Animal News
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,...
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...
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.
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.
Jan. 31, 2019
Celebrate International Zebra Day by learning all about the largest of these striped equids: the Grevy’s zebra!
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.
Jan. 29, 2019
During the government shutdown, from Jan. 2 to Jan. 28, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s animal care team, almost all federal workers, reported to work and provided...
Dec. 14, 2018
Western lowland gorilla infant Moke is making noise—with enrichment!
Nov. 30, 2018
The New Year will bring in some new changes to the panda house. Beginning Dec. 5, the panda house at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat may occasionally close during weekday mornings...
Nov. 30, 2018
Did you know that red pandas have a unique way of picking up scents left by other red pandas? Get the scoop from Asia Trail keeper Mariel Lally.
Nov. 30, 2018
Hop on down to the Reptile Discovery Center to see the Zoo’s newest—and most colorful—creatures: red-eyed tree frogs! Get the scoop on the Zoo’s amazing amphibians from assistant curator Matt Evans.
Nov. 30, 2018
Our 7-month-old western lowland gorilla Moke received his flu shot this month! Get the latest news on him in our keeper update.
Nov. 16, 2018
Three-year-old giant panda played and tumbled in the snow Thursday, Nov. 15.
Nov. 16, 2018
What has 7-month-old western lowland gorilla Moke been up to? Read all about it in the latest keeper update!
Nov. 02, 2018
What sounds does an infant orangutan make? Primate keeper Erin Stromberg filmed the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s 2-year-old Bornean orangutan Redd as he pleaded with his mother to share her food. Get...
Nov. 02, 2018
Cheetah Conservation Station keepers are celebrating a dama gazelle baby boom! Two young calves, Gustav and Amaya, recently made their debut. Learn all about the newest members of our herd from...
Nov. 02, 2018
Read the latest update on six-month-old western lowland gorilla infant Moke.
Oct. 15, 2018
Carve your Halloween pumpkin to look like giant panda Bei Bei today with this downloadable stencil!
Oct. 12, 2018
Moke is six months old and, for the first time, keepers observed him taking his first steps in the outdoor yard independent of his mother!
Oct. 05, 2018
Watch a video and read the latest update on the screaming hairy armadillo pup born Aug. 8, 2018.
Oct. 05, 2018
Get to know the Zoo's hawk-headed parrot, Boomer, in this Q&A with animal keeper Hilary Colton.