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Zoo News Archive

A nutrition lab research assistant at the Zoo wearing a full-body snowsuit stands in the freezer where animal milk samples are stored. The shelves are stacked with cardboard boxes and she holds a small box filled with tubes of milk samples.
Dec. 20, 2019
Making Sense of Animal Milks
As a research assistant for the nutrition laboratory, I wear a snowsuit year-round. That’s because I spend a lot of time in a -20 degree Fahrenheit walk-in freezer located in the Zoo’s science...
A nutrition lab research assistant at the Zoo wearing a full-body snowsuit stands in the freezer where animal milk samples are stored. She holds a bag full of milk samples, and is surrounded by shelves stacked with cardboard boxes full of more samples.
Dec. 20, 2019
Guess That Milk Quiz
Are you a milk maven? Play "Guess That Milk" and try to match these milk samples with the animals they came from.
Asian elephant Shanthi at the Zoo's Elephant Trails exhibit.
Dec. 06, 2019
Elephant Update: Caring for Shanthi
An update on Asian elephant Shanthi's osteoarthritis. 
Lesser kudu female Rogue with her newborn male calf behind the scenes at the Zoo’s Cheetah Conservation Station. 
Dec. 06, 2019
Meet the Zoo’s New Kudu Calf
On Oct. 15, the Zoo welcomed a bouncing baby to its lesser kudu family! This past week, he joined his mom and brother on exhibit for the first time.
A small monkey, called an emperor tamarin, with dark fur, little ears and a long, curled, whispy, white "mustache" is perched in a tree
Dec. 06, 2019
New at the Zoo: Emperor Tamarins
Meet Fleck and Poe, a pair of emperor tamarin brothers who recently made their debut in Amazonia’s rainforest habitat! Get to know these mischievous monkeys from animal keeper Denny Charlton.
Reproductive scientist looking through a microscope.
Dec. 04, 2019
Smithsonian Scientists Dry and Store Live Ovarian Tissues Above Freezing Temperatures for the First Time
Scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute have preserved complex ovarian tissues in domestic cats above freezing temperatures by dehydrating them with the help of microwaves.
Bei Bei in his hammock at the Bifengxia Panda Base.
Nov. 27, 2019
Bei Bei Has Settled in at Bifengxia and the Panda Team is Back!
Bei Bei is settling in at his new home in China at the Bifengxia panda base. He did very well on the FedEx Panda Express and spent most of the 16-hour trip eating and sleeping.
The main entrance to ZooLights at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, featuring trees wrapped in holiday lights, light-up pandas and a lit sign that says "ZooLights"
Nov. 22, 2019
Media Advisory | Flip the Switch: ZooLights, Powered by Pepco
Flip the switch event to officially open ZooLights, powered by Pepco, the annual free lights festival at Smithsonian’s National Zoo.  
Member Week at ZooLights
Nov. 21, 2019
Member Week at ZooLights
From Dec. 1-8, Friends of the National Zoo members get extra perks during Member Week at ZooLights, powered by Pepco.
a keeper feeds a giant panda bamboo in a crate
Nov. 19, 2019
Giant Panda Bei Bei Departs Smithsonian’s National Zoo for China
Bei Bei the 4-year-old giant panda, began his journey to China on Nov. 19, 2019.
The main entrance to ZooLights at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, featuring trees wrapped in holiday lights, light-up pandas and a lit sign that says "ZooLights"
Nov. 18, 2019
ZooLights, Powered by Pepco, Begins Nov. 29
ZooLights—powered by Pepco—is bigger, brighter and better than ever this season. Visitors can join the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in celebrating the holidays with its annual free lights festival. The...
Giant panda Bei Bei stands in the branches of a tree green with foliage
Nov. 16, 2019
Media Advisory: Farewell Celebration for Giant Panda Bei Bei
“Bye Bye, Bei Bei” (BAY-BAY,) a series of online and on-site celebratory events to bid a fond farewell to giant panda Bei Bei before he departs for China.
Sept. 8, 2019: Giant panda cub Bei Bei at 2 weeks old.
Nov. 08, 2019
Snapshot: Bei Bei in Pictures
Giant panda Bei Bei knows how to work his angles! Check out some of our favorite snaps of this remarkably photogenic bear from the past four years.
Prehensile-tailed porcupette
Nov. 08, 2019
Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine Born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
There is a prickle of excitement at Small Mammal House where keepers discovered that Beatrix, a 2-year-old prehensile-tailed porcupine, gave birth to a porcupette.
Giant panda Bei Bei stands in the branches of a tree green with foliage
Nov. 08, 2019
Bei Bei’s Most Memorable Moments at the Zoo
As we prepare to bid giant panda Bei Bei a fond farewell, we’re taking a look back at some favorite milestones and memorable moments from his time at the Zoo.
Bei Bei in the Sun
Nov. 08, 2019
A Day in the Life of a Giant Panda Keeper
Follow a day in the life of the Smithsonian's National Zoo's giant panda keepers as they care for Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Bei Bei. 
Giant panda Bei Bei munches on a stalk of bamboo.
Nov. 07, 2019
Media Advisory: Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Giant Panda Bei Bei Departs for China
Media Advisory: Giant panda Bei Bei departs for China Nov. 19.
Passports
Nov. 07, 2019
Go on a FONZ Passport Adventure
FONZ members can now have even more fun during their visits to the Smithsonian's National Zoo with the brand-new FONZ Member Passport program, presented by Chase.
Orangutan Lucy
Nov. 01, 2019
Under (Blood) Pressure: Monitoring Heart Rates in Zoo Primates
How do you get an orangutan to sit still for an electrocardiogram? All it takes is a little patience and a lot of ingenuity! The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s positive reinforcement training program...
Bye Bye Bei Bei
Nov. 01, 2019
Join FONZ for the Bye Bye, Bei Bei Member Event
Members: join FONZ for the Bye Bye, Bei Bei member event!
Bobwhite Quail
Nov. 01, 2019
Answering the Call for Bobwhite Quail
Forty years ago, the distinctive call of the bobwhite quail could be heard throughout Virginia’s grasslands. Now, their call is fading — silenced by changing farm practices and land development that...
Flamingo Chicks
Nov. 01, 2019
Bird is the Word
The Zoo's historic Bird House may be under renovation, but that has not stopped the animal care team from bringing native shorebirds, songbirds and waterfowl under their wing to establish best...
African lion female
Nov. 01, 2019
Keeping Up with the Great Cats: Lion Pride Edition
Fall is upon us, which means that it’s a great time to visit the Great Cats exhibit to see our African lions in action! When the temperature is between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, the cats are at...
An emperor tamarin, a small monkey with a long white mustache, sitting on a branch.
Oct. 29, 2019
New Emperor Tamarins On Exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is home to two new regally mustachioed monkeys. 
Lesser kudu female Rogue with her newborn male calf behind the scenes at the Zoo’s Cheetah Conservation Station.
Oct. 24, 2019
Lesser Kudu Born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Cheetah Conservation Station keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are celebrating the arrival of a male lesser kudu calf, who was born Oct. 14 to 5-year-old mother Rogue and 9-year-old father...
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