News Archive 2009
January| February | March | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
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New Zoo Director Named
Dennis Kelly has been named director of the National Zoo, effective Feb. 15, 2010. - Sales of Bird Friendly Organic Coffee Grown To Smithsonian Criteria Reach $3.5 Million
Sales of organic, shade-grown coffee grown to the Bird Friendly standards of the National Zoo’s Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center rose to nearly $3.5 million in 2008, according to a report by Robert Rice, a geographer at the center. - Amphibian Rescue Expedition Discovers Chytrid Fungus
on Rescued Frogs in Panama
The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project announced on Dec. 4 that some of the frogs collected in its inaugural expedition in November were already affected by amphibian chytrid fungus, the disease that has devastated nearly 100 frog species worldwide. - National Zoo’s Young Giant Panda to Go to China per Agreement
Tai Shan, the first surviving giant panda cub born at the National Zoo, will be sent to the People’s Republic of China in early 2010, as stipulated in the agreement between the Zoo and the Chinese government. The exact date of his departure has not been determined.
- Wild Side Stage—Theatre for Kids at the National Zoo
This winter, Friends of the National Zoo will present Wild Side Stage, a new performance series for children. Families are invited for shows by acclaimed, award-winning musicians, dancers, storytellers, and puppeteers from around the country. - Two Arapaima Die at the National Zoo
Two arapaima fish in the Zoo's Amazonia exhibit died. A third is being watched carefully. - Celebrate the Season at ZooLights December 4 through January 2
The National Zoo's winter extravaganza offers fun for all ages at reduced ticket prices. - Smithsonian Scientists Find the Frog Legs Trade May Facilitate Spread of Pathogens
The $40-million-per-year culinary trade of frog legs may contribute to the spread of amphibian chytrid which is devastating amphibian populations worldwide, scientists find. - Wild Deer Lands in Lion Habitat at the National Zoo
A wild white-tailed deer jumped into a lion exhibit at the National Zoo on November 8. - National Zoo Launches Customized Conservation Stamps
Just in time for mailing holiday greeting cards, the National Zoo launches a series of customized conservation stamps featuring seven Zoo animals that represent major science programs at the Zoo. - Elderly Sloth Bear Dies at the National Zoo
Merlin, the National Zoo’s senior male sloth bear, died on November 4 after a 48-hour illness.
- Oryx Die at National Zoo
The National Zoo has experienced the deaths of two scimitar-horned oryx, a female at the Rock Creek campus and a male at the Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va. - Fish and Wildlife Service Awards $800,000 in Grants
to Explore Cause, Control of White-Nose Syndrome in Bats
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced six grant awards for research to explore the cause and control of white-nose syndrome, which has killed more than a million bats in the Northeast. The Zoo received a grant to establish a captive population of the Virginia big-eared bat. - Teacher Appreciation Day at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Friends of the National Zoo invites pre-kindergarten through high school teachers and educators from the Washington, D.C., area to participate in its first Teacher Appreciation Day at the National Zoo.
- Hippo Leaves the National Zoo for Milwaukee
Happy, the National Zoo’s 28-year-old Nile hippopotamus, was transported early on September 28 to his new home at the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin. -
National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center to Hold Annual Autumn Conservation Festival
The National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center and Friends of the National Zoo will hold their annual Autumn Conservation Festival on October 3 and 4.
- After a Hiatus of 30 Years, Burrowing Owl Chicks Hatch at the National Zoo
The National Zoo welcomed two burrowing owl chicks on August 2, the first hatching of this species at the Zoo in 30 years.
- Baby Boom of Endangered Species
at National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center
It was an exciting and busy 24 hours at the National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center last week as three births took place just hours apart. On July 9, a clouded leopard cub was born, followed by a Przewalski’s horse foal and a red panda cub.
- Smithsonian Institution and World Bank Group Join Forces to Save Wild Tigers from Extinction
The Smithsonian Institution and the World Bank Group announced on June 19 a new program under the Global Tiger Initiative to help stabilize and restore wild tiger populations and save this endangered species from extinction in its natural habitats. - National Zoo Artificially Inseminates Asian Elephant
Veterinarians and animal care staff conducted a series of artificial insemination procedures in early June on Shanthi, one of the Asian elephants at the National Zoo. - Rare Crane Hatching Marks a Victory for Both Science and Conservation
A rare white-naped crane has hatched at the National Zoo Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va. The female chick is the most genetically important hatchling in the North American White-Naped Crane Species Survival Program.
