News Archive

The iconic song of the American West, “Home on the Range,” got a key detail wrong — buffalo never roamed the region! But bison still do. Isn’t it time you learned why?

Giant panda Bei Bei celebrated his third birthday Aug. 22 with a special ice cake.

Bei Bei turned 3 years old today! In celebration of his big day, Bei Bei enjoyed an ice-cake, participated in an enrichment painting session and received a new panda-friendly enrichment toy.

Twenty undergraduate students from George Mason University joined the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's Global Health Program in the field from July 31 to Aug. 13, 2018.

In her latest update, primate keeper Melba Brown shares that 4-month-old Moke is embarking on a new era of discovery.

Bird House keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are celebrating the hatching of two indigo bunting chicks—a first for the Zoo and the North American population in human care.

A public vote decided the names of three endangered Przewalski’s (sha-VAL-ski) horse colts at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia.

At 4 months old, western lowland gorilla infant Moke is already solid on his footing and has started giving his mom, Calaya, some good exercise in chasing after him!

Reptile Discovery Center staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of Alex, an elderly male Aldabra tortoise who was humanely euthanized Aug. 7. At the time of his death, animal care staff estimated Alex to be about 100 years old.

Bird House staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of Darwin, an elderly male emu who was humanely euthanized Aug. 3.

Check out the events at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Aug. 25 through Oct. 6, 2018.

Four endangered Przewalski’s (sha-VAL-ski) horse foals were born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute between March and June. SCBI is asking the public to help name the three colts.

With a sleek, eel-like body and beady eyes, the aquatic caecilian is quite an unusual amphibian. In this Q&A, animal keeper Denny Charlton shares some of his favorite fun facts about these wiggly wonders.

Primate keeper Melba Brown shares the latest news about 15-week-old western lowland gorilla Moke.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s charismatic Bornean orangutan infant, Redd, will celebrate his second birthday Sept. 12! Since the last update in February, he has hit some major milestones. Get the latest scoop on this playful primate.

Check out the latest update on our 3.5-month-old gorilla infant from primate keeper Melba Brown.

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute welcomed a litter of seven chirping cheetah cubs July 9. The cubs appear to be healthy and doing well.

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute scientists work in more than 25 countries around the world. They recently took their expertise to the Amazon in Peru, where they hosted a course to help regional stakeholders put sustainable development conservation into practice.

Grassland birds incubate their nests at around 86 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough for a drone outfitted with a thermal camera to detect. Virginia Working Landscapes and students at James Madison University are working together to take a 21st-century approach to monitoring a species that is rapidly...

Now that our 13-week-old western lowland gorilla infant Moke is practicing his walking skills, we are beginning to see some interesting changes in the social dynamics of our mixed-sex troop.

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.

In honor of National Zookeeper Week, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is featuring some of the dedicated professionals who go above and beyond for the animals in our care.