News

Washington D.C.’s beloved free, family-friendly winter wonderland, ZooLights, powered by Pepco, returns to brighten the season at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. The Zoo will be illuminated for 22 select nights—from Nov. 25 through Dec. 30 from 5 to 9 p.m. Read on...

Amani’s two male cubs are one month old, ready to play and are back making appearances on the Cheetah Cub Cam! Read on to find out just how mobile these cubs are and don't miss two adorable videos of them playing.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute community is celebrating the arrival two female Asian elephants, 19-year-old Trong Nhi and her daughter, 9-year-old Nhi Linh, to Washington, D.C.

National Bison Day is the first Saturday in November and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has a big reason to celebrate these iconic animals! Wallow in the autumn leaves with the Zoo’s bison, Lucy and Gally, and animal keeper Regina Bakely, as she shares her stories...

Read curator of birds, Sara Hallager's testimony on Bill 24-710 before the Washington, D.C., City Council.

Amani may have moved her cubs off cam, but keepers are pleased to report the family is doing great! Read on to find out what our cheetah family in Front Royal, Virginia, has been up to in this #CheetahCubdate.

A response from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute regarding the hours of the bike path on its property.

Big bright eyes, bounding leaps and vivacious vocalizations—there’s no denying that lemurs are downright adorable! Every October, we celebrate World Lemur Day to raise awareness of these endangered primates from Madagascar. Meet our animal ambassadors—and learn how you can help their wild cousins—in...

Meet Adi and Guntur, our two new siamangs at Gibbon Ridge! Over the past year, it has been really fun getting to know their personality quirks and watching their bond with each other grow. Let’s explore a day in their life!

Staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute are mourning the loss of Luke, an African lion who was humanely euthanized Oct. 19. He was 17 years old.

Over the past week, cheetah fans and keepers have watched the two newborn cubs and their mother snuggle and bond on the Cheetah Cub Cam. Read on to find out if we have boys, girls or one of each in this first #CheetahCubdate.

We are sad to share that Daisy, our 13-year-old fennec fox, died Oct. 6.

A newly released State of the Birds report for the United States reveals a tale of two trends, one hopeful, one dire.

Carnivore keepers in Front Royal, Virginia, welcomed a litter of two cheetah cubs. First-time mother, 4-year-old female Amani, birthed the cubs Oct. 3 around 9:17 p.m. and 11:05 p.m. ET. They appear to be strong, active, vocalizing and nursing well. Animal care staff are closely monitoring Amani and...

Four new sets of owl eyes have joined the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute family this year in Washington, D.C. Give a hoot for Bird House keeper Heather Anderson and American Trail keeper Jackie Spicer as they talon their stories of caring for native owl species.

The Fort Belknap Indian Community commemorated three years of its swift fox recovery program with the release of three swift foxes on Tribal lands, bringing the total to 103 recovered back to these prairie grasslands.

Staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute are grieving the loss of Nababiep, a female African lion affectionately called Naba, who was humanely euthanized Sept. 26. She was 18 years old.

Every year on Sept. 24, we celebrate World Gorilla Day by teaching visitors about our ambassador apes and sharing ways to help their wild counterparts.

Staff are mourning the loss of Calli, a 17-year-old female California sea lion, who died Sept. 7.

The Bird Migration Explorer, a state-of-the-art digital platform, allows users to see the most complete data collected on migratory species in their neighborhoods and where those birds go throughout the year.

Not a trick, only the sweetest treat: Boo at the Zoo, the beloved family-friendly Halloween event at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, sponsored by Mars Wrigley Confectionery, is back Oct. 28, 29 and 30 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Who’s black, white and ready to paw-ty? As part of the Pandaversary celebration, Asia Trail keepers threw a bearthday fête fit for our beloved giant panda family.

Summer is drawing to a close, which means our young Bornean orangutan, Redd, will celebrate his sixth birthday soon on Sept. 12.

Meet Mimi, a 1.5-year-old female mockingbird and animal ambassador in training!

For the first time, Bird House keepers at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute are celebrating the hatching of two critically endangered blue-billed curassows.