Adopt a cheetah, meerkat, or another African animal.
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Visit
the Smithsonian's African Art Museum.
| Meet the Zoo's African Species | Zoo Map |
Mammals
African lion (Panthera leo)
You can see four African lions at the Great Cats exhibit. 
Fact Sheet | 
Meet the Lions
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Three male and two female cheetahs live at the Cheetah Conservation Station.
Fact Sheet | Meet the Cheetahs
Nile hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
See this huge, water-loving animal at the Elephant House. Fact Sheet
Pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis)
This close relative of the Nile hippopotamus, native to a small area in West Africa, can be found at the Elephant House. Fact Sheet
Western lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Like all great apes, these gorillas are endangered. Seven western lowland gorillas, including a female born in January 2009, can be found at the Great Ape House. Fact Sheet
Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi)
This large zebra is characterized by very distinct black and white stripes. Grevy's zebras live primarily in the semi-desert areas of Eastern Africa. Look for two male zebras at the Cheetah Conservation Station. Fact Sheet
Scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah)
The long-horned antelope live in a yard at the Cheetah Conservation Station, between the maned wolves and the cheetahs. Fact Sheet
Dama gazelle (Gazella dama)
A small herd of these critically endangered gazelles can be seen in a yard with scimitar-horned oryx. Fact Sheet
Speke's gazelle (Gazella spekei)
This small gazelle can be seen at the Cheetah Conservation Station, in the oryx yard, right near parking lot A. Article
Black and rufous giant elephant-shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi)
There are several of these vibrant animals—parents and their offspring—at the Small Mammal House. Fact Sheet
Banded mongoose (Mungos mungo)
Three of these striped carnivores can be seen at the Small Mammal House. Fact Sheet
Dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula)
Small carnivores, dwarf mongoose live
in the Forest Carnivore area next to the Police Station. Fact Sheet
Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
These mongooses can be seen in the Small Mammal House. Fact Sheet
Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis)
These small, distant cousins of elephants live in groups in rocky outcroppings.
See one in the Small Mammal House. Fact Sheet
Damara mole rat (Cryptomys damarensis)
Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
These mole rats can be found in the same exhibit at the Small Mammal House. Naked Mole-rat Fact Sheet
Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
Red-fronted lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus)
Red-ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata ruber)
These primates, known as prosimians, are native to Madagascar. The ring-tailed and red-fronted lemurs can be seen at Lemur Island. Two red-ruffed lemurs live at the Small Mammal House. Lemur Fact Sheet
Birds
Except where otherwise noted,
all birds can be seen in and around the Bird House.
Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)
more
Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)
more
White stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Pygmy falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus)
more
Wattled crane (Bugeranus carunculatus)
more
Black crake (Amaurornis flavirostra)
more
Kori bustard (Ardeotis kori)
Kori
Bustard Fact Sheet
Red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus)
more
Southern masked weaver (Ploceus velatus)
more
Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudata)
These small birds can be seen in the Small Mammal House.
more
Von der Decken's hornbill (Tockus deckeni)
Hornbills can be found in the Small Mammal House.
more
