News Archive

National Zoo's Seals Make a Splash on American Trail
Five new seals debut at the American Trail.

Andean Bear Cubs Make Debut at the National Zoo in Time for Mother’s Day
The Andean Bear exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo will be double the fun when twin cubs make their debut Saturday, May 11. The male and female cubs, named Curt and Nicole, were born at the Zoo Dec. 14, 2012, and are significant births for the population of Andean bears in human care. They are the second litter of cubs born at the Zoo since 2010, and one of only three litters born in North American zoos in the past six years.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo To Welcome New Asian Elephant
The National Zoo will soon welcome Bozie, a 37-year-old female Asian elephant, into the Zoo’s existing herd. She will be on loan from the Baton Rouge Zoo. Bozie’s last companion at the Baton Rouge Zoo died in March. Elephants are social species and to meet Association of Zoos and Aquariums standards, both zoos are working diligently to transfer Bozie to the National Zoo, where she can prosper with other Asian elephants.

Media Advisory: National Zoo’s Andean Bear Cubs to Make Media Debut

Photo Release: National Zoo Asks Facebook Fans to Name Sloth Bear Cub
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is inviting its Facebook fans to name one of Asia Trails’ most adventurous and charismatic critters: a sloth bear cub. Starting Wednesday, May 1, the Zoo is hosting a poll on its Facebook page; fans can vote for their favorite among three names that keepers selected to best reflect the cub’s traits, personality and characteristics.

Photo Release: Sand Cat Debuts at Smithsonian's National Zoo
A 7-year-old sand cat named Thor is the newest addition to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Small Mammal House exhibit. Thor will serve as an ambassador to his wild cousins and teach Zoo visitors and researchers about the behaviors of this secretive species.

Study Finds Baby Marmosets More Likely to Become Obese if Transition to Solid Food Faster
Baby marmoset monkeys that began eating solid food earlier than their peers were significantly more likely to be obese at one year of age, scientists at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute have found.

Photo Release: National Zoo Mourns Loss of Elderly Gibbon
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is mourning the loss of its elderly white-cheeked gibbon, a female named Mae, who died April 8. She was 43 years old and lived well past the median life expectancy of zoo gibbons, which is about 28 years old.

UPDATE: National Zoo Giant Panda Breeding
Reproductive scientists and veterinarians from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo alongside Tang Chunxiang, the assistant director and chief veterinarian of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at Wolong performed a second artificial insemination on giant panda Mei Xiang Saturday, March 30, around 6 p.m.

National Zoo Performs Artificial Insemination on Giant Panda Mei Xiang
Spring has sprung and the giant pandas are breeding again at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Scientists detected a rise in urinary estrogens March 26, in its female giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG). This rise and her behaviors indicated that Mei Xiang was in estrus and ready to breed. A team of Zoo scientists and veterinarians, including Tang Chunxiang, the assistant director and chief veterinarian of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at Wolong, performed an artificial insemination (AI) earlier this morning after keepers determined no competent breeding between Mei Xiang and the Zoo’s male giant panda Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN) had occurred overnight.

Photo Release: Clouded Leopard Cubs Growing at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
The clouded leopard cubs born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va., Feb. 6, are healthy and growing. At nearly two months old, they just received their first vaccinations. As they have grown, their diet has changed to match their appetites and nutritional needs.

Photo Release: Photo Release: National Zoo’s Three-Month-Old Sloth Bear Cub is Male
Asia Trail Curator Tony Barthel and keeper staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo have determined the sex of a 3-month-old sloth bear cub: it’s a boy! Keepers report that the cub is quite daring and adventurous; he will balance himself atop wobbly enrichment toys (such as logs and boomer balls) and has recently taken to climbing the mesh in his enclosure. However, mother Hana is always nearby to carry him down to ground level if he climbs too high for her liking.

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and Collaborators Successfully Breed Endangered Frog Species
The limosa harlequin frog (Atelopus limosus), an endangered species native to Panama, now has a new lease on life. The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project is successfully breeding the chevron-patterned form of the species in captivity for the first time.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo Opens New Home for Asian Elephants
In keeping with the best practices for elephant management, the Zoo has invested in a state-of-the-art exhibit: Elephant Trails.

Media Advisory: Have You HERD? Media Open House at the National Zoo's New Elephant Community Center
A media preview of the Elephant Community Center—the reopening of the 1930s Elephant House—featuring a new state-of-the-art indoor facility for the Zoo’s elephants, including a much expanded sand area, enrichment structures, an indoor geothermal heated pool and interactive exhibits for visitors that highlight the Zoo’s Asian elephant conservation efforts.

National Zoo Mourns Loss of Elderly Maned Wolf
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is mourning the loss of a 16-year-old female maned wolf named Diamantina, who died March 8. A final pathology report will provide more information in the coming weeks.

The National Zoo and Washingtonian Magazine Call on D.C.-Area Students to Write Letters to Elephants
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Washingtonian magazine are asking kids for help in welcoming the Zoo’s elephants to their new Elephant Community Center.

Photo Release: National Zoo’s Twin Andean Bear Cubs Appear Healthy and Thriving
The eight-week-old Andean bear cubs at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s received a clean bill of health today from the Zoo veterinarians. The veterinary team performed a complete physical exam Feb. 20, which included listening to the cubs’ hearts and lungs; checking their mouth, eyes, legs, feet and genital area; and feeling their bellies. The cubs also received the first in a series of routine vaccines. Although it is difficult to determine the sex at such a young age when genitalia have not fully developed, the cubs appear to be male and female. The larger cub weighs 10.1 pounds; the smaller weighs 9.2 pounds.

X-Rays Indicate That Bill Size Matters in Sparrows’ Quest for True Love
Are bird bills simply for eating or do they play a role in mating? Researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute sought to answer this question using digital X-rays to examine thousands of horny bills from its bird collection and specimen loans from other museums.

Better than Chocolate: Send Loved Ones a Critter Cupid This Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is offering valentines a unique way to show their love for their family and friends. For less than a card and a box of chocolates ($10), anyone can send an electronic Critter Cupid to someone special in his or her life—a friend, child, parent, sibling and especially a romantic partner.

National Zoo Orangutans Turn High-Tech with Apps for Apes
When great ape keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo were deciding how to add more variety and enrichment to their animals’ lives, they turned to Orangutan Outreach and a program that had seen great success in 12 other zoos around the world: Apps for Apes. With the tap of a finger, keepers are introducing the Zoo’s six orangutans to iPads, which provide unique stimuli. They found that 36-year-old Bonnie likes to bang on the drums, 16-year-old Kyle prefers the piano and 25-year-old Iris is content to listen to the soothing sounds of the koi pond while watching animated fish splash.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo Keeper Kathy Brader Receives Order of Merit
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is a global leader in brown kiwi conservation largely because of Animal Keeper Kathy Brader’s efforts, and her devotion to this endangered species was honored recently by New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key. On Jan. 1, Key appointed Brader an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He recognized her devotion to kiwi public education and outreach, as well as her success in breeding these unique birds and propagating the species.

New Genetics Research on Leopards and Tigers in India Underscores Importance of Protecting Forest Corridors
Scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute have used genetic analysis to find that the natural forest corridors in India are essential to ensuring a future for these species.

Join National Zoo Experts for a Special Evening Exploring the Gamba Complex in Africa
If you have visited the Cheetah Conservation Station at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo lately, you may have noticed new red river hog or sitatunga, and wondered: what are they? All your questions will be answered Jan. 11 at the special event, “Teeming with Life: Bringing Gabon to the National Zoo,” from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.