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Zoo News Archive

Giant panda, Mei Xiang, climbing a tree.
Jan. 14, 2020
Pandas Frolicking in Winter
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have been having some adventures around the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat!
Animal keeper Erica Royer kneels next to a wooden create and holds a Guam rail, as she gets ready to release the bird into the wild
Jan. 13, 2020
Conserving the Last of Guam’s Avifauna: The Recovery of the Guam Rail
Walking through the forests of Guam the sound is arresting, because it’s silent. But the loud whistle of the Guam rail is returning to the forests of nearby islands, nearly 40 years after the bird...
Asian elephant Shanthi at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.
Jan. 06, 2020
Elephant Update: Shanthi Rings in the New Year
As the Smithsonian’s National Zoo rang in the new year, the elephant team celebrated another revolution around the sun for (now) 45-year-old female Asian elephant, Shanthi.
Andean bear Billie Jean in her habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.
Jan. 03, 2020
Andean Bear Update: A New Hope
An update from Andean bear keeper Sara Colandrea on the latest happenings with Billie Jean and Quito. 
A primate, called a siamang, with thick black fur, long limbs and a large, round throat sack opens its mouth to make a vocalization
Jan. 03, 2020
Featured Creature: Meet the Gibbons!
Swing into the new year with an animal that knows a thing or two about swinging: gibbons! Get to know Sydney, Ronnie and Bradley from primate keeper Carly Hornberger.
A large reptile, called a crocodile monitor, climbs over a log. It has long, curved claws, a lean body, scaly, spotted skin, and its forked tongue is sticking out.
Jan. 03, 2020
New at the Zoo: Crocodile Monitor
What’s that rustle in the trees behind Reptile Discovery Center? Look up, or you may miss the Zoo’s stealthy male crocodile monitor hiding among the branches. Get the scoop on this cool cold-blooded...
Two clouded leopard cubs with large paws and thick spotted fur rest together on a large tree limb
Dec. 26, 2019
2019’s Conservation Stories Worth Celebrating (Part Two)
As 2019 comes to a close, we’re continuing to reflect on some of this year’s biggest conservation success stories.
Giant panda Bei Bei climbs a tree on the morning of his last day at the Smithsonian's National Zoo before leaving for China
Dec. 26, 2019
2019’s Conservation Stories Worth Celebrating (Part One)
As the year winds down, we’re reflecting on some of our biggest conservation success stories of 2019.
A dog with a chain collar and leash stands beside a person's legs. The person is petting the dog's head.
Dec. 26, 2019
Stopping Rabies in its Tracks: How Canine Vaccines are Saving Lives in Kenya
In October, Global Health Program veterinary fellows participated in the annual Laikipia Rabies Vaccination Campaign in Laikipia County, Kenya, which aims to eradicate (or completely eliminate) the...
A southern two-toed sloth with coarse fur, long limbs and curved claws hangs upside-down from a tree branch.
Dec. 23, 2019
New Two-toed Sloth Arrives at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The Small Mammal House has a new resident worth slowing down for: Athena, a 1½-year-old female two-toed sloth.
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.
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