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Visitors: The Zoo will close early Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 18-20) in preparation for Boo at the Zoo. See the hours page for details.
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Animal News

Giant panda Bei Bei munches on a stalk of bamboo.
Oct. 18, 2019
Giant panda Bei Bei will depart the Smithsonian’s National Zoo for China Tuesday, Nov. 19. 
Oct. 18, 2019
Can sloth swim? What do they eat? And why are they so slow? Impress your friends and ace your next online quiz with these fun facts about sloths to celebrate International Sloth Day on Oct. 20.
Oct. 18, 2019
Get the answers to frequently asked questions about giant panda Bei Bei's departure from the Smithsonian's National Zoo.
American black bear and cub in Washington State.
Oct. 17, 2019
In September 2019, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Conservation Ecology Center launched Snapshot USA, a nationwide camera trap...
Oct. 09, 2019
There’s no better activity for a fall day in D.C. than a trip to the Zoo. Crowds are smaller, days are cooler and changing leaves bring a burst of color to the park.
A keeper holds two 11-pound Aldabra tortoises.
Oct. 09, 2019
The newest residents at Reptile Discovery Center are in no rush to grow up. The two 5-year-old Aldabra tortoises debuted in late September.
A Persian onager colt standing next to his mom.
Oct. 04, 2019
The end of the summer has been very busy at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, which welcomed two new members to its Persian onager herd.
Oct. 04, 2019
In August 2019, Reptile Discovery Center keeper Matt Neff embarked on a trip that took him across the Pacific Ocean to learn about enrichment, husbandry and breeding for the second-largest salamander...
Oct. 04, 2019
Catch up with the Zoo's Andean bears, Billie jean and Quito, with animal keeper Sara Colandrea.
Oct. 04, 2019
What makes (or breaks) a coral’s ability to survive rising sea temperatures? It’s a puzzling predicament, and scientists are hoping coral nurseries can help crack the code.
Oct. 04, 2019
In Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, eastern coyotes join the ranks of top predators, along with black bears and foxes. Still, these clever canines face threats in their native habitat. Using GPS collars...
Lesser kudu Shirley (right) with her grandson, Kushukuru (middle), and daughter, Rogue (left).
Oct. 03, 2019
Cheetah Conservation Station keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of a female lesser kudu named Shirley, who died Sept. 28 following complications during the birthing...
two-toed sloth clinging to a tree branch
Sep. 25, 2019
This newsletter was sent to the Zoo's surrounding community and neighbors on Sept. 25, 2019.
Sep. 24, 2019
Global Health Program researchers co-hosted a camel medicine course for Kenyan livestock veterinarians in March to help improve camel veterinary knowledge, promote wildlife health and lower the risk...
Three Bennett's wallabies eating leaves from a branch placed in their yard.
Sep. 23, 2019
Sydney, a 3-year-old Bennett’s wallaby, died Sept. 20 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
Sep. 20, 2019
Animal care, exhibits, scientific research and education programs at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute are made possible by donors.
Adult Egyptian vulture with a yellow face and light brown plumage on its head and neck.
Sep. 20, 2019
Smithsonian scientists tracked Egyptian vultures through 44 countries across 70% of their range. They learned that vultures traveling from Western Europe had shorter, more direct routes to wintering...
1.5-year-old western lowland gorilla Moke sits in the Great Ape House yard atop a rock.
Sep. 20, 2019
Catch the latest news about our 1.5-year-old western lowland gorilla, Moke, from primate keeper Carolina Powell. 
a line graph showing how birds have decreased by over 2.9 million since 1970
Sep. 19, 2019
Data show that since 1970, the U.S. and Canada have lost nearly 3 billion birds, a massive reduction in abundance involving hundreds of species, from beloved backyard songbirds to long-distance...
Sep. 19, 2019
Smithsonian researchers have studied black-throated blue warblers at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire for decades. Hear about their latest field season.
A Persian onager foal (left) and its mom (right) bend their heads to eat grass.
Sep. 18, 2019
Persian onagers are not just rare in the wild, they are actually rare in zoos as well. 
Profile of dama gazelle Zafirah at the Cheetah Conservation Station.
Sep. 16, 2019
Cheetah Conservation Station keepers at Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of Zafirah, a female dama gazelle who was humanely euthanized Sept. 12. She was 9 years old.
Zoo entrance with icon banners.
Sep. 12, 2019
On Sept. 4, 2019, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo held its inaugural meeting with the Zoo Neighborhood Council (ZNC). Detailed minutes of the meeting follow below.
Sep. 12, 2019
As Bornean orangutan Redd turns 3 years old, primate keeper Erin Stromberg reflects on his exciting year. 
Mei Xiang sitting in grass eating bamboo.
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...