News Archive

After five years of planning and construction, the National Zoo will open the new American Trail exhibit to the public Saturday, Sept. 1, at noon. The renovated area in the extensive lower valley between Elephant Trail and Amazonia will transport visitors to the Pacific Northwest where they will...

American Trail showcases species that are gems of North American wildlife, and treasures to us all. These animals represent the triumph of the American spirit and conservation success stories. The majority of American Trail species have rebounded after facing severe threats. Many of the residents of...

Visitors to the Smithsonian's National Zoo can now see its three-month-old fishing cat kittens exploring, playing, climbing and fishing on Asia Trail. The kittens and their mother, Electra, will be on exhibit from approximately 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, weather permitting. They are most active in...

Visitors to the Smithsonian's National Zoo can now see its three-month-old fishing cat kittens exploring, playing, climbing and fishing on Asia Trail. The kittens and their mother, Electra, will be on exhibit from approximately 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, weather permitting. They are most active in...

The Smithsonian's National Zoo welcomed the births of three different hoofed species in the span of one week. A male scimitar-horned oryx, a female Przewalski's horse and a female onager were born Aug. 4, 9 and 11, respectively, at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va...

National Zoo scientists have detected a secondary rise in urinary progesterone in its female giant panda, Mei Xiang. This means that she will either give birth to a cub or experience the end of a pseudopregnancy in 40 to 50 days. Mei Xiang has had five consecutive pseudopregnancies since 2007. Mei...

A flamingo chick hatched at the Smithsonian's National Zoo July 29. Its sex has not yet been determined. The flock of 63 birds produces about 15 fertile eggs in a normal breeding season. However, the flock had irregular mating patterns this year; they produced only six eggs and did not construct...

Friends of the National Zoo invites guests to raise a wine glass and toast to conservation at Grapes with the Apes at the Smithsonian's National Zoo Sept. 20, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Renowned local and national wineries will offer vintages for guests to sip while mingling in the Great Apes House after...

The National Zoo humanely euthanized its 13-day-old Addra (dama) gazelle fawn Aug. 7. The fawn, a male, was born on exhibit in front of visitors. Cheetah Conservation Station keepers and Zoo veterinarians had been closely observing him since shortly after his birth July 25. Last Friday, when keepers...

Nikki, the 20-year-old male Andean (or spectacled) bear at the Smithsonian's National Zoo was euthanized Aug. 6. A final pathology report will provide more information. Keeper and veterinary staff had been intensely managing his health over the past year, and his condition began to rapidly decline...

The cheetah cubs at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and the U.S. Olympic sprinters have been demonstrating their speed and agility to the world, and now the fastest Americans share something else with the 3-month-old cubs: their names. In partnership with USA Track & Field, the Zoo named the cubs...

The National Zoo invites visitors to customize their Zoo experience with its first mobile app for iOS devices, now available from the App Store for $1.99. An app for Android platforms will be available in the next few weeks. With the swipe of a fingertip, smartphone users can access helpful tips for...

Special delivery at the Smithsonian's National Zoo today! A Dama gazelle was born to mom Adara and dad Raul this afternoon around 2:30 p.m. on exhibit. A few extremely lucky Zoo visitors witnessed the young gazelle's birth and first steps. Adara and her baby will be off-exhibit for the next few...

The two 3-month-old cheetah cubs at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and the Olympic athletes have one thing in common: starting this week they will be showing off their speed, agility and raw, physical prowess. Just days before the opening of the Olympic Games, the Zoo is introducing the cubs to...

Prowl around the Great Cats exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo on Global Tiger Day, July 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and meet the Zoo's newest tiger - Kavi. Kavi, an 11 year-old male from Zoo Atlanta, has joined females Damai and Soyono at the National Zoo. Special enrichment demonstrations...

With the recent hatching of two Cuban crocodiles, the National Zoo just got a little snappier! These feisty reptiles hatched July 6 and 14 and are among the most genetically valuable individuals in the Cuban crocodile population under human care.

With the lion cubs second birthdays rapidly approaching, we are starting to receive official recommendations from the African lion Species Survival Plan (SSP) about where the youngsters will start their adult lives. We recently confirmed that Aslan and Baruti will be heading to Calgary Zoo this...

For nearly 2 years, the Washington, D.C. area has watched the Smithsonian's National Zoo's seven young African lions ( Panthera leo) grow from playful cubs to majestic juveniles. Soon, Baruti and Aslan will start the next chapter of their lives at the Calgary Zoo, where they will eventually be...

By Stephen Schulze, Small Mammal House Keeper Along the southwest coast of Gabon lies a 32-kilometer strip (about 20 miles) of roadless savanna (less than five kilometers, or about three miles, at its widest) that is all but an island, abutting the Atlantic and sectioned from the mainland by three...

At 6 weeks old, the Smithsonian's National Zoo's two fishing cat ( Prionailurus viverrinus) kittens, a male and female, received a clean bill of health from Zoo veterinarians June 29. The veterinary team performed a complete physical exam, which includes: listening to the kittens' heart and lungs...

The Smithsonian's National Zoo welcomed two burrowing owl chicks May 24. When they hatch, the chicks are helpless and their eyes are closed. By age 2 1/2 weeks, the chicks are able to control their body temperature and begin to emerge from their burrows to beg for food. At 3 weeks old, they begin...

The National Zoo's senior male gray seal, Gunnar, died June 22. Keeper and veterinary staff had been managing his declining health for several months. A final pathology report will provide more information. He was 38 years old.

The Smithsonian's National Zoo is inviting its Facebook fans to answer the call of the wild by naming one of the Small Mammal House's loudest and most charismatic critters: a baby black howler monkey ( Alouatta nigerrima).

Conservation is always on tap at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, and guests are invited to raise their beer glasses in support during Brew at the Zoo. Hosted by Friends of the National Zoo, the popular event will take place this year on July 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. More than 40 microbreweries will...

The Smithsonian's National Zoo is closer to cracking the code for breeding one of Asia's most elusive species with the birth of two fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus).