Training Swarna for Tooth Radiographs
When Asian elephant Swarna needed her teeth examined, animal keepers Rebecca Riley and Becca Spickler tried something that had never been done at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo before. Over two months, they trained the 44-year-old elephant to voluntarily participate in dental radiographs! Get the scoop on this breakthrough in our keeper Q&A.
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Get to Know the Elephants
Want to tell the Asian elephants apart? This introductory guide will help you spot each of the six residents of the herd.
How to Train a Binturong
How do you help a binturong with arthritis? Learn how our animal care team trained Hank to voluntarily participate in his own healthcare.
A Snow Day at the Zoo
Several inches of snowfall kept the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute closed to visitors, but the animals and their caretakers still had a good time!