Latest Panda News
Sep. 11, 2019
Reproductive scientists, veterinarians and animal keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute have determined that giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) will not give birt... read more
Aug. 20, 2019
WHAT: Giant panda Bei Bei will receive a panda-friendly frozen cake specially made by the Zoo’s Department of Nutrition Science. ... read more
Aug. 20, 2019
By the end of August Bei Bei will be another year older! He will receive a panda-friendly frozen cake specially made by the Zoo’s Department of Nutrition Science the morning of Aug. 22 at 9 a.m.... read more
Aug. 07, 2019
Our scientists, veterinarians and keepers have been monitoring Mei Xiang closely for the past several months to determine if she is pregnant or experiencing a pseudopregnancy. They will have their ans... read more
Jul. 17, 2019
During the past several weeks, Bei Bei has been experiencing some gastrointestinal discomfort which has caused him to pass several mucous stools and loose stools. Mucous stools are the consistency of... read more
Jul. 12, 2019
We are still waiting to find out if giant panda Mei Xiang is pregnant or not! She has not started exhibiting many behaviors associated with the secondary hormone rise of a pregnancy or pseudopregnancy... read more
May. 20, 2019
Roughly a month and a half after Mei Xiang’s artificial insemination, things at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat are settling into their regular routine. For the pandas that means ba... read more
May. 14, 2019
Listed below are events being held June through August as part of the “Dino Summer” experience at Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
What: ... read more
Mar. 29, 2019
A team of reproductive scientists, veterinarians and panda keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute performed an artificial insemination on giant panda Mei Xiang (m... read more
Mar. 21, 2019
On March 15, Mei Xiang started exhibiting behavioral signs that breeding season is approaching! A urinary hormone analysis confirmed that her change in behavior was due to her rising estrogen levels,... read more
Mar. 01, 2019
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo was created in 1889 and opened its doors in 1891. To celebrate its 130th anniversary, look back at how the Zoo has evolved through the years – from just 15 species on th... read more
Feb. 23, 2019
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China hosted a housewarming party today, Feb. 23, sponsored by Airbnb, to celebrate the ne... read more
Feb. 20, 2019
Snow in Washington, D.C. today, Feb. 20, brought out the playful side of the giant pandas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Twenty-year-old Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) and three-year-old Bei Bei (BAY-BAY)... read more
Feb. 14, 2019
You’re invited to a housewarming celebration! The new visitor exhibit in the panda house is finished and we would love for everyone to come visit and see it. On Feb. 23, we’ll be hosting a giant... read more
Feb. 14, 2019
WHAT: Ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new indoor exhibit for visitors at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, followed by... read more
Jan. 30, 2019
The shutdown didn’t shutdown giant panda playtime! During the past three-and-a-half weeks Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Bei Bei have carried on with their daily routines, but without their usual human visi... read more
Dec. 21, 2018
If you plant it, they will come.
A collaborative research team including scientists from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), Guanyinshan Nature Reserve and Tsinghua University ha... read more
Nov. 30, 2018
The New Year will bring in some new changes to the panda house! Beginning in early December, the panda house at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat may occasionally close during weekday... read more
Nov. 16, 2018
Three-year-old giant panda played and tumbled in the snow Thursday, Nov. 15. The giant pandas prefer colder temperatures and are usually more active during the winter months. They have thick water-pro... read more
Oct. 15, 2018
Each year, the Smithsonian's National Zoo's animals celebrate Halloween with an assortment of pumpkin treats and, dare we say, it's SCARY cute! We'll update this page with more themed content lea... read more
Aug. 22, 2018
Giant panda Bei Bei (BAY-BAY) celebrated his third birthday Aug. 22 with an ice cake made from frozen, diluted fruit juices and decorated with apples, pears, sweet potatoes, carrots, sugar cane and ba... read more
Aug. 22, 2018
Bei Bei turned 3 years old today! In celebration of his big day, Bei Bei enjoyed an ice-cake, participated in an enrichment painting session and received a new panda-friendly toy.
His cake was specia... read more
Jul. 05, 2018
A team of reproductive scientists, veterinarians and animal keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute have determined that giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) will not... read more
Jun. 29, 2018
The exhibits team built the hammocks from sturdy firehose and installed them. There has been a hammock in Bei Bei’s enclosure for several years, but it was starting to show some wear-and-tear as it’s... read more