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Animal News

American alligator in the grass
Aug. 16, 2019
What’s better than a dad joke? An animal joke! August 16 is National Tell a Joke Day. So get your laugh tracks ready, because we’ve got a few toadally awesome animal jokes that are sure to leave kids...
Aug. 15, 2019
The Smithsonian's National Zoo is mourning the loss of an 11-month-old male dama gazelle named Gustav who died Aug. 7.
Bei Bei resting on a limb of a tree.
Aug. 14, 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 to celebrate during the morning of...
A female onager with the rest of her herd grazing behind her.
Aug. 08, 2019
Even though Persian onagers are a herd species and prefer to live in groups, they don’t have a “hive” mind, they each have distinct personalities! 
Giant panda Mei Xiang sleeping on a rock inside the panda house.
Aug. 07, 2019
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. 
Home's Hinge-Back Tortoise at the Reptile Discovery Center
Aug. 02, 2019
Three new Home’s hinge-back tortoises recently made their debut at the Reptile Discovery Center! Get the scoop on these totally awesome tortoises from animal keeper Sara Hasenstab.
Titi monkeys Henderson (left) and Kingston (right) sit on a branch in the Amazonia rainforest habitat.
Aug. 02, 2019
Meet Henderson and Kingston—two white-eared titi monkeys that live in Amazonia’s rainforest habitat! Get to know them in this Q&A with animal keeper Donna Stockton.  
A female Abyssinian ground hornbill perched on a branch over a male Abyssinian ground hornbill standing in the grass. Both birds are large with dark, black feathers and long, curved beaks
Jul. 26, 2019
This summer, Abyssinian ground hornbill Karl got a new roommate — a hornbill named Karoline! The pair met in June, but their story really began two years ago when keepers decided to build Karl a new...
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Jul. 19, 2019
With temperatures soaring, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo continues to take good care of its creatures — human and non-human alike! Find out what keepers do for animals in this heat.
Persian onager calf born in 2015.
Jul. 19, 2019
Excitement is in the air at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, where hoofstock keepers are eagerly anticipating the births of three Persian onagers! Get to know...
Giant panda Bei Bei sitting in his outdoor hammock.
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. 
Close-up of Asian elephant Maharani's face.
Jul. 12, 2019
Female Asian elephant Maharani is turning 29 years old Sunday, July 14, and we are celebrating with her favorite thing—food!
giant panda mei xiang in her yard
Jul. 12, 2019
Keepers are still waiting to find out if giant panda Mei Xiang is pregnant. She has not started exhibiting many behaviors associated with the secondary hormone rise of a pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. 
A lesser kudus with a long neck, large ears, and light brown skin with thin white stripes grazes in the grass
Jul. 05, 2019
As his name suggests, Zoo staff are “grateful” for 5-month-old male lesser kudu, Kushukuru! He was born Jan. 12, 2019, to 5-year-old first time mother Rogue and 8-year-old father Garrett.
Infant western lowland gorilla Moke stands on all fours in the grass near a plant in his outdoor yard at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Jul. 05, 2019
Western lowland gorilla infant Moke is becoming bolder, and with his growing confidence, we are beginning to see traces of his mom’s personality, says assistant curator Becky Malinsky. 
A group of guests pose for a photo at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's ZooFari event
Jun. 28, 2019
Make the most of your time out of the office with a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo!
A red panda rests on a tree limb with its arms, legs and tail dangling over the sides
Jun. 21, 2019
Visitors to Washington, D.C., can expect warm weather and humidity this season. But not to worry — we’ve rounded up a few of the best ways to beat the heat at the Zoo this summer.
A meme with a lion cub biting its father's head and the text "#Parenting"
Jun. 13, 2019
Treat dad like the king (of the jungle) he is at the Smithsonian's National Zoo!
North American beaver Birch snacks on his favorite food, corn, at the American Trail exhibit.
Jun. 12, 2019
We are sad to share that 4-year-old North American beaver Birch died suddenly June 3.
Western lowland gorilla Moke at the Great Ape House.
Jun. 07, 2019
With two youngsters, Moke and Redd, growing up at the Great Ape House, primate staff are taking the rare opportunity to study the gestures and spatial proximity between gorilla and orangutan mother-...
Asian water dragon mother (top) and parthenogenic offspring (bottom).
Jun. 07, 2019
For four years, the Reptile Discovery Center’s Asian water dragon female lived alone. Then, while examining eggs as part of a study, animal keepers made a shocking discovery—one was fertile! How...
North American river otter pup Potomac explores his habitat at American Trail.
May. 31, 2019
The Zoo's 4-month-old North American river otter pups are gaining confidence and exploring their habitat on American Trail, says animal keeper Jackie Spicer. 
A small bear cub sitting on a shag rug looks up at a poster of Smokey Bear with the text "Remember - Only you can prevent forest fires!"
May. 28, 2019
Smokey Bear has been preventing wildfires for 75 years. In celebration, we’ve collaborated with the Forest Service to bring Zoo visitors a new exhibit highlighting the story of this famous bear.
Mei Xiang eating a fruitsicle.
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. 
Asian elephant Shanthi (foreground) at the Elephant Trails Exhibit. In the background are Ambika (L) and Bozie (R).
May. 17, 2019
Like many aging animals, Asian elephant Shanthi has osteoarthritis. She was first diagnosed with the chronic condition when she was in her teens. Zoo keepers and veterinarians have spent decades...