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Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Researcher Wins Prestigious Veterinary Medicine Award
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute reproductive biologist Dr. Janine Brown has been named this year's winner of the Morris Animal Foundation's Innovation in Veterinary Medicine Award. The tribute celebrates Brown's expansive career in developing pioneering reproductive techniques for...
ZooLights at the Smithsonian's National Zoo Begins Nov. 23
Come see the Smithsonian's National Zoo in a whole new light during ZooLights—powered by Pepco! Beginning Nov. 23, Friends of the National Zoo invites guests to stroll through the Zoo under the glow of thousands of environmentally-friendly LED lights. ZooLights is 24 nights this year—the most in its...

San Joaquin Kit Fox
Traditionally, biologists have gathered basic information such as population density and survival rates of carnivores by trapping, drugging, and fitting radiocollars on restrained animals. We are developing a new, noninvasive method that uses trained dogs to find scats (feces) of carnivores followed...
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and George Mason University Celebrate Dedication of New Academic Facilities
The Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, a unique program in terms of its academic offerings and contributions to the field of conservation, celebrated the completion of its expansive new academic facilities today, Oct. 18, at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va...
Lion Update Oct 15, 2012
Last week, we bid a bittersweet farewell to Zuri and Fahari, as they left for their new home at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Their new keepers traveled to DC to meet the girls and accompanied them during their flight back to sunny California—via FedEx! Zuri and Fahari traveled in the same crates that...
Sumatran Tiger Update Oct 15, 2012
The cats got a present! Port City Brewery in Alexandria, Virginia generously donated some kegs for the cats to use as toys. It's not easy to find things that can stand up to being played with by tigers and lions, but beer kegs are (almost) indestructible. The lions have discovered that if you whack...
Giant Panda Cub at National Zoo Died as Result of Lung and Liver Damage
After examining the giant panda cub that died six days after it was born to mother Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, the Zoo's team of pathologists found that lung and liver damage ultimately caused the death of the panda cub. The poorly developed lungs likely caused the cub...
Press Conference: Cause of Panda Cub Death
WHAT:Media will be informed about the results from the panda cub necropsy and receive an update about the mother giant panda. WHEN:Thursday, Oct. 11 8:30 a.m.: Photo opportunity: Both giant pandas, Mei Xiang (female) and Tian Tian (male), will be in their outdoor yards. Each panda will receive a...
National Zoo Mourns the Death of Black Howler Monkey
The Smithsonian's National Zoo euthanized a young black howler monkey, Loki, Sunday, Oct. 7, because she was ill from complications of metabolic bone disease. This disease is a vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus imbalance. It is most often caused by lack of sunlight (ultraviolet light), lack of...
Enter the Gin-GRR-bread Habitat Contest Inspired by the New American Trail at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Friends of the National Zoo calls all baking enthusiasts to enter the annual Gin-GRR-Bread Habitat Contest at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. This year's theme is, A Winter's Tail on the American Trail. American Trail is the newest exhibit at the National Zoo and is home to four California sea lions...
Annual Autumn Conservation Festival at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
WHAT: Autumn Conservation Festival WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 6 and Sunday, Oct. 7 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. WHERE: Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, Va. Just off of Route 522 It's that time of year again. In fact, the only time of year when the gates to the Smithsonian...
Have a Howling Good Time at Boo at the Zoo
The 14 th annual Boo at the Zoo promises to be a howling good time filled with costumed families and fun at the Smithsonian's National Zoo Oct. 26, 27, and 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Hosted by Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), Boo at the Zoo offers kids ages two to 12 a safe atmosphere to...
A "Butterfly Effect" On Population Modeling
As any butterfly watcher knows, it is hard enough to spot a specific butterfly—it turns out that tracking a whole population of butterflies poses an even bigger challenge. Scientists rarely count entire populations because of the difficulty, time, and resources such an endeavor demands. Instead...
National Zoo Mourns Death of Giant Panda Cub
Pathologists at the Smithsonian's National Zoo performed a necropsy (animal autopsy) Sept. 23 on the six-day-old giant panda cub that died earlier that morning. A final pathology report will provide more information in the next few weeks, but the preliminary report suggests two potential...
Lion Update Sep 22, 2012
It's hard to believe that another year has passed since the birth of Naba and Shera's cubs, yet here we are planning their second birthday celebration! Lelie, Zuri, Fahari and John turned two years old on August 31; Lusaka will be turning two on September 22. We'd love to invite everyone to join us...
Smithsonian's National Zoological Park Wins Major Awards for Conservation and Diversity Education
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) announced Sept. 19 that the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park has been awarded Top Honors for the 2012 AZA International Conservation Award for its Scientific Approaches to Conservation of Giant Pandas and Their Habitat program and Significant...
NEW Video: Panda Cub at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
The Smithsonian's National Zoo's female giant panda Mei Xiang gave Panda Cam viewers another sneak peek of her cub, born Sunday Sept. 16. At about 7:54 a.m. Sept. 20, Mei Xiang gently picked the squealing cub up in her mouth before placing it on the ground to groom it. Keepers continue to be...
Video: Glimpse of the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Panda Cub
Smithsonian's National Zoo staff and Panda Cam watchers have gotten several quick glimpses of female giant panda Mei Xiang's cub since its birth Sept. 16 at 10:46 p.m. In this video from Sept. 17. at about 8:35 p.m. EST, Mei Xiang cradles the newborn and picks it up in her mouth as she shifts...
Giant Panda at the Smithsonian's National Zoo Gives Birth
Mei Xiang, the National Zoo's female giant panda gave birth to a cub Sunday, Sept. 16 at 10:46 p.m.
Olympic Sprinters Carmelita Jeter and Justin Gatlin Delight in Visit with National Zoo's Cheetah Cubs
Olympic medalists Justin Gatlin and Carmelita Jeter had a playful behind-the-scenes encounter today with the two cheetah cubs at the Smithsonian's National Zoo that were named after the athletes. Although the cubs did not show much interest in the Olympic medals the athletes held up, the cats...
First Ever Rock-N-Roar 80s Night to be Hosted at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Put on your dancing shoes, tease your hair, break out your acid wash jeans, pull on your legwarmers and get ready to rock! Friends of the National Zoo is hosting its first ever 80s dance party-themed Rock-N-Roar Sept. 27, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Musical guest...
Olympic Athletes to Meet National Zoo's Cheetah Cubs and Visitors
USA Track & Field Olympic sprinters Carmelita Jeter and Justin Gatlin will be at the Smithsonian's National Zoo this Thursday, Sept. 13, between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to meet the Zoo's two cheetah cubs, Carmelita and Justin. The athletes will also sign autographs for visitors at the Cheetah...
Biodiversity in Tropical Protected Areas May Not Be So Protected Say Smithsonian Scientists
A team of Smithsonian scientists joined more than 200 others around the world to examine if giving protected status to a tropical forest offered adequate protection to the plants and animals within its borders. They found that in almost half the cases it did not. The team's findings are published...
Smithsonian's National Zoo Receives Major Pledge for Giant Panda Research from Ford Motor Company Fund
The Smithsonian's National Zoo will receive $400,000 over the next two years from the Ford Motor Company Fund to study the health of giant pandas.