News Archive

An elderly female bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus) named Sam was euthanized Friday, Dec. 31, at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. The bird was found lying in her exhibit Dec. 28 and was transported to the Zoo’s veterinary hospital for treatment. Although the eagle initially responded...

Looking for the “wildest” way to celebrate Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank? Attend the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s third annual on Friday, Feb. 11 for an opportunity to learn about animal mating, dating and reproductive habits in an honest and humorous forum. This extraordinary evening...

Many years of research are celebrated in the birth of two cheetah cubs at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute—the first cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus) born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park facility in Front Royal, Va. The cubs were born to two separate females; the first to 5...

Seven lion cubs born at the National Zoo are now sporting seven names. Just before the cubs made their debut in the lion yard this morning, the Zoo announced their names: John, Fahari, Zuri, Lelie, Baruti, Aslan, and Lusaka. “We were touched to receive so many thoughtful name suggestions for the...

WhatPress conference for lion cub debut and revealing of names ( press credentials required) When Saturday, Dec. 1811:50 a.m. (arrive at exhibit no later than 11:45 a.m.) Where National Zoo Great Cats ExhibitLion/Tiger Hill3001 Connecticut Avenue N.W.(Park in Parking Lot D at the bottom of the Zoo)...

With the holiday season quickly approaching, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo asks that you keep the furry and non-furry animals in mind. Zoo keepers have created a “wish list” for all of your favorite animals. Each special item will provide enrichment opportunities, exercise, variety to their day and...

Animal keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo have selected six finalists from the Name the Lion: Cub Cam Contest, and voting on the finalists has begun. Through this contest, U.S. residents had a chance to suggest a name for two of the Zoo’s seven lion cubs by submitting a video no longer than...

Today 20th Century Fox and Walden Media presented a monetary gift to support the National Zoo’s great-cat conservation, research and public education. Actors Georgie Henley and Skandar Keynes from the new motion picture Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader joined Zoo Director Dennis...

A longtime resident of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, an elderly female Andean bear was euthanized Monday after a decline in her health compromised her quality of life. At 33 years old, Bandit outlived the average Andean bear by nearly a decade. In general, Andean bears live to be 20–25 years old...

The National Zoo’s 27-year-old female Northern white-cheeked gibbon ( Nomascus leucogenys), Siam, died this morning after an aggressive encounter with Mickey, a 25-year-old male gibbon. Keepers separated the pair and immediately brought the injured female to the veterinary hospital, where Zoo...

As frogs around the world continue to disappear—many killed by a rapidly spreading disease called chytridiomycosis, which attacks the skin cells of amphibians—one critically endangered species has received an encouraging boost. Although the La Loma tree frog, Hyloscirtus colymba, is notoriously...

For the past three months, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has delighted animal lovers around the world with its lion cub cam, featuring the Zoo’s seven young African lion cubs. Now it is the viewers’ turn to make a video for the lions—and to help name two of the seven cubs in the process.

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s endocrinology laboratory is set to play a vital role in what will be the most comprehensive and collaborative study on elephant welfare in zoos—a project funded by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services with the Honolulu Zoo serving as...

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo has entered the mobile-giving marketplace with its latest “TEXT ELEPHANT” and “TEXT FROG” fundraising campaigns. Aimed at visitors on the go, animal enthusiasts and citizen conservationists, the Zoo’s text-to-give efforts allow people to easily and inexpensively...

At 2 weeks old, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s three African lion ( Panthera leo) cubs born to 6-year-old Nababiep Sept. 22 appear to be healthy, Zoo veterinarians said today after completing the cubs’ first health exam. “We’re happy to see that the cubs are growing and that each appears to be in...

By Kate Volz, Cheetah Conservation Station Keeper at the National Zoo The Ol Pejeta Conservancy outside of Nanyuki, Kenya, is a beautiful patchwork of open grasslands, whistling thorn acacia savannas, Euclea scrub woodlands, and towering yellow fever tree forests along the banks of the Ewaso N’giro...

By Malia Somerville, Beaver Valley Keeper at the National Zoo At the end of August, Associate Director of Animal Care Sciences Don Moore, Curator of Enrichment and Training Heidi Hellmuth, and I traveled to the Temaiken Biopark outside Buenos Aires (BA), Argentina, to participate in a joint...

The four lion cubs born at the National Zoo Aug. 31 had their first physical exam today. All four cubs are believed to be female, according to the vets, but it is difficult to determine their gender with certainty at such a young age. Each cub weighs between 7 and 8 pounds. “They were great first...

Although the magnificent frigatebird may be the least likely animal on the Galapagos Islands to be unique to the area, it turns out the Galapagos population of this tropical seabird may be its own genetically distinct species warranting a new conservation status, according to a paper by researchers...

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo welcomed its second litter of African lion ( Panthera leo) cubs in three weeks Sept. 22. Nababiep and her cubs can now be seen on the Zoo’s live webcam. Viewers are able to toggle between four different cameras, as Nababiep, Shera, mother of the first litter of four...

The birth of three more lion cubs at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo this morning has contributed to the growth of the Zoo’s lion pride over the past three weeks and has brought the total number of cubs to seven so far. The Zoo’s six-year-old lion Nababiep gave birth to the three newest cubs three...

It’s that time of year again. In fact, the only time of year when the gates to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, open to the public. During the Autumn Conservation Festival visitors can tour the sprawling campus in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, meet some of...

A Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center review of more than 50 studies in regions ranging from Central and South America to Indonesia over the past 15 years demonstrates that shade-grown coffee farms far outshine sun-grown coffee farms when it comes to sustainability measurements.

The National Zoo’s kori bustard ( Ardeotis kori) team received the prestigious Edward H. Bean Award Sept. 15 from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its work on the long-term propagation, breeding and management of kori bustards. This award recognizes institutions that contribute to the...

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo celebrated the completion of Phase I of Elephant Trails, an innovative and expanded home for Asian elephants, Sept. 2. Phase I has four elements: a new elephant barn, two new outdoor yards, the Elephant Exercise Trek and The Homer and Martha Gudelsky Elephant Outpost...