensile-tailed skinks (Screenshot) Sunbeam or rainbow boas, and (Screenshot) Nine-banded armadillos (Screenshot) 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. The 114th: CQ Roll Call's Guide to the New Congress Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone.
