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Animal News

Western lowland gorillas Moke and Kibibi wrestle at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Great Ape House.
Apr. 12, 2019
It is hard to believe that an entire year has passed since the day that Moke, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo's infant western lowland gorilla, was born. In the blink of an eye, he has grown from a...
A beaver with thick, brown, wet fur, small paws and orange teeth
Apr. 05, 2019
April 7 is International Beaver Day, so sink your (orange) teeth into these fun beaver facts!
Two ring-tailed lemurs with thick fur, yellow eyes, and ringed tails sit close together on a small wooden deck
Apr. 05, 2019
Lemurs like to do more than move it, move it. At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, these primates party! Every April, animal keepers throw a big birthday bash for the Zoo’s ring-tailed lemurs, black-...
North American River Otter Pups Coquille (female), Potomac (male) and Nash (male).
Apr. 05, 2019
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is otterly delighted to introduce Coquille, Potomac and Nash — American Trail’s adorable North American river otter pups! Get the latest news in this PUPdate.
An adult female fishing cat named Elektra nursing her two kittens in a den covered with soft hay at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in 2012.
Apr. 01, 2019
Fishing cats are vulnerable in the wild across South and Southeast Asia, and sightings by scientists are few and far between. Not many of these small spotted cats live in zoos either, which could...
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 (...
Moke, Calaya and Baraka explore the outdoor yard at the Great Ape House.
Mar. 22, 2019
Get the scoop on the reunion between western lowland gorilla infant Moke and his troop from Becky Malinsky, assistant curator of Primates. 
giant panda mei xiang in her yard
Mar. 21, 2019
On March 15, Mei Xiang started exhibiting behavioral signs that breeding season is approaching!
Mar. 20, 2019
A wallaby popped its head out of its mother’s pouch last week at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. 
A naked mole-rat eating a piece of lettuce.
Mar. 06, 2019
There seems to be a favorite in the naked mole-rat colony. 
A black-and-white photo from 1899 of a group of schoolchildren looking at an American bison at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Mar. 01, 2019
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo opened its doors in 1891. To celebrate its 130th anniversary, look back at how the Zoo has evolved through the years.
Asian elephant Swarna at the Elephant Trails exhibit.
Mar. 01, 2019
When Asian elephant Swarna needed her teeth examined, animal keepers tried something that had never been done at the Zoo before. Over two months, they trained the 44-year-old elephant to voluntarily...
Orangutans Batang and Redd at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Think tank exhibit.
Mar. 01, 2019
Let’s play a game…for science! With a tap of the touch-screen computer, orangutans at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo try their memories at matching pictures. These games help scientists study the...
Amur tiger Nikita makes her debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Great Cats exhibit on Feb. 26, 2019.
Mar. 01, 2019
A sassy new resident made her debut at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo this week! Animal care staff recently welcomed Amur tiger Nikita to the Great Cats exhibit. Get to know her in this Q&A.
Moke, the Zoo's 9-month-old western lowland gorilla at the Great Ape House.
Feb. 26, 2019
With each passing day, western lowland gorilla infant Moke places more weight on his injured leg. His gait and movement have improved over the past month. 
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Feb. 14, 2019
This Valentine’s Day (or any day!) celebrate with your beloved and 2,700 of your closest animal friends at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
Giant panda Tian Tian plays in the snow.
Feb. 14, 2019
You’re invited to a housewarming celebration! The new visitor interpretive exhibit in the panda house is finished and we would love for everyone to come visit and see it.
Gorilla infant Moke plays with an enrichment chair and some browse at the Great Ape House.
Feb. 08, 2019
The holiday season and new year were an exciting time for the Zoo's 9-month-old western lowland gorilla, Moke! Read the latest keeper update.
Adult naked mole-rats and pups sleeping together in a pile.
Feb. 01, 2019
We’re happy to welcome you back from our unscheduled break in naked mole-rat viewing! Life in our naked mole-rat colony has bustled on during the past three-and-a-half weeks. 
Matt Evans holding a turtle at a facility in Myanmar.
Feb. 01, 2019
In Myanmar, reptiles are rapidly disappearing. The good news: all hope is not lost for critically endangered turtles. Rescue facilities across the country, supported by the Turtle Survival Alliance,...
Sloth bear Remi explores her habitat on Asia Trail.
Feb. 01, 2019
Is she or isn’t she? Excitement is in the air at Asia Trail, where the Zoo’s 5-year-old female sloth bear, Remi, may be expecting a cub! To monitor her for potential cub development, keepers are...
Prehensile-tailed porcupine Quillbur at the Small Mammal House.
Feb. 01, 2019
Don’t let his prickly appearance deter you – Quillbur is a very friendly porcupine! Get to know our new prehensile-tailed porcupine in this Q&A with Small Mammal House keepers.
Western lowland gorilla infant Moke at 9 months old.
Feb. 01, 2019
The Zoo's rambunctious 9-month-old gorilla has a fractured femur. Moke is resting and recovering with his parents, Calaya and Baraka, under the close watch of the animal care team.
A hoofed animal, called a Grevy's zebra, with black and white stripes, slender legs, large ears, a thick mane and a long tail stands on grass-covered rocks in the sun
Jan. 31, 2019
Celebrate International Zebra Day by learning all about the largest of these striped equids: the Grevy’s zebra!
Giant panda sitting in the snow
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.