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Press Releases

SCBI biologist Adrienne Crosier transferred a 2-week-old male cheetah cub from Front Royal, Virginia, to Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon.
Oct. 06, 2021
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Cheetah Cub Successfully Transferred to Foster Cheetah Family in Oregon
A 2-week-old male cheetah cub from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, was transferred to a new cheetah foster mother at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon,... read press release
Oct. 01, 2021
Update on COVID-19 Positive Great Cats at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The lions and tigers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo continue to be treated for COVID-19. All tigers and lions, including the three lions noted of concern in the Sept. 24 update, are improving and... read press release
Sep. 24, 2021
Update on COVID-19 Positive Great Cats at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The lions and tigers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo continue to be treated for COVID-19. All tigers and three lions are eating normally and improving. Three lions are of greater concern.... read press release
Male cheetah cub being bottle-fed formula.
Sep. 20, 2021
Animal Care Staff Are Hand-rearing Cheetah Cub at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Animal care staff at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) are hand-raising a male cheetah cub for several weeks before placing the cub with a foster cheetah mother at another zoo.... read press release
Male adult African lion
Sep. 17, 2021
Great Cats Tested Presumptive Positive For COVID-19 at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Six African lions, a Sumatran tiger and two Amur tigers have tested presumptive positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. Last weekend, animal keepers observed decreased appetites, coughing,... read press release
Endangered Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) in the ocean.
Sep. 07, 2021
Smithsonian and Partners Pioneer Method To Boost Endangered Coral Populations Separated by Vast Distances
Scientists from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and partners have become the first to use cryopreserved (frozen) coral sperm to support gene migration of Caribbean coral populations... read press release
Giant pandas Xiao Qi Ji (foreground) and Mei Xiang (background) celebrate Xiao Qi Ji's birthday with a panda-friendly fuitsicle cake.
Aug. 21, 2021
Giant Panda Xiao Qi Ji Celebrated First Birthday At Smithsonian’s National Zoo
This morning, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute celebrated giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s (SHIAU-chi-ji) first birthday with a specially tailored fruitsicle cake.... read press release
Aug. 16, 2021
Media Advisory: Xiao Qi Ji’s First Birthday Celebration
Media are invited to a presentation of panda-friendly fruitsicle cakes to giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji, his mother Mei Xiang and father Tian Tian. RSVP required, not open to the public.... read press release
Two scimitar-horned oryx calves in a pasture with adult oryx.
Aug. 12, 2021
Two Scimitar-Horned Oryx Calves Born as Result of Artificial Insemination at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Ungulate keepers and scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia, are celebrating the birth of two scimitar-horned oryx calves born via non-surgical... read press release
A keeper wearing a blue apron and blue, latex gloves holds three black-footed ferret kits in their hands. You cannot see the keepers' face. The kits eyes are not fully open yet, one has one eye open.
Jul. 27, 2021
Black-Footed Ferret Kits Receive Names at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
After over 6,700 votes cast, the three black-footed ferret kits at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia have received their names.... read press release
A keeper wearing a blue apron and blue, latex gloves holds three black-footed ferret kits in their hands. You cannot see the keepers' face. The kits eyes are not fully open yet, one has one eye open.
Jul. 20, 2021
Public Invited To Name Black-Footed Ferret Kits at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute invites the public to help name three black-footed ferret kits—one female and two males—born May 19 at the Smithsonian Conservation... read press release
blue-hued chromoproteins in Hawaiian blue rice coral may make it more resilient to UV rays and climate change than corals that are brown in color
Jun. 09, 2021
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Scientists Find Corals’ Natural “Sunscreen” May Help Them Weather Climate Change
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute scientists are one step closer to understanding why some corals can weather climate change better than others, and the secret could be in a specific protein... read press release
Black-footed ferret mom Potpie and her newborn kit on the Black-footed Ferret Cam livestream
May. 19, 2021
Black-Footed Ferrets Are Born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Carnivore keepers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, are welcoming a litter of endangered black-footed ferret kits. Three-year-old female Potpie has birthed... read press release
Indian flying foxes roosting in a tree in Myanmar.
May. 18, 2021
New Model for Infectious Disease Could Better Predict Future Pandemics
In new study, Smithsonian scientists and partners provide a framework for a new approach to modeling infectious diseases. It adapts established methods developed to study the planet’s natural systems... read press release
Lion statue at Zoo's entrance with face covering.
May. 11, 2021
What’s New at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Giant Panda Viewing Details
When visitors return to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute May 21, they will find both familiar and new faces as they explore the park.... read press release
Bornean Rajah scops owl roosting in a tree.
May. 03, 2021
Bornean Rajah Scops Owl Rediscovered After 125 Years
The Bornean subspecies of Rajah scops owl (Otus brookii brookii), documented in the wild for the first time since 1892, may be its own unique species and deserving of a conservation designation.... read press release
Lesser kudu calf laying down in the sand.
Apr. 29, 2021
Male Lesser Kudu Born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Cheetah Conservation Station keepers at Smithsonian’s National Zoo are celebrating the arrival of a male lesser kudu calf, who was born Mar. 29 to 7-year-old mother Rogue and 10-year-old father... read press release
Lion statue wearing face mask.
Apr. 23, 2021
Smithsonian To Reopen Seven Museums and the National Zoo in May
The Smithsonian will reopen eight of its facilities to the public in May, starting with the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, Wednesday, May 5.... read press release
Smithsonian researcher covered in insects attracted to artificial light at night.
Mar. 17, 2021
Smithsonian Scientists Discover the Key To Mitigating Impact of Artificial Light at Night in Tropical Forests
Artificial light at night is a major factor in global insect decline. Smithsonian scientists and partners found that using amber-colored filters to remove the blue spectra of light from “warm white”... read press release
Cheetah Justin (nicknamed "Gat") lays in the grass at the Cheetah Conservation Station.
Mar. 08, 2021
Male Cheetah Dies at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Cheetah Conservation Station keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of Justin (nicknamed “Gat”), a male cheetah who died unexpectedly following a brief illness. Gat was 8... read press release