The more recent bird house "renovation" was worse, but what was done to the elephant house was similar. Animals and plants were replaced with dirt, empty space, posters, and games apparently geared to low IQ attention deficit children. I have been to the zoo many times and have NEVER seen an elephant on the so-called "trail." But that "trail" eliminated a number of exhibits and a shady and less crowded walking path through the zoo. This change funnels the significantly increasing Summer crowds through a very hot choke point with no shade in front of the Elephant house. I think a better idea would have been to to not make this change at the small DC zoo and instead create an area where additional elephants could live at the facility in Front Royal. Closing the exhibit behind the reptile house and significantly decreasing the capacity of the restrooms near Lion and Tiger Hill were also ridiculous decisions. But there are more stores and a carousel.