Latest Panda News
Sep. 08, 2017
The panda team is still waiting to find out if Mei Xiang will give birth or if she is experiencing a pseudopregnancy. Giant pandas’ hormones and behavior mimic a pregnancy even if they are experiencin... read more
Sep. 01, 2017
Mei Xiang Update
The panda house is closed to the public beginning today, Sept. 1 to provide quiet for Mei Xiang as she enters the final stages of a pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. It is still too ea... read more
Aug. 25, 2017
Mei Xiang has started exhibiting more behaviors consistent with the secondary hormone phase of a pregnancy or a pseudopregnancy. That means that she has been spending the majority of her time sleeping... read more
Aug. 22, 2017
Giant panda Bei Bei (BAY-BAY) celebrated his second birthday Aug. 22, with a panda-friendly cake made by the department of nutrition at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. The cake was made primarily of f... read more
Aug. 18, 2017
Beginning Aug. 18, the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat will be partially closed to keep a quiet area around panda Mei Xiang’s den. Although we are not able to confirm if she is pregnant... read more
Aug. 18, 2017
Beginning today, Aug. 18, the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat will be partially closed to keep a quiet area around female giant panda Mei Xiang’s den. Although keepers ar... read more
Aug. 11, 2017
Veterinarians have started giving Mei Xiang weekly ultrasounds. Scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Endocrine Lab have detected a rise in her hormones, which indicates that... read more
Aug. 04, 2017
Behavior can tell the giant panda team quite a bit about the pandas, but the behaviors they exhibit are only half the story. When it comes to predicting when Mei Xiang will give birth, or when she is... read more
Jul. 21, 2017
Activity at the giant panda habitat has slowed since the flurry of breeding season in May. Keepers, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute scientists and veterinarians were monitoring Mei Xiang ve... read more
May. 26, 2017
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s team of reproductive scientists, veterinarians and panda keepers performed two artificial inseminations on 18-year-old female giant... read more
May. 23, 2017
Mei Xiang, the Zoo’s 18-year-old female giant panda, is showing behavioral and physical signs of estrus. She has been increasingly restless lately and has been calling to the Zoo’s resident male, Tian... read more
May. 18, 2017
Bei Bei is a bit of a daredevil. Although eating and sleeping are still his favorite pastimes, the giant panda cub loves to climb trees. Lately, he has been climbing trees in his yard and sliding all... read more
Mar. 23, 2017
Bei Bei has adjusted very well to his new habitats and life on his own. He identified a tree that he likes to sleep in, and he’s been exploring his water moat. The moat is mostly empty right now but w... read more
Mar. 15, 2017
The Smithsonian's National Zoo has received good questions about the giant panda weaning process and recent behaviors exhibited by Bei Bei and Mei Xiang. The giant panda science and animal care team p... read more
Mar. 09, 2017
Bao Bao is settling in China at the Dujiangyan panda base. Our 16-hour direct flight aboard the FedEx Panda Express was smooth and Bao Bao did really well. She ate and slept the entire way t... read more
Mar. 04, 2017
People who have been watching the panda cams have seen some big changes over the last few weeks. Bei Bei is weaning from Mei Xiang. We have heard from many worried panda fans as Mei Xiang and Bei Bei... read more
Feb. 22, 2017
Bao Bao, her keeper Marty Dearie and Dr. Katharine Hope landed at China’s Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport around 6:59 p.m. CST after a 16-hour direct flight aboard the “FedEx Panda Express,” a... read more
Feb. 22, 2017
To download videos of giant panda Bao Bao and Zoo staff interviews, see the B-roll for media playlist on YouTube. For photos, please see the Zoo's Flickr album.
Giant panda Bao Bao and Zoo sta... read more
Feb. 21, 2017
Thanks to all the panda fans out there for your love and support. You make it possible for the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to save giant pandas. Here's a look back at... read more
Feb. 21, 2017
To download videos of giant panda Bao Bao and Zoo staff interviews, see the B-roll for media playlist on YouTube. For photos, please see the Zoo's Flickr album.
Bao Bao (BOW-BOW), the 3 ½ year... read more
Feb. 16, 2017
On Aug. 23, 2013, a pink, squiggly giant panda cub named Bao Bao arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. She announced her presence with a hearty squeal to the delight of Panda Cam viewers around t... read more
Feb. 16, 2017
Bao Bao is headed to China! Take a look back at some of the most memorable moments, from her birth to her first taste of bamboo!
Tune in Feb. 16 through 21 for a series of online and onsite events... read more
Feb. 16, 2017
Visitors to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo could spend hours watching the giant pandas, and nothing elicits quite the degree of ‘oohs’ and ‘awws’ as a panda cub. Whether munching contentedly on bamboo... read more
Feb. 06, 2017
Giant panda Bao Bao will depart the Smithsonian’s National Zoo for China Feb. 21. FedEx, the Zoo’s official transport sponsor, will fly Bao Bao from Washington, D.C., to Chengdu, China. One keeper and... read more
Jan. 30, 2017
SOLD OUT!
We know you won’t be forgetting Bao Bao anytime soon, but if you want special Bao Bao-branded gear, now is your last chance. Head to any ON-SITE Smithsonian's National... read more