One of the new residents has something in common with popcorn ...

A new exhibit at the National Zoo is bringing some new animals into public view. Called the Claws & Paws Pathway, the exhibit houses four different species: bobcats, binturongs, Pallas’s cats, and a porcupine.

The new exhibit opened on May 27 and is located near the prairie dogs' habitat. It's the first new one to open in the zoo since the remodel of the Giant Panda exhibit.

Let's meet some of the new additions to the National Zoo!

Two of the lesser-known animals in the enclosure are the binturongs, Hank and Lola. Sometimes called bearcats, binturongs are from the Viverridae family and are native to Southeast and South Asia. Visitors aren’t strangers to the range of smells wafting through the zoo, but they might think twice when they enter the binturong area. These cat-like animals have scent glands that release a musk that smells exactly like buttered popcorn. Hank and Lola are 9 and 10 years old and came to Washington from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

Pallas's Cat, National Zoo
Pallas's Cat, Courtesy of the National Zoo

Three more "claws" inhabitants in the enclosure are male bobcats Cheese and Yoda, and a female bobcat named Ollie. All rescues, the bobcats enjoy roaming the habitat, snacking on frozen rodents, and cuddling for naps.

Pallas’s cats originate from central Asia. Sisters Akar and Ceba are just about the size of a house cat and have golden eyes and stalky bodies.

The final resident isn’t new to the zoo. It’s Jeffrey, a 2-year-old North American porcupine that used to live in a different part of the zoo. Porcupines are actually from the rodent family and have thousands of quills on their body that protect them from predators.

The National Zoo has resumed normal operating hours but is still requiring passes for entry. You can get passes up to 30 days ahead or same-day as long as you enter before 3 p.m. If you're driving to the zoo, you must purchase a parking pass for $30 online.

The best time to visit the zoo during the summer is early in the morning. As temperatures rise, the animals retreat inside—so get there before they head in for a nap!