News

Seasons creepings! This Halloween, get to know some animals who don’t deserve to have such fearsome reputations... and some that you might not want to encounter alone on a moonlit night.

Join us in wishing a very happy hatchday to our Komodo dragon, Murphy! Our calm, laid-back lizard turns 25 years old today.

What's life like for a 3-week-old cheetah cub? Read the latest about Echo's litter of five adorable cubs in our latest animal update.

Washington, D.C.’s beloved family-friendly winter wonderland, ZooLights, returns to brighten the holiday season at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

"We saw this huge line and thought there was a concert. Instead, everyone was waiting to see a panda..."

"My father, Larry Collins, was the first head keeper in charge of Ling Ling and Hsing-Hsing..."

"When I was in my mid-twenties and living in Mount Pleasant, I loved taking long runs to and then through the National Zoo..."

In the event of a government shutdown on Oct. 1, Smithsonian museums, research centers and the National Zoo will remain OPEN through at least Oct. 7.

Find out what's next for Hickory's six kits, who were featured on the Black-footed Ferret Cam this summer.

"The first time I saw pandas was back in 2004 when I was 11 years old and then I got to see them in 2022 at 29 at the Smithsonian..."

"I was seven years old when the pandas first came to the Zoo. I remember watching the news and trying to memorize every detail..."

"My mother, Elaine Washburn, was an Asia Trail volunteer interpreter in the early 2000's. Mom had been a docent at the Ross Park Zoo in our hometown..."

There’s no better way to celebrate World Gorilla Day than with our adorable animal ambassador, Zahra! Keeper Lynne McMahan shares some of her favorite moments in this Q+A.

Carnivore keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia, are celebrating a litter of five cheetah cubs born to 8-year-old adult female Echo Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Presentation of panda-friendly fruitsicle cakes to beloved giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji in celebration of Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell event.

The Kids’ Farm just got even cuter! In late August, three young kunekune pigs joined the Farm and are already charming visitors. Learn about this unique breed in our latest New at the Zoo feature, featuring animal keeper Nikki Maticic.

Today, we celebrate Redd’s birthday! Our youngest Bornean orangutan has officially entered his “sassy sevens” era.

It’s no trick, only the sweetest treat: Boo at the Zoo, sponsored by Mars Wrigley Confectionery, is back! The Zoo will be brimming with festive displays and spook-tacular trick-or-treating for this special ticketed event.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) will celebrate its three giant pandas before the bears depart for China later this year. Visitors are invited to join the Panda Palooza, a nine-day onsite and online series of events.

Earlier this summer, the Zoo welcomed Basil, a Virginia opossum (also known as a North American opossum) to the Small Mammal House. Get to know Basil in our new feature, written by animal keeper Mimi Nowlin!

Calling all cubs! Take this kid-friendly quiz and see how much you know about these beloved bears!

Are you an extreme panda fan? Try not to get bamboo-zled by this hardcore quiz!

Our western lowland gorilla infant hasn't quite figured out how to crawl—but she's getting close! Read the latest #GorillaStory update from primate keeper Francesca Bozzo.

The Zoo was temporarily closed due to a bomb threat on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

With their big ears, wide eyes and furry paws, sand cats may look adorable… but they’re quite tough! Sand cats are the only members of the cat family that live exclusively in desert environments. Get to know these hardy felines in this Q&A.