News Archive

Read the latest update on six-month-old western lowland gorilla infant Moke. 

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and American Prairie Reserve are collaborating to protect and restore one of North America’s greatest treasures — the prairie.

For the first time, scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute have successfully cryopreserved (or frozen) and thawed coral larvae from the mushroom coral.

Insect-eating birds that depend on high-calorie, high-protein cuisine (namely caterpillars and spiders) to feed their young are finding the menu severely lacking in backyards landscaped with even a small proportion of nonnative plants, according to a new study from SCBI.

As part of our community, we'd like to invite you to visit the Zoo's bird plateau to learn more about Experience Migration.

For the past two years, Global Health Program veterinarian Dawn Zimmerman traveled to Awash National Park in Ethiopia to collar hamadryas baboons, helping researchers track the primates and study their biology, reproduction and social nature.

Just one month after welcoming a male Dama gazelle calf, Cheetah Conservation Station keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo once again welcomed a new member to the herd. A female calf was born in an off-exhibit enclosure the morning of Oct. 9 to 9-year-old mother Fahima and 4-year-old father...

Carve your Halloween pumpkin to look like giant panda Bei Bei today with this downloadable stencil!

Moke is six months old and, for the first time, keepers observed him taking his first steps in the outdoor yard independent of his mother!

Watch a video and read the latest update on the screaming hairy armadillo pup born Aug. 8, 2018.

As part of the Explorations in Engineering program at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia, students had a rare opportunity to help Smithsonian scientists save two critically endangered species: pangolins and scimitar-horned oryx.

Get to know the Zoo's hawk-headed parrot, Boomer, in this Q&A with animal keeper Hilary Colton.

George Mason University students recently traveled to the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya to work with Smithsonian scientists as part of a course on emerging infectious disease.

Read primate keeper Melba Brown's latest update on 5-month-old gorilla Moke.

What are pollinators, and why do we need them? Read on to find out why pollinators are so important!

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) welcomed a litter of three cheetah cubs Sept. 22. The cubs were born to first-time mother, Sukiri.

Primate keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of Muneca, a white-cheeked gibbon who was humanely euthanized this morning.

Five-month-old western lowland gorilla, Moke, has been spending some quality time with his father, says primate keeper Melba Brown. 

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has been awarded a five-year accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The accreditation certifies that the Zoo has met or exceeded the AZA’s standards for animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education and...

Friends of the National Zoo volunteers are helping primate keepers monitor how our western lowland gorillas interact with one another, says primate keeper Melba Brown. 

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is buzzing over a new pollinator-themed playground: Me and the Bee, sponsored by Land O’Lakes Inc. Adjacent to the Kids’ Farm and Conservation Pavilion, Me and the Bee encompasses 4,900 square feet of space where children of all ages can climb atop honeycomb steps...

Steven Monfort has been named the John and Adrienne Mars Director, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, effective Sept. 17.

The façade of the Great Ape House is getting a “bee-autiful” makeover. Beginning Sept. 17, artist Matthew Willey will put paint to the popular primate exhibit, creating a larger-than-life swarm of honeybees to highlight the importance of pollinator conservation.

Moke is 5 months old! Check out primate keeper Melba Brown's latest update on our western lowland gorillas. 

Cheetah Conservation Station keepers are celebrating the birth of a critically endangered Dama gazelle.