Animal News
Aug. 30, 2013
Keepers went into Mei Xiang's den again this morning to offer her some food and drink. She drank some water sweetened with a little apple juice, which she has done for the past several days.
Aug. 29, 2013
In the early morning hours, Mei Xiang gently placed her cub on the floor of her den. Vigilant panda cam observers were watching at 3:37 a.m., and we're delighted to share the video!
Aug. 28, 2013
This morning keepers entered Mei Xiang's den to offer her food and water. They came with some of her favorite treats—diluted apple juice, a sweet potato and a pear.
Aug. 27, 2013
This morning, the panda team attempted to get the cub for a second veterinary exam.
Aug. 26, 2013
Our tiger cubs are 3 weeks old, and this morning they got their first veterinary exam—and passed with roaring colors. Veterinarians determined that the 2 cubs are a male and a female.
Aug. 25, 2013
This morning, the panda team was able to give the cub its first neonatal exam. The cub is robust, fully formed, and is a bright, healthy shade of pink. It weighs 137 grams, which is about 4.8 ounces.
Aug. 24, 2013
Look at these pictures of the cubs the keepers got this week. The keepers can already tell which markings they'll use to tell the cubs apart.Can you find one or two distinctive markings to...
Aug. 24, 2013
At 7:29 p.m. this evening, Mei Xiang gave birth to a second, stillborn cub. Keepers watching Mei on the panda cam saw her groom it for 17 minutes. When she stopped grooming, it fell from Mei's body...
Aug. 22, 2013
Anne's filly is doing wonderfully. She cut her first tooth last week!
Aug. 20, 2013
Our elephant herd is growing again—this time with three female elephants from Calgary Zoo in Alberta, Canada!
Aug. 16, 2013
When they hear the word "horse" m
Aug. 16, 2013
Our fishing cat kitten, Wasabi, and his mom, Electra, are now on exhibit daily at Asia Trail's fishing cat exhibit. Lek (Wasabi's dad), is on exhibit in the second yard.
Aug. 15, 2013
The panda team at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat has officially started #cubwatch—which is normal for this point in the breeding season.
Aug. 08, 2013
Damai came out of her den on Tuesday while keepers were in the Great Cats building, which is a good sign! That means she is comfortable with the keepers being near her cubbing den.
Aug. 06, 2013
As we continue to watch Mei Xiang in hopes of a new addition to the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, we have noticed some behavioral changes in our female giant panda.
Aug. 01, 2013
Scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are celebrating the birth of a female Przewalski’s (Cha-VAL-skee) horse—the first to be born via artificial insemination.
Jul. 26, 2013
Scientists at the Smithsonian's National Zoo have confirmed a secondary rise in urinary progesterone in Mei Xiang. The rise indicates that she will experience the end of a pseudopregnancy or give...
Jul. 23, 2013
Hank has been very active in the yard despite the heat. It's not unusual to see him running all over the yard, climbing every tree, and then playing in the pool.
Jul. 22, 2013
Giant panda fans can tune into the panda cams, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund, at the Smithsonian's National Zoo once again. The cams went dark for upgrades May 30 but will begin streaming...
