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Zoo News Archive

Virginia Working Landscapes program director Amy Johnson holds an eastern meadowlark.
Jul. 19, 2019
Monitoring Meadowlark Movements
At first glance, Virginia’s farmlands seem quite peaceful. But beneath the swaying fields of hay lies a bustling ecosystem for the birds that call the grasslands home. One such avian animal—the...
Persian onager calf born in 2015.
Jul. 19, 2019
Featured Creature: Persian Onager
Excitement is in the air at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, where hoofstock keepers are eagerly anticipating the births of three Persian onagers! Get to know...
Kristina Anderson-Teixeria
Jul. 18, 2019
SCBI Scientist Kristina Anderson-Teixeira Receives Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
Kristina Anderson-Teixeira—a forest ecologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s (SCBI) Conservation Ecology Center and at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Center for...
Giant panda Bei Bei sitting in his outdoor hammock.
Jul. 17, 2019
Bei Bei is Recovering From A Bout With Mucous Stools
During the past several weeks, Bei Bei has been experiencing some gastrointestinal discomfort which has caused him to pass several mucous stools and loose stools. 
A camera trap photo of a jaguar with spotted fur stalking across a leaf-covered forest floor toward the camera
Jul. 16, 2019
Eyes and Ears on the Amazon Rainforest
Wild animals are very elusive, so how do scientists learn about their behavior and life history? Find out how Smithsonian scientists use camera traps and acoustic recorders to covertly monitor...
A newborn scimitar-horned oryx calf with tan skin and large ears stands in the grass near its mother, an oryx named Chari, and another adult oryx
Jul. 16, 2019
Critically Endangered Scimitar-horned Oryx Calves Born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's herd of scimitar-horned oryx is growing. Keepers welcomed five calves during the past few weeks.
Close-up of Asian elephant Maharani's face.
Jul. 12, 2019
Happy Birthday, Maharani!
Female Asian elephant Maharani is turning 29 years old Sunday, July 14, and we are celebrating with her favorite thing—food!
giant panda mei xiang in her yard
Jul. 12, 2019
Mei Xiang Update: July 2019
Keepers are still waiting to find out if giant panda Mei Xiang is pregnant. She has not started exhibiting many behaviors associated with the secondary hormone rise of a pregnancy or pseudopregnancy. 
A small green lizard, called an Asian water dragon, with scaly skin, a long, thin, striped tail, small spikes along its spine and short claws on its digits
Jul. 05, 2019
Asian Water Dragon Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
A 2-year-old female Asian water dragon who was the first documented birth by facultative parthenogenesis in her species died from blood cancer.
A lesser kudus with a long neck, large ears, and light brown skin with thin white stripes grazes in the grass
Jul. 05, 2019
Keeping Up With Kushukuru the Kudu
As his name suggests, Zoo staff are “grateful” for 5-month-old male lesser kudu, Kushukuru! He was born Jan. 12, 2019, to 5-year-old first time mother Rogue and 8-year-old father Garrett.
A scientist takes a biological sample from a tapir that is fitted with a GPS collar
Jul. 05, 2019
Tracking Tapirs: An Expedition in Ecuador
Why is this mountain tapir wearing a collar? His movements and behaviors are being tracked via satellite by Smithsonian scientists!
Infant western lowland gorilla Moke stands on all fours in the grass near a plant in his outdoor yard at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Jul. 05, 2019
#GorillaStory: Moke Is Becoming More Bold
Western lowland gorilla infant Moke is becoming bolder, and with his growing confidence, we are beginning to see traces of his mom’s personality, says assistant curator Becky Malinsky. 
A male African lion laying on the ground with greenery in the background
Jul. 01, 2019
Male African Lions in Human Care Hit Puberty Earlier Than in the Wild
Lion cubs grow up fast, and even faster in zoos. In a long-term study, scientists at SCBI found that male African lions living in human care hit puberty a full year earlier than their counterparts in...
A group of guests pose for a photo at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's ZooFari event
Jun. 28, 2019
The Zoopendous Summer Interns’ Guide to D.C.
Make the most of your time out of the office with a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo!
A sea lion pup born June 23, 2019, at the Smithsonian's National Zoo falls asleep while nursing with its mother
Jun. 28, 2019
Sea Lion Pup Born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
A new set of flippers splashed down at Smithsonian’s National Zoo, where American Trail keepers are celebrating the arrival of a California sea lion pup. Animal care staff are closely monitoring the...
Red panda cub being weighed.
Jun. 25, 2019
Endangered Red Panda Cub Born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Moonlight, a 4-year-old red panda, gave birth to a cub overnight June 12 at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. Moonlight and the cub appear to be doing well and...
A red panda rests on a tree limb with its arms, legs and tail dangling over the sides
Jun. 21, 2019
Summer 2019 Guide to Beating the Heat at the Zoo
Visitors to Washington, D.C., can expect warm weather and humidity this season. But not to worry — we’ve rounded up a few of the best ways to beat the heat at the Zoo this summer.
bioanalyzer
Jun. 21, 2019
Evolution Fast Track: Otter Genetic History Provides Clues for Future Recovery
The study, which is among the first genomic studies on otters, found that both the sea otter and giant otter have lost a considerable number of genes related to the sense of smell — a faculty that is...
A hooded crane chick in the grass.
Jun. 19, 2019
Keepers Help Vulnerable Hooded Crane Hatch at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
A small beak broke through one of the hooded crane eggs at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia, June 12.
A meme with a lion cub biting its father's head and the text "#Parenting"
Jun. 13, 2019
The Best Father's Day in D.C. (We Ain't Lion)
Treat dad like the king (of the jungle) he is at the Smithsonian's National Zoo!
An Asian elephant with large tusks walks near huts in Myanmar
Jun. 12, 2019
A New Tool for Saving Asian Elephants and Other Large Species
Large animals, like the Asian elephants, have evolved to grow and mature at a different rate than many smaller species monitored by organizations like the International Union for the Conservation of...
North American beaver Birch snacks on his favorite food, corn, at the American Trail exhibit.
Jun. 12, 2019
Beaver Dies at Smithsonian's National Zoo
We are sad to share that 4-year-old North American beaver Birch died suddenly June 3.
Jun. 10, 2019
Zoo Director Testifies Before Congress on Biodiversity
Read a copy of the testimony the director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute gave before House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on June 4, 2019.
Western lowland gorilla Moke at the Great Ape House.
Jun. 07, 2019
Attention-Grabbing Apes: Studying Gorilla and Orangutan Gestures
With two youngsters, Moke and Redd, growing up at the Great Ape House, primate staff are taking the rare opportunity to study the gestures and spatial proximity between gorilla and orangutan mother-...
Asian water dragon mother (top) and parthenogenic offspring (bottom).
Jun. 07, 2019
Life Finds a Way: Parthenogenesis in Asian Water Dragons
For four years, the Reptile Discovery Center’s Asian water dragon female lived alone. Then, while examining eggs as part of a study, animal keepers made a shocking discovery—one was fertile! How...
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