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Newsroom

Phone: 202-633-3055
Email: ZooSCBICommunications@si.edu

Welcome to the newsroom for the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. If you are a reporter and would like to arrange an interview or get more information on the Zoo’s animals and conservation science research, or request photos or video, please contact the communications team to facilitate your request. Before calling to discuss stories on some of the most-covered topics, media are encouraged to look over online resources for details on the Zoo’s giant pandasAsian elephants and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

To be added to the Zoo's press release distribution list, please fill out the contact form on the right side of this page and use the subject line: "add to distribution list."

Bird House Reopening Media Resources

Find comprehensive resources on the reopening of the Bird House, including photos, videos, backgrounders and press release.

Video B-roll for Media Use

Browse a comprehensive playlist with footage and video clips on the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's YouTube channel.

Each press release includes related photos and videos. See below.

Press Releases

Three meerkat pups were born to mother Sadie and father Frankie May 10, 2023.
May. 24, 2023
For the first time in 16 years, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Washington, D.C., is celebrating the birth of three meerkats. 
Researcher holds a radio-tagged Kirtland’s Warbler, a yellow and gray songbird, just before releasing it in The Bahamas.
May. 01, 2023
Every spring and fall billions of birds fly thousands of miles to reach their breeding and wintering grounds, yet some of the most basic details of these astonishing avian pilgrimages remain murky....
Andean bear mother Brienne and her 4-month-old cub explore their outdoor habitat on March 22, 2023.
Mar. 27, 2023
Just in time for spring break, two male Andean bear cubs named Sean and Ian are now on view.

Zoo News

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji sits and eats bamboo while leaning with his back against a tree.
May. 22, 2023
How do you train a panda to voluntarily participate in blood draws and other medical exams? By building the bears’ trust and rewarding their participation with treats! Using operant conditioning, our...
Sea lion Ronin behind the scenes at the American Trail exhibit
May. 12, 2023
Earlier this spring, a curious and playful pinniped splashed down on American Trail. Meet Ronin, our 1-year-old sea lion, who has charmed keepers and visitors alike since her debut in April! Get to...
A scientist holds a frog in his hand.
May. 12, 2023
Poison frogs living in human care aren’t poisonous, thanks to a “detox” diet of mild insects, like crickets and fruit flies. Can adding alkaloids to a frog’s diet help it regain its toxins and get...