News Archive

When the elephant keepers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo hear the sound of a harmonica, it is not the radio they have left on. Instead, it is the Zoo's 36-year-old Asian elephant, Shanthi, who, unsolicited, has a propensity for coming up with her own ditties using whatever instruments the keepers...

The new exhibit at Small Mammal House uses radiographs and artifacts to explain the relationship between body structure and behavior of animals. Visitors will see some interesting X-rays and learn how animals move, eat, and play. THE TALE OF THE TAIL The first series of radiographs focuses on...

Hi, my name is Marie Galloway. I am the elephant manager here at National Zoo. Those of you that have been following our website for a long time might remember me from the "Moving In" blog. I wrote updates in 2010 when the elephants were moving into the new Elephant Trails Phase 1 exhibit. Currently...

Giant panda breeding season began this year at the Smithsonian's National Zoo when female giant panda, Mei Xiang (may-SHONG), went into estrus over the weekend. Dr. Li Desheng from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, and National Zoo scientists and veterinarians...

Two young adult Asian small-clawed otters, from a new family of 13, died late yesterday at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Seven otters received routine quarantine exams during which the animals had patches of their fur dyed for identification purposes and they received contraceptive implants. After...

Visitors strolling through the Smithsonian's National Zoo one of these beautiful spring days will see a variety of baby animals, some new faces and enjoy an entirely new food experience.

Genetic analysis can give researchers a wealth of information about an individual animal or an entire population. But when the animal is wild, dangerous and rare, it can be difficult to obtain the best sources of DNA, which would usually mean capturing the animal to get a blood or tissue sample...

Guntur is officially the newest resident of Zoorasia in Yokohama, Japan! Guntur was sent there last week on a breeding recommendation with a female tiger that they have from Holland. As his keepers, we are all very sad to see him go, but we are excited that he will get the opportunity to increase...

Birds provide one of the most common ways to encounter nature in cities, but few people wonder how their actions affect birds looking for love.

Many factors affect the future of forests, making it complicated to develop predictions about where they will disappear and where they will flourish, what types of trees they will include and how much carbon they will store in the years to come. In a paper published in this month's issue of...

Two new research papers by Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute scientists and partners will help conservation biologists make strides in saving the fewer than 1,600 giant pandas left in the mountain forests of central China. Over the years SCBI has worked to conserve giant pandas by studying...

Spring is in full swing at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, and the Small Mammal House — which celebrated the birth of a black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) March 22 — is no exception.

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The same device used to detect early warning signs of heart disease in humans will now benefit two male sub-adult gorillas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Twelve-year-old Kwame and 10-year-old Kojo are the first western lowland gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla) to participate in a study lead by...

Two of the four maned wolf pups born Jan. 5, 2012, at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, are in need of names and for the first time the Smithsonian's National Zoo is turning to Facebook to find the most fitting monikers.

Part of the mission of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., is to provide exciting and enriching experiences for approximately 2 million annual local, national and international Zoo visitors. As the National Zoo's new foodservice partner, Sodexo, leader in Quality of Daily...

The National Zoo's 21-year-old female scimitar-horned oryx ( Oryx dammah), Liberty, was euthanized this morning. A final pathology report will provide more information, but her health had been in decline for several months. National Zoo visitors can see two young male scimitar-horned oryx on exhibit...

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, animals--and their keepers--at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Cheetah Conservation Station got into the holiday spirit. Animal care staff and aides created enrichment items--a paper-Mache mouse and Leprechaun hat--for maned wolves Siete and Diamantina...

It's official! Guntur will be leaving soon and going to Zoorasia in Yokohama, Japan. There is a young female there who was recommended as a breeding partner for Guntur. She is not related to any tigers in the USA, and Guntur is not related to any tigers in Japan, so this is really an excellent match...

Tickets are now on sale for ZooFari—D.C.'s foodie event of the year that drives diners wild. Food aficionados are invited to unleash their taste buds and sample delicious dishes from the area's finest restaurants and vintners. ZooFari, hosted by Friends of the National Zoo, will be held May 17 from...

As Washington, D.C's unseasonably warm winter turns into spring, a baby boom is underway at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Two Guam rail (Gallirallus owstoni) chicks hatched March 3 and 4; they join six others in the Zoo's collection--three of which live at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology...

Scientists working to promote conservation in cultures around the globe may have an ally closer than they realize. A new study from the Tibetan region of China suggests that traditional religions have real on-the-ground benefits for local biodiversity—in other words, that non-scientific motivations...

Lion separations have been going smoothly, and we are ready to take the last step! Several weeks ago, Baruti, Aslan, and John started spending the night in their own set of dens, next to the females. Luke had moved a little farther away from the rest of the pride, but has been able to walk through a...

The third female brown kiwi that hatched at the Smithsonian's National Zoo Dec. 11 has a new moniker: Omana (pronounced oh-MAH-nah). Mike Moore, New Zealand Ambassador to the United States, named the kiwi in honor of his hometown, O-Manawatere, a township located southeast of Auckland. Omana's...

It's easy to feel small in the face of large environmental problems like oil spills or air and water pollution, but kids can make a big difference. How? By entering Project Blue Planet, a nationwide contest organized by the Smithsonian's National Zoo.