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On its website, the zoo said all programming and events will be cancelled, and all vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle paths will be closed.

Officials said a shutdown would not affect the feeding and care of the animals.

In the capital, it looks more and more likely that a shutdown of some sort will occur.

Republican unity showed unmistakable signs of fraying Monday as the Senate swatted aside the latest tea party-driven demand to delay the nation’s health care overhaul in exchange for averting a partial government shutdown at midnight.

Even in advance of the 54-46 party-line Senate vote, the stock market dropped as fears spread that the first shutdown in 17 years would inconvenience millions and harm the economy. “We’re at the brink,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., as House GOP leaders calculated their next move.

Ironically, the issue at the core of the dispute, implementation of key parts of “Obamacare,” will begin Tuesday on schedule, shutdown or no.

As lawmakers squabbled, President Barack Obama urged them instead to “act responsibly and do what’s right for the American people.”