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National Zoo Exhibits

About 2,000 animals from 400 different species can be seen in indoor and outdoor exhibits throughout the National Zoo. Some of the exhibits show animals that live in the same part of the world, others highlight a variety of animals in a taxonomic group—such as birds and great apes—and others feature animals all on their own.

Learn more about the exhibits and areas of the Zoo:

poison arrow frog

Amazonia
The Amazonia exhibit features a living tropical forest, home to free-ranging animals, and a large aquarium in which dozens of fish species swim.

California sea lion

American Trail
This wooded area features North American animals, including beavers, river otters, gray seals, California sea lions, brown pelicans, and bald eagles. This area is temporarily closed for construction.

red panda

Asia Trail
Seven Asian species, including sloth bears, clouded leopards, and red pandas, can be seen in a series of habitats on Asia Trail.

flamingo

Bird House
Hundreds of birds, including cranes, herons, ducks, owls, and tanagers, can be seen in indoor and outdoor exhibits at the Bird House. Other birds can be seen in Amazonia.

cheetah

Cheetah Conservation Station
In this outdoor exhibit, cheetahs and Grevy's zebras (separated by a fence) can be seen in a grassland setting similar to their savanna habitat. Gazelles and other African animals can also be seen here.

elephant

Elephant Trails
The Zoo is building Elephant Trails, an innovative new home for our Asian elephants. Phase One is now open.

giant panda

David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat
The Zoo's giant pandas—Mei Xiang and Tian Tian—live in this state-of-the-art exhibit, designed to mimic the pandas' natural habitat of rocky, lush terrain in China.

white-cheeked gibbon

Gibbon Ridge
See siamangs and white-cheeked gibbons swing quickly around their exhibit.

gorilla

Great Ape House
The Great Ape House is home to western lowland gorillas and orangutans.

lion

Great Cats
Three adult African lions, seven lion cubs (on limited exhibit hours), and two Sumatran tigers live at the Great Cats exhibit. 

anemone

Invertebrate Exhibit
This exhibit is home to dozens of fascinating species, from the giant Pacific octopus, spiny lobster, and other aquatic animals to the Goliath bird-eating tarantula.

alpaca

Kids' Farm, sponsored by State Farm
Kids' Farm is home to cows, donkeys, alpacas, hogs, rabbits, fish, and goats. Kids can groom some animals and have fun on the Pizza Playground.

ring-tailed lemur

Lemur Island
Look for ring-tailed and red-fronted lemurs in pagodas and in the grass.

Aldabra tortoise

Reptile Discovery Center
Dozens of reptiles and amphibians—from a massive anaconda to diminutive newts—live in this exhibit.

meerkat

Small Mammal House
Golden lion tamarins, naked mole-rats, porcupines, armadillos, sloths, and many other small mammals can be seen here.

orangutan pointing

Think Tank
This exhibit is a place to think about thinking. See and learn about orangutans, Sulawesi macaques, leaf-cutter ants, and more.

maned wolf

Many animals at the Zoo—including giant anteaters, maned wolves, prairie dogs, Przewalski's horses, collared peccaries, Andean bears, and an emu—can be seen in their own exhibits and are not grouped with other animals in a building or themed outdoor exhibit.