News Archive 2007
January | February | March | April | May | June | July |
August | September | October | November | December
- National Zoo Panda Has Eye Surgery
Tian Tian, the National Zoo's 10-year-old male giant panda, underwent surgery on December 16 to treat an inflamed third eyelid in his right eye. Lab test results confirmed that it was nothing serious. - ZooLights B-roll Available
B-roll footage from ZooLights, FONZ's first-ever winter lights celebration, is now available for download.
- National Zoo Gharial Dies
A 27-year-old gharial, a crocodile-like reptile, died at the National Zoo on November 29.
- National Zoo Opens Cheetah Science Facility in Front Royal, Va.
The new Cheetah Science Facility has opened at the National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center. It is the first new research facility to be constructed on the property in 22 years.
- National Zoo Scientists Working to Save One of the World’s Microscopic and Most Threatened Species
The National Zoo recently acquired 12,000 microscopic elkhorn coral larvae harvested by Zoo scientists who hope to one day return the animals to their wild ocean habitat.
- National Zoo Euthanizes Cheetah
National Zoo staff euthanized an 8-year-old male cheetah named Ume Wednesday after a rapid decline in the animal’s condition. - Takin Dies at National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center
One of the National Zoo’s takin was found dead Wednesday morning in its yard at the Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va.
- First Giant Anteater Born at the National Zoo
A giant anteater was born at the National Zoo on July 24—a first in the Zoo’s 118-year history.
- National Zoo Researchers Use Electronic Eggs to Help Save Threatened Species
Four kori bustard chicks—a threatened African bird—have hatched at the National Zoo in June and July. The Zoo also got new information for scientists working to preserve the species, thanks to an electronic egg. - National Zoo’s Giant Panda is Not Pregnant
National Zoo staff confirmed on July 6 that female giant panda Mei Xiang is not pregnant but was experiencing a pseudo, or false, pregnancy.
- Crane Hatching Marks a Victory for Both Science and Conservation
The National Zoo is marking a milestone at its Conservation and Research Center—the hatching of a rare female white-naped crane. - National Zoo Begins Annual Golden Lion Tamarin Watch
Each summer, for more than 20 years, visitors have been able to observe free-ranging tamarins, while volunteers record tamarin behavioral data for Zoo scientists.
- National Zoo's Three New Cheetahs Make Public Debut
Three 2-year-old male cheetahs at the National Zoo go on public exhibit beginning Friday, June 1.
- Smithsonian Scientists Reveal Large-scale Declines
in U.S. Bird Populations Due to West Nile Virus
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center scientists have found large-scale declines in a diverse array of common North American bird species and say that it warrants immediate attention. - Cheetah Science Facility Groundbreaking in Virginia
The National Zoo has broken ground on a nine-acre Cheetah Science Facility at its Conservation and Research Center. - National Zoo Announces New Fujifilm Curatorial Resident
The National Zoo is proud to announce the selection of Erika Bauer, Ph.D., as the 2007-2009 Fujifilm Curatorial Resident in Animal Care.
- National Zoo’s Giant Panda Cub Will Stay Two More Years
Tai Shan's stay at the National Zoo has been extended by two years. - Crane Hatching Marks a First for National Zoo
The hatching of a rare wattled crane is a milestone for the National Zoo. - National Zoo California Sea Lion Dies
Maureen, a 30-year-old sea lion, died April 11. - National Zoo Performs Artificial Inseminations On Its Female Giant Panda
Scientists and veterinarians at National Zoo performed two artificial inseminations on female giant panda, Mei Xiang, with thawed semen from Gao Gao, a male giant panda residing at the San Diego Zoo.
- National Zoo Artificially Inseminates Asian Elephant
Continuing two decades of elephant conservation and research, Smithsonian’s National Zoo elephant experts and a team of veterinary scientists from Germany last night completed the first of what may be three artificial insemination procedures on Shanthi, one of the Zoo’s Asian elephants. - National Zoo Announces Breeding Plan for Giant Pandas
As part of the Zoo’s giant panda research program and to bolster genetic variability in the zoo giant panda population, Zoo staff plan to artificially inseminate female Mei Xiang with semen from one of San Diego Zoo’s male giant pandas, should Mei begin her estrus this spring.
- National Zoo Elephant Undergoes Diagnostic Ultrasound
Zoo staff and a consulting veterinarian performed an ultrasound in response to our 59-year-old Asian elephant's periods of lethargy, lack of appetite, and low red blood cell count.
- National Zoo Welcomes Back Male Gorilla
National Zoo staff is welcoming home western lowland gorilla “Baraka,” who was born at the Zoo in April 1992 and has since resided in Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.
