Press Release Archive

The safety and security of the visitors, staff and animals are the No. 1 priority at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. The Zoo will host a public meeting on Aug. 1 at 6:30 p.m.

A scimitar-horned oryx calf was born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, June 30. The calf was conceived by artificial insemination with sperm that was cryopreserved (frozen) in 2011, and the calf’s mother did not need to be anesthetized for the procedure — a...

Rose Marie, a 31-year-old Przewalski’s horse at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, was humanely euthanized July 6, due to her declining health and quality of life. She was one of the oldest Przewalski’s horses in the world.

A team of reproductive scientists, veterinarians and animal keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute have determined that giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) will not give birth this year.

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute scientists have provided the first experimental evidence that male western white-bearded wildebeests’ rutting vocalizations are a key driver of the tightly synchronized breeding and calving in the species.

Smithsonian and University of California, Davis scientists and partners have discovered a new coronavirus in a species of bat in Myanmar as part of routine surveillance for the PREDICT project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. A second virus was also detected in Myanmar for...

One of the golden lion tamarin infants born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo last week died this morning, July 3. It appears that the infant fell off one of its parents this morning.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is celebrating the birth of two endangered golden lion tamarins. The monkeys were born June 29 to first-time parents Mo and Izzy and appear to be healthy.

A female Guam kingfisher, one of the planet's most endangered bird species, hatched at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute on May 17.

Just in time for her public debut, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s female Holstein calf has a name: Magnolia.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is inviting the public to name the newest member of the Kids’ Farm herd—an 8-month-old female Holstein calf. Starting today, May 11, fans can vote on the Zoo’s website for their favorite among three floral names: Magnolia, Hyacinth...

Find out about events being held at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in May!

On April 27, 2018, Asian elephant Spike received a celebratory cake as he explored his new habitat in the Elephant Community Center at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Asian elephant Spike will receive a celebratory cake as he explores his new habitat in the Elephant Community Center at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Smithsonian scientists are part of an expanding global effort set to tackle what could be the most ambitious project in the history of biology—sequencing the DNA of all eukaryotic species on Earth, which includes all plants, animals, fungi and algae.

For the first time in nine years, primate staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are celebrating the birth of a male western lowland gorilla.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo community is celebrating the arrival of a 36-year-old male Asian elephant named Spike.

Scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute have found that poaching is an emerging crisis for Asian elephants in Myanmar. They published their findings March 13 in PLOS ONE.

A well-known prehensile-tailed porcupine named Clark died March 7 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Clark had developed intermittent wheezing and a suspected upper-respiratory tract infection earlier this year that did not completely improve with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment.

A team of reproductive scientists, veterinarians and panda keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute performed an artificial insemination on giant panda Mei Xiang.

Hoofstock keepers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) are mourning the loss of Raylan, a 4-year-old male Hartmann’s mountain zebra who was humanely euthanized yesterday.

Once common along highland streams in western Costa Rica and Panama, the variable harlequin frog, Atelopus varius, is endangered throughout its range, decimated by a disease caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus. On Jan. 17, 2018, Smithsonian researchers released approximately 500 frogs at First...

Ms. Chips, a two-toed sloth and longtime resident of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, died overnight Jan. 2. She was 46 years old. The median life expectancy for female two-toed sloths in human care is 15 years old.

For the first time since 1948, the Great Cats habitat at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is once again home to an Amur tiger, a 10-year-old male named Pavel.

Hoofstock keepers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are mourning the loss of Yvonne, a 15-year-old female Hartmann’s mountain zebra who was humanely euthanized Dec. 31, 2017. The median life expectancy for a female of this species is 15 years.