THE REGION
Zoo Hopes to Mate Orangutans
The National Zoo has added two Bornean orangutans to its Great Ape House exhibit and will breed them as part of the American Zoo and Aquarium's Species Survival Program. Zoo officials say it is the first time in 13 years that the zoo has housed breeding orangutans.
The pair, a male named Kyle, 8, and a female named Batang, 7, are on loan from other zoos. They were recently released from quarantine and are being gradually introduced to the zoo's three other, non-breeding orangutans.
Orangutans are the world's largest tree-dwelling animals and are native to the tropical rain forests of Southeast Asia. The Bornean species is considered endangered.
THE DISTRICT
Cold Leads DMV Office to Close
The main branch of the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles was forced to close yesterday because the building's heat wasn't operating and employees were too cold to work, officials said.
The General Services Administration, which shares a heating line with the DMV and the D.C. police department, turned off the heat for planned work on a construction project at Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW but failed to inform police or DMV officials, said Janis Hazel, spokeswoman for the DMV. The police department remained open.
The DMV, in the 300 block of C Street NW, closed about 12:30 p.m. after servicing all of its customers, Hazel said. The office had been scheduled to be stay open until 4 p.m.
The office is to reopen tomorrow.
MARYLAND
Man Fatally Shot in Pr. George's
Prince George's County police are investigating the death of an unidentified man who was found lying in the road after being fatally shot.
A call sent police to the 5300 block of Woodacre Drive in the Suitland area about 1 a.m. yesterday. The victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had apparently been shot at least once in the upper body, police said. His body was taken to the medical examiner's office in Baltimore.
Police said they were trying to determine the man's identity.
Car Crash Interrupts Red Line
A two-car accident in Rockville yesterday injured one person and shut down Metro's Red Line for a half-hour after one of the vehicles went out of control, crashed through a fence and nearly landed on the Metro tracks, authorities said.