- Eleven Stingrays and Two Arowanas Die Overnight in Amazonia Exhibit
Eleven stingrays and two arowanas (fish) were found dead in their pool at the National Zoo’s Amazonia exhibit May 25, shortly after 7 a.m. - National Zoo’s Giant Panda Is Not Pregnant
Staff at the National Zoo confirmed that female giant panda Mei Xiang is not pregnant but was experiencing a pseudo, or false, pregnancy during the past several months. - Eight Institutions Join Together to Save Amphibians with the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project
Eight institutions announced on May 11 their joint venture to save amphibians from the brink of extinction in the eastern region of Panama—an area rich with diverse amphibian species. - National Zoo Giant Panda Pregnancy Update
Scientists at the National Zoo detected the start of the decline in urinary progestin levels in the Zoo’s female giant panda, Mei Xiang. This hormone decline indicates that the panda's reproductive cycle will be concluding fairly soon.
- National Zoo Baby Gorilla Is Named
The National Zoo is pleased to announce the name of its 2 1/2-month-old female baby western lowland gorilla—Kibibi (kee-BEE-bee)—which means “little lady” in Swahili. - Clouded Leopard Cubs Born at National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center
An endangered clouded leopard at the National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va., gave birth to a genetically valuable litter of two cubs on March 24. -
Raise a Glass to Wildlife Conservation at the National Zoo's "Grapes With the Apes" Event
Toast wildlife conservation at the National Zoo’s annual wine-tasting event on April 16. -
Washington’s African American Community Gathers at the National Zoo to Celebrate a Century-Old Tradition on Easter Monday
The National Zoo and Friends of the National Zoo will host the free event “Easter Monday: Celebrating the African American Family” on April 13. - Giant Anteater Born at the National Zoo
The National Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of a giant anteater born March 12 in an indoor enclosure. This is only the second giant anteater to be born in the history of the Zoo.
- New Spectacled Bear at the National Zoo
Billie Jean, a three-year-old female spectacled bear, made her debut at the National Zoo on Feb. 19. - Photo Release: National Zoo Introduces Red Panda to New Mate
The National Zoo introduced its newest member, a male red panda, Tate, to Shama, the Zoo's female red panda on Feb. 6, 2009. - Photo Release: National Zoo Gorilla Is a Girl
The National Zoo is pleased to announce that its three-week-old baby gorilla is a female. The baby was born on January 10 to 26-year-old mom Mandara and 16-year-old dad Baraka.
- Rare Horse Dies at National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center
A six-month-old, male Przewalski’s horse died at the National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va., Jan. 30 due to a fractured neck.
- Fun, Frisky and Free Valentine-Themed Event at National Zoo
Hosted by the National Zoo’s most charismatic animal experts, Woo at the Zoo presents an opportunity to learn about animal mating, dating and reproductive habits in an honest and humorous forum. - Photo Release: National Zoo Animals Enjoy First Snow of Year
- 2009 Giant Panda Mating Season Begins Early at National Zoo
The 2009 giant panda mating season began Thursday, Jan. 15 at the National Zoo. Female Mei Xiang and male Tian Tian attempted to mate throughout the day Thursday. For the past six years, Mei Xiang has typically ovulated in March or April. - Smithsonian’s National Zoo Seeking Bamboo to Bolster Dwindling Supply
The National Zoo is experiencing a critical and unexpected shortage of its bamboo supply and is reaching out to local landowners and farmers who have bamboo and will allow the Zoo to harvest and manage their crop. Photos of bamboo are available. - National Zoo Has a New Baby Gorilla
On Jan. 10, a western lowland gorilla was born at the National Zoo to 26-year-old female Mandara. The newborn represents the seventh successful gorilla birth for the Zoo since 1991.
Photos and video are available. - National Zoo and Fujifilm Invite Photographers to Take Their Best Shot!
If you have ever tried to capture a picture-perfect image of the Zoo’s giant pandas or wondered how the Zoo’s photographers snap beguiling photos of animals as diverse as elephants and naked mole-rats, now is your chance to learn the tricks of the trade in a photo-challenge discussion hosted by the Zoo and Fujifilm.
- National Zoo Appoints Joseph M. Sacco Associate Director for Education
The National Zoo has appointed Joseph M. Sacco associate director for education, effective Jan. 5, 2009.
