News

The National Zoo and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China celebrated giant panda cub Bao Bao's first birthday this morning with a Zhuazhou (dra-JO) ceremony. During a traditional Zhuazhou ceremony, symbolic objects are placed in front of a baby. The item that the baby reaches for first...

 

WHAT:A traditional Zhuazhou (dra-JO) ceremony for giant panda cub Bao Bao (Media opportunity only. Not open to the public. Public celebration begins at 11 a.m.)

WHEN:Saturday, Aug. 23
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

WHERE:Giant Panda Habitat
Smithsonian's National Zoo
3001 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
(Please note...

The past year at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat has been a very special one. We've been able to watch Mei Xiang raise a cub from the first moments of her birth, when she was pink and had yet to open her eyes. Now Bao Bao is just over 40 pounds and ventures high into the trees in...

A female red panda, Shama, was euthanized at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va., Saturday, Aug. 16. A necropsy performed later that evening revealed severe cerebral edema (swelling of the brain). Based on preliminary cytology, the swelling is attributed to...

After more than five hard years of work and constituency-building, it felt like Panama was giving us a big warm hug. Once a year on August 14, an official holiday in Panama called Panamanian Golden Frog Day, our staff come together to help coordinate a week-long festival celebrating Panama’s...

The Great Cats exhibit is celebrating two very special birthdays on August 5: Sumatran tigers Bandar and Sukacita are turning one year old! Keepers Marie Magnuson and Dell Gulglielmo have cared for the cats and their mother, Damai, since they were born. In the latest Keeper Q & A, they reveal...

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the SVF Foundation announced July 23 the launch of the Smithsonian & SVF Biodiversity Preservation Project to strengthen rare and endangered livestock breed conservation through the preservation and study of frozen germplasm (semen and embryos)...

The Smithsonian's National Zoo humanely euthanized its last Sulawesi macaque, a 27-year-old male named Spock, this morning. The median lifespan for this species is about 18 years.

Like many elderly animals, Spock had arthritis in his knee and ankle joints. In 2003 and 2004, Zoo veterinarians...

How do you keep one of the world’s largest land mammals happy? National Zoological Park’s Janine Brown and a team of collaborators have just completed a large-scale study of the what contributes to elephant wellbeing in human care.

Nicknamed the “Happy Elephant Project,” this groundbreaking three...

All four red panda pairs at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va., successfully bred and had cubs this year. Of the 10 cubs, more born at SCBI than any other year, seven have survived.

The latest pair to have cubs was Shama and Rusty, who are best known to the public...

On Father's Day weekend, Shera's four cubs made their big debut at the Great Cats exhibit! Now, visitors can see the whole pride every day between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. weather permitting. Animal keeper Rebecca Stites gives us the latest update on the cubs.

The cubs have already passed several

...

The National Zoo's three new female Asian elephants—Kamala (39), Swarna (39) and Maharani (23)—made their public debut in one of the outdoor yards on Elephant Trails for the first time Monday, June 23. After arriving at the Zoo May 23, the elephants spent 30 days in quarantine per standard procedure...

The National Zoo's three new female Asian elephants—Kamala (39), Swarna (39) and Maharani (23) — made their public debut in one of the outdoor yards on Elephant Trails for the first time Monday, June 23. After arriving at the Zoo May 23, the elephants spent 30 days in quarantine per standard...

Thank you for expressing your appreciation for the National Zoo's Invertebrate Exhibit and your concern about its closing. We value your feedback and would like to clarify why we have made this very difficult decision.

When the Invertebrate Exhibit opened in 1987, it was a groundbreaking venue. As...

The National Zoo's new three female Asian elephants—Kamala (39), Swarna (39) and Maharani (23)—will be out of quarantine and will have their public debut outside for the first time Monday, June 23.

The Smithsonian's National Zoo Invertebrate Exhibit, home to dozens of small aquatic and terrestrial species without backbones, will close to the public Sunday, June 22. The last day to visit the Invertebrate Exhibit is Saturday, June 21.

This difficult decision is not a reflection of the...

The four youngest members of the African lion pride at the Smithsonian's National Zoo are making their public debut today at noon at the Great Cats Exhibit. Born March 2 to mother Shera and father Luke, the 14-week-old cubs passed their swim test in May and have received all their vaccinations. They...

The four youngest members of the African lion pride at the Smithsonian's National Zoo are making their public debut today at noon at the Great Cats Exhibit! Born March 2 to mother Shera and father Luke, the 14-week-old cubs passed their swim test in May and have received all their vaccinations. They...

The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute celebrated several births recently. During the past several weeks 31 new residents have been born, many of which were endangered species.

A short-eared elephant shrew was born May 8 at the Zoo's Small Mammal House. The short-eared...