We told you earlier this month that the National Zoo’s lone camel died. Sure enough, a walk though the zoo this weekend pretty confirmed the camel’s demise, as you can see above. The status of Mr. Camel had been changed to that of a temporarily closed exhibit. We now all know that the creature is dead, but we’re sure the zoo wants to spare the little children the thought of friendly Mr. Camel being no more.

But we have a suggestion. And the owners of a nearby apartment building on Connecticut Avenue may actually like the plan, even considering that most residents of Woodley Park have been annoyed with the National Zoo with the disruptions that have come with the reconstruction of the Asia Trail.

Instead of having an empty animal exhibit, the National Zoo should consider placing concrete casts of animals in the place of deceased ones. They’re cheaper and easier to take care of. For instance, if the zoo’s llamas would somehow die, there are two concrete llamas at an apartment building two blocks away on Connecticut Avenue known popularly as the llama building. And from what we hear, even the building’s residents wonder why they have concrete llamas greet them at their front door. (Those are llamas, right?)

It’d be a win-win situation for all those involved (and the llamas come with their own cages), except, of course, the zoo’s real-life llamas. (Oh, there don’t appear to be any llamas at the zoo.)