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Beginning Jan. 18, 2022, the Zoo is open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last admittance 2:30 p.m.). Select animal buildings remain closed. Entry passes are required for all guests, including infants. All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the Zoo, regardless of their vaccination status. Fully vaccinated visitors do not need to wear a mask in outdoor areas.

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Animal News

Oct. 29, 2020
Swing along with primate keeper Emily Bricker as she shares her stories about caring for orangutans, Zoo Guardians’ November Animal of the Month.
Oct. 26, 2020
If you’ve caught a glimpse of our cub on the Giant Panda Cam lately, you may have noticed that he likes to sleep on his back. It’s very cute to watch! 
Oct. 23, 2020
On Peru’s pacific coastline, where desert meets sea, lives one of the least studied and most at-risk birds: the Peruvian tern. This bird's desert camouflage makes it almost impossible to track, but...
Oct. 23, 2020
En la costa del Pacífico peruano, donde el desierto se encuentra con el mar, vive una de las aves menos estudiadas y en mayor riesgo: el gaviotín peruano (Sternula lorata), también conocido como el...
Oct. 23, 2020
Oct. 24 is International Gibbon Day, so take a few minutes to learn all about these acrobatic apes.
The Smithsonian's National Zoo's 2-month-old giant panda cub receives his second veterinary exam Oct. 19, 2020.
Oct. 22, 2020
It’s official—our giant panda cub is as round as he is long, received his first vaccine and is 100% adorable. 
Giant panda cub during its keeper exam Oct. 14, 2020.
Oct. 19, 2020
Although our giant panda cub is still perfecting his crawling skills, mother Mei Xiang is helping her son see the world beyond their den. Over the weekend, the pair took a brief “field trip” into...
The Zoo's 7-week-old giant panda cub receives a routine check-up.
Oct. 15, 2020
Tomorrow, our giant panda cub will be eight weeks old! Mei Xiang has always been a devoted mother to her cubs, and this little guy is no exception. 
A five-month old cheetah cub explores its habitat at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
Oct. 13, 2020
This update was written by Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute cheetah biologist Adrienne Crosier and animal keeper intern Shannon Richard.
Gray wolf Coby recently celebrated her 16th birthday at American Trail.
Oct. 13, 2020
American Trail keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of Coby, a female gray wolf who was humanely euthanized Sept. 30. At 16 years old, Coby was considered geriatric for her...
Sand cat Thor lived at the Small Mammal House.
Oct. 10, 2020
Small Mammal House keepers at Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of Thor, an elderly male sand cat who was humanely euthanized Sept. 29 due to a recent and irreversible decline in...
Giant panda keeper Marty Dearie measures the male giant panda cub's abdominal girth.
Oct. 08, 2020
Our 6-week-old giant panda cub is packing on the pounds! Get the scoop on his weekly weigh-in from assistant curator Laurie Thompson. 
Oct. 05, 2020
We hope that you have enjoyed watching black-footed ferret Potpie and her kits on the Black-footed Ferret Cam! Join us in celebrating the next chapter in their lives, contributing to their species’...
Giant panda cub
Oct. 05, 2020
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s 6-week-old giant panda cub is a male, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute scientists confirmed. During the cub’s first veterinary exam Sept. 19, Zoo...
Lion statue at Zoo's entrance with face covering.
Oct. 02, 2020
An update from Associate Director of Communications and Exhibits Pamela Baker-Masson regarding fall 2020 happenings at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.
The Zoo's 6-week-old giant panda cub is just starting to open its eyes.
Oct. 02, 2020
Giant panda keeper Marty Dearie shares that the Zoo's 6-week-old cub is starting to open its eyes. Check out the latest #PandaStory update! 
Oct. 02, 2020
Nature is often awe-inspiring, but the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s 1-month-old giant panda cub is also ‘aww’-inspiring. Hear the stories behind September's precious moments from the Panda Team. 
Hartmann's mountain zebra herd in their pasture at SCBI.
Oct. 02, 2020
Our playful 3-month-old Hartmann's mountain zebra colt is a bundle of energy! Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute ungulate keeper Tara Buk shares how the colt spent his summer in her latest...
Oct. 01, 2020
Animal keeper Kyle Miller leaps into his experience caring for Cuban crocodiles, Zoo Guardians’ October Animal of the Month!
Sep. 28, 2020
Check out a video of last week's giant panda cub exam! 
Sep. 25, 2020
When Mei Xiang left her den to grab a bite to eat this morning, the Panda Team had another opportunity to conduct a brief exam on our 1-month-old giant panda cub. 
Sep. 24, 2020
Sept. 24 is World Gorilla Day, and we are celebrating with an update on our 2-year-old, Moke, and his troop! 
Reintroduced swift fox on grasslands of Montana
Sep. 23, 2020
After an absence of more than 50 years, the swift fox has returned to the grasslands of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana.
Sep. 22, 2020
Animal keeper Mariel Lally shares the fluffy scoop on caring for red pandas, Zoo Guardians’ September Animal of the Month!
The Smithsonian's National Zoo's giant panda cub is one month old today, Sept. 21!
Sep. 21, 2020
Our giant panda cub has reached a big milestone—today marks one month since its birth Aug. 21. Over the weekend, Mei Xiang left the den, and an opportunity arose to conduct the cub's first veterinary...