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The Zoo is reopening May 21! All visitors will require free entry passes and be required to follow safety measures. Free timed-entry Asia Trail/Panda Passes are required for the giant panda viewing.

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Giant panda News Archive

Giant panda Mei Xiang holds her 10-day-old cub in her forearms. The cub's tiny paws are peeking out.
Aug. 31, 2020
Our giant panda cub appears to be growing nicely! Over the weekend, the Panda Cam revealed a peek of its tiny paws compared to those of mother Mei Xiang. 
Aug. 28, 2020
Last night, giant panda Mei Xiang gave us another peek at her precious cub! If you look closely, you can see its iconic black eye markings starting to appear.
Aug. 27, 2020
Big news! Early this morning, our Panda Team observed giant panda Mei Xiang leave the den twice to get a drink of water at 4:27 a.m. and 5:59 a.m. Her brief reprieve offered Panda Cam viewers a look...
Aug. 26, 2020
Last night around 5:40 p.m., Mei Xiang placed the cub on the floor of her den for just a few seconds, giving all of those watching the Panda Cam a fantastic view of her growing cub.
Aug. 25, 2020
Giant panda Mei Xiang and her newborn cub continue to do well. As Mei Xiang shifts from a resting position (laying down) to a nursing position (sitting up) and vice-versa, she occasionally holds the...
Aug. 24, 2020
Mei Xiang, our 22-year-old giant panda, continues to be a devoted mother. Interestingly, she has found a new position to hold this cub.
Aug. 23, 2020
Our panda team observed Mei Xiang and her cub overnight and were happy with the behaviors they saw. As expected, Mei Xiang is being an excellent and attentive mother. She has already established...
Giant Panda Mei Xiang rests with her tiny, newborn cub in her den at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Giant Panda House
Aug. 21, 2020
Giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) gave birth to a cub at Smithsonian’s National Zoo today, Aug. 21 at 6:35 p.m.
a black and white ultrasound image with arrow indicating the placement of a giant panda fetus in-utero
Aug. 14, 2020
Veterinarians at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo detected tissue consistent with fetal development during Mei Xiang’s ultrasound this morning, Aug. 14.
Giant panda Mei Xiang at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat.
Jul. 20, 2020
Summer is in full swing at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat. Read the latest update on Mei Xiang and Tian Tian from Laurie Thompson, assistant curator of giant pandas. 
Jul. 02, 2020
A family meal among prairie dogs, the soothing sounds of a cheetah’s purr and a Pride cake fit for a giant panda. As summer kicks off at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology...
Jun. 05, 2020
Behold a brunch between a sloth and a golden lion tamarin, catch a close-up of newborn black-footed ferret kits and get a glimpse of giant pandas gorging themselves on bamboo shoots. All of these...
May. 15, 2020
It's bamboo shoot season, and the Zoo's giant pandas and red pandas are indulging in their favorite food! 
giant panda eating bamboo
Mar. 23, 2020
A team of reproductive scientists, veterinarians and panda keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo performed an artificial insemination on giant panda Mei Xiang, March 22, at 9:45 a.m.  
Female giant panda Mei Xiang surveys her yard at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat.
Mar. 16, 2020
Happy national panda day! Here at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Asia Trail exhibit, we are celebrating with giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, as well as our red panda pair, Asa and Jackie.
Giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base
Mar. 10, 2020
You may not like needles or giving blood when you go to the doctor’s office, but did you know that blood is an important diagnostic tool for veterinarians? When an animal is feeling sick, obtaining a...
Feb. 28, 2020
Add a little sunshine to a gray winter day with a trip to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. There’s still plenty to see from December through March. This guide will help you plan for a cold-weather...
Giant panda, Mei Xiang, climbing a tree.
Jan. 14, 2020
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have been having some adventures around the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat!
Dec. 26, 2019
As the year winds down, we’re reflecting on some of our biggest conservation success stories of 2019.
Bei Bei in his hammock at the Bifengxia Panda Base.
Nov. 27, 2019
Bei Bei is settling in at his new home in China at the Bifengxia panda base. He did very well on the FedEx Panda Express and spent most of the 16-hour trip eating and sleeping.
Giant panda Bei Bei leans back in his hammock eating bamboo.
Nov. 19, 2019
Bei Bei the 4-year-old giant panda, began his journey to China on Nov. 19, 2019.
Nov. 08, 2019
Giant panda Bei Bei knows how to work his angles! Check out some of our favorite snaps of this remarkably photogenic bear from the past four years.
Nov. 08, 2019
As we prepare to bid giant panda Bei Bei a fond farewell, we’re taking a look back at some favorite milestones and memorable moments from his time at the Zoo.
Nov. 08, 2019
Follow a day in the life of the Smithsonian's National Zoo's giant panda keepers as they care for Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Bei Bei. 
Giant panda Bei Bei munches on a stalk of bamboo.
Nov. 07, 2019
Media Advisory: Giant panda Bei Bei departs for China Nov. 19.