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Zoo News Archive

Western lowland gorilla infant Moke in his outdoor habitat.
Apr. 15, 2020
#GorillaStory: Happy 2nd Birthday, Moke!
As the primate team celebrates Moke's second birthday, keeper Alex Reddy reflects on the western lowland gorilla's growing independence, bold personality and training triumphs. 
several cheetah cubs up close. one has its mouth open with a pink tongue
Apr. 14, 2020
Cheetah #Cubdate 2: April 14
Today was a big day for keepers and cheetah cubs alike. For the first time, keepers were able to approach the four cubs born April 8. Learn more in this Q&A with cheetah biologist Adrienne...
A white-naped crane chick hatched April 2, 2020. She is pictured with her mother, Brenda.
Apr. 13, 2020
White-Naped Crane Hatches at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Bird keepers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia, are celebrating the arrival of a female white-naped crane chick that hatched April 2. She is the fourth...
a cheetah mother licks and nurses her cubs in a den filled with straw
Apr. 10, 2020
Cheetah #Cubdate 1: April 10
A brief #cubdate on cheetah Echo and her four newborn cubs. Watch them live on the Cheetah Cub Cam.
Scientists from Smithsonian's Global Health Program taking samples from a bumble bee bat in Myanmar.
Apr. 09, 2020
Smithsonian Scientists Discover Six New Coronaviruses in Bats
Researchers with the Smithsonian’s Global Health Program have discovered six new coronaviruses in bats in Myanmar — the first time these viruses have been detected anywhere in the world. Future...
A female cheetah cub lays on a bed of hay in a den where she has just given birth to three cubs. The three small, newborn cheetah cubs can be seen around her in the hay.
Apr. 08, 2020
Cheetah Cubs Born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Carnivore keepers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, are about to welcome a litter of chirping cheetah cubs. Five-year-old female Echo is having contractions...
A small Guam kingfisher bird with a wide, large bill and colorful feathers perched on a branch
Apr. 06, 2020
Guam Kingfishers: A Truly Rare Breed
As an animal keeper at SCBI, some of my favorite birds to work with are small but sassy. Guam kingfishers certainly fall into this category. We have three pairs to introduce during this year's...
Japanese giant salamander at the Reptile Discovery Center
Apr. 03, 2020
New at the Zoo: Japanese Giant Salamander
A supersized salamander recently debuted at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Reptile Discovery Center. Get the scoop on these freshwater giants from keeper Kyle Miller.
Two clouded leopard cubs with large paws and thick spotted fur rest together on a large tree limb
Apr. 03, 2020
School is in Session for Clouded Leopard Cubs
Asia Trail keepers Jenny Spotten and Kaleigh Shaw discuss the Zoo's clouded leopard cubs' latest training triumphs.
Two cheetahs at SCBI's cheetah ridge facility.
Apr. 03, 2020
Preparing for Cheetah Cubs
Here at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, the carnivore team is gearing up for a very special arrival: cheetah cubs! As one of 10 facilities in the Cheetah...
Red panda Asa with St. Patrick's Day enrichment.
Apr. 03, 2020
Bringing the Zoo to You: March 2020 Edition
From flamingo courtships to weekly weigh-ins for the African lions, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is buzzing with beastly activity behind the scenes! 
Two bison with thick fur, big shoulder humps, large heads and short, curved horns stand in grass and shrubs at American Prairie Reserve in Montana
Apr. 01, 2020
Fantastic Beasts of the Great Plains
Smithsonian ecologists worked with American Prairie Reserve staff to fit bison with GPS ear tags. Their movement study will help researchers understand how bison move and use the landscape at the...
two cheetah cubs with their eyes closed lay in hay
Mar. 30, 2020
Saving Cheetah Cubs One Drop of Milk at a Time
A special delivery of cheetah milk recently arrived at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's milk bank (the largest milk repository in the world). Find out what researchers hope to learn from this unique...
Asian elephant Ambika at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Elephant Trails habitat in 2016.
Mar. 28, 2020
Elderly Asian Elephant Ambika Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo community is mourning the loss of Ambika, the beloved eldest member of its Asian elephant herd. She was humanely euthanized yesterday, March 27, following a recent and...
Cheetah Miti and her cubs at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in 2018.
Mar. 24, 2020
Two Animals Die at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Animal care staff at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are mourning the loss of two rare species—a cheetah and an Eld’s deer.
Mei Xiang
Mar. 23, 2020
Giant Panda Mei Xiang Is Artificially Inseminated at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
A team of reproductive scientists, veterinarians and panda keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo performed an artificial insemination on giant panda Mei Xiang, March 22, at 9:45 a.m.  
Kiwi at SCBI
Mar. 20, 2020
Two Brown Kiwi Die at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Animal care staff at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are mourning the loss of two kiwi.
Female giant panda Mei Xiang surveys her yard at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat.
Mar. 16, 2020
Celebrating National Panda Day
Happy national panda day! Here at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Asia Trail exhibit, we are celebrating with giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, as well as our red panda pair, Asa and Jackie.
Zoo entrance with icon banners.
Mar. 13, 2020
COVID-19 Update
All Smithsonian museums, including the National Zoo, continue to be closed to support the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Veterinarians looking at slides of panda blood at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Mar. 10, 2020
Learning More About Panda Health One Drop of Blood at a Time
You may not like needles or giving blood when you go to the doctor’s office, but did you know that blood is an important diagnostic tool for veterinarians? When an animal is feeling sick, obtaining a...
Three eggs sit in individual dry-grass nests. One looks like feathers, the other like the earth and the third one looks like a tiger's stripes. The words "Easter Monday and Earth Optimism" are at the top.
Mar. 10, 2020
Spring Events at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is hosting several events in April and May, 2020, including Earth Optimism on Easter Monday; International Family Equality Day; Wildlife Migration Day; and Bite Night:...
Stanley Crane, Alice, close-up of head
Mar. 06, 2020
Featured Creature: Alice the Stanley Crane
Stanley crane Alice is unlike any other bird of her species. Hand-raised by keepers, she has a sweet temperament and joyous personality. When she sustained a leg injury last summer, animal care staff...
Iranian fat-tailed gecko
Mar. 06, 2020
New at the Zoo: Iranian Fat-Tailed Gecko
Two mysterious and secretive residents recently arrived at the Reptile Discovery Center: Iranian fat-tailed geckos! Get the scoop on this rad brother-sister duo from animal keeper Sara Hasenstab.
A hoofed animal, called a Grevy's zebra, with black and white stripes, slender legs, large ears, a thick mane and a long tail stands on grass-covered rocks in the sun
Mar. 06, 2020
How Do You Train a Zebra?
How do keepers safely care for an 850-pound Grevy's zebra? By incorporating training into his everyday routine. Find out more in this update from animal keeper Regina Bakely.
Suzan Murray sits at a table with a piece of paper in her hand
Mar. 05, 2020
Head of SCBI's Global Health Program Testifies on ​​​​​​​Zoonotic Disease
Dr. Suzan Murray, head of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Global Health Program testifies on zoonotic disease transmission.
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