If you are a fan of crossword puzzles, you might have come across a clue that asks you to fill in the blank for *Lion or tiger in the National Zoo? The answer is not as straightforward as you might think, as there are several possible solutions for this clue. In this article, we will explore some of the best answers for this crossword puzzle, and explain the logic behind them.

What is the National Zoo?

Before we dive into the possible answers, let us first clarify what the National Zoo refers to. According to Wikipedia, the National Zoo is a part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. The National Zoo is located in Washington, D.C., and is home to more than 1,800 animals of 300 different species. The National Zoo is also known for its conservation and research efforts, as well as its public education programs.

What are the possible answers?

The clue Lion or tiger in the National Zoo? has 10 letters, which means that the answer must also have 10 letters. One way to narrow down the possible answers is to look at the first letter of the clue, which is an asterisk (). This indicates that the answer is a word that has a different meaning when capitalized. For example, the word “cat” can refer to a feline animal or a slang term for a person, but the word “Cat” can also refer to a musical or a zodiac sign.

One of the most likely answers for this clue is FEDERALCAT, which is a word that combines the words “federal” and “cat”. The word “federal” can refer to the national government or something that is related to it, while the word “cat” can refer to a lion or a tiger, which are both members of the cat family. Therefore, a FEDERALCAT can be interpreted as a lion or a tiger that belongs to the National Zoo, which is a federal institution.

Another possible answer for this clue is TIGON, which is a word that refers to a hybrid offspring of a male tiger and a female lion. A TIGON is a rare animal that can only be found in captivity, as tigers and lions do not normally interbreed in the wild. According to the National Geographic, there are only a few TIGONS in the world, and none of them are in the National Zoo. However, the clue does not specify that the answer must be an animal that is currently in the National Zoo, so TIGON is still a valid answer.

A third possible answer for this clue is NALA, which is a word that refers to a character from the animated film The Lion King. NALA is the name of the lioness who is the childhood friend and later the mate of SIMBA, the main protagonist of the film. The Lion King is one of the most popular and successful animated films of all time, and has spawned several sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, the National Zoo has a lion exhibit that features four lions named Luke, Shera, Naba, and Lelie. The names of these lions are inspired by the characters from The Lion King, and NALA is one of them. Therefore, NALA can also be considered as a lion in the National Zoo.

How to choose the best answer?

As we have seen, there are multiple possible answers for the clue *Lion or tiger in the National Zoo? However, not all of them are equally good, as some of them are more obscure or less relevant than others. To choose the best answer, we need to consider the following factors:

• The difficulty level of the crossword puzzle. If the puzzle is easy, then the answer is likely to be more common and straightforward, such as FEDERALCAT. If the puzzle is hard, then the answer might be more obscure and tricky, such as TIGON or NALA.
• The theme of the crossword puzzle. If the puzzle has a specific theme, such as animals, movies, or geography, then the answer might be related to that theme. For example, if the puzzle is about movies, then NALA might be a better answer than FEDERALCAT or TIGON.
• The context of the crossword puzzle. If the puzzle has other clues that are connected to the answer, then the answer might be more obvious or logical. For example, if the puzzle has another clue that says “Simba’s mate”, then NALA might be the best answer for *Lion or tiger in the National Zoo?

Conclusion

The clue *Lion or tiger in the National Zoo? is a challenging and interesting one, as it has multiple possible answers that can fit the blank. However, by using some strategies and logic, we can narrow down the options and find the best answer for the crossword puzzle. We hope that this article has helped you solve this clue, and that you have enjoyed learning more about the National Zoo and its animals.