Press Release Archive
An archive of press releases from Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Giant Panda Bao Bao May Start Venturing Outside This Week
Seven-month-old Bao Bao will have access to her mother Mei Xiang's (may-SHONG) larger yard this week beginning each day around 8 a.m., weather depending. Bao Bao will be given the option to explore outside with her mother if the temperature is at least 35 degrees Fahrenheit with no precipitation.
Keepers Hand-Rearing Sloth Bear Cub at the National Zoo
The decision for keepers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo to hand-raise a female sloth bear cub instead of leaving her with her mother Khali likely saved her life. She is now very active and growing as the result of the round-the-clock care she has received for the past two-and-a-half months. The...
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Mourns Loss of Elderly Przewalski's Horse
The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's 32-year-old female Przewalski's (Shah-VAL-skee) horse, Misha, was humanely euthanized March 12. Misha was one of three horses to arrive at SCBI in Front Royal, Va. in 1984 and the oldest Przewalski's horse in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums...
Dama Gazelles Born at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute- Media Release
Animal care staff at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va. are celebrating the birth of three male Dama gazelles. The calves were born Feb. 18, Feb. 20 and Feb. 25. At their 24-hour neonatal exam, the first calf weighed 11 pounds and the second and third calves weighed...
National Zoo's African Lion Gives Birth to Four Cubs
March came in like a lion—four lions, to be exact—9-year-old African lion Shera gave birth to a litter at the Great Cats exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Their delivery March 2 spanned a seven-hour period, from 8:27 a.m. to 3:17 p.m. These cubs are the second litter for Shera and the fifth...
Celebrate American Bison and the Smithsonian's National Zoo at 125 Years: Summer 2014
On March 2, 1889, President Grover Cleveland signed a bill passed by both Houses that officially established the National Zoo and allocated funds for the purchase of land. To celebrate its 125th Anniversary, the Smithsonian's National Zoo is proud to bring back the animal that sparked the...
National Zoo's Elderly Giant Pacific Octopus Dies
Pandora, the female giant Pacific octopus at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, died yesterday. Animal care staff estimate that Pandora was about 5 years old. The median lifespan for giant Pacific octopuses is about 3 to 5 years. Pandora came to the Zoo in November 2011 when she was about 1.5 years old...
Keepers Hand Feeding Gray Seal Pup at Smithsonian's National Zoo
Animal keepers at the National Zoo have been hand feeding a female gray seal pup, born Jan. 21 at 10:21 p.m., in the holding area of the seal exhibit on American Trail. Zoo keepers, veterinarians and nutritionists have been closely monitoring the pup and her mother, Kara. Within 48 hours of her...
DC Snowy Owl Treated by National Zoo Veterinarians
The snowy owl that has been spotted recently in the Washington D.C. area was brought to the Smithsonian's National Zoo for care early this morning after reportedly being hit by a bus in the 15 th and I St. area of the District. The owl was found by the Metropolitan Police who reported the injury to...
Smithsonian's National Zoo Euthanized Male Cheetah
The National Zoo is mourning the loss of an 8-year-old adult male cheetah, Draco, who was humanely euthanized earlier this morning. A final pathology report will provide more information. Typically, male cheetahs in human care have a median lifespan of 10 years. Longevity studies have not been...
Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) Announces New Board Leadership
Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) announced that John Ring, a partner with the law firm Morgan Lewis, has been elected to serve as President of the FONZ Board of Directors. Ring has been an integral part of FONZ for more than seven years and succeeds Andrew Shore, who led the organization for the...
Smithsonian's National Zoo Welcomes Lion Cubs
The Smithsonian's National Zoo's Great Cats team celebrated the arrival of its first litter of African lion cubs in four years. On Jan. 24, the Zoo's 10-year-old lion Nababiep gave birth to three cubs—two surviving—in an eight-hour period. These cubs are the third litter for Nababiep and the fourth...
Micronesian Kingfisher Chick Hatches: Total of 129 Birds in Existence - Media Release
The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute rung in 2014 with the hatching of the most endangered species in its collection—a Micronesian kingfisher—Jan. 1. The chick, whose sex is unknown, is the first offspring for its 8-year-old father and 2-year-old mother. This boost brings the total...
Extended Hours at National Zoo's Giant Panda Habitat This Weekend
Giant panda cub Bao Bao will step out from behind the panda cams and meet the public this weekend at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Visitors to the Zoo will have the opportunity to see Bao Bao starting Saturday, Jan. 18, at 8 a.m. The panda house at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda...
Bao Bao Will Make Her Public Debut Jan. 18
After four months of watching her grow on the panda cams, visitors to the Smithsonian's National Zoo will be able to visit Bao Bao starting Jan. 18. Members of Friends of the National Zoo will be able to visit Bao Bao exclusively at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat from Jan. 11 to...
Safety Report for Zebra Incident at National Zoo
A Smithsonian safety investigator completed her investigation of an incident involving a male Grevy's zebra, Gumu, that seriously injured a zoo keeper Nov. 18. The safety investigator concluded the incident appears to be the result of human error. Read the Executive Summary of the Safety Report. The...
Partners in the Sky: Aviation and Aerospace Industry Leaders Join The Smithsonian In Worldwide Conservation Efforts
Unlocking the mysteries of animal migration through precise, near real-time tracking can solve major conservation challenges and transform wildlife science worldwide.
Two Litters, Ten Cubs and Hundreds of Spots!
The Smithsonian's National Zoo is celebrating International Cheetah Day with 10 genetically valuable cheetah cubs, which were born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute last month. First-time mother Miti birthed a litter of seven cubs Nov. 12. Six of her cubs survived—five female and one...
Smithsonian Announces Partnership to Study Animal Migration
Press conference announcing the Partners in the Sky partnership
¡Se llama Bao Bao!
Transcurridos 100 días y con más de 123.039 votos recibidos, la cría de panda gigante del Zoológico Nacional Smithsonian ha recibido su nombre —Bao Bao— hoy, domingo 1 de diciembre. El secretario del Smithsonian, Wayne Clough, el embajador de la República Popular China, Cui Tiankai, y la secretaria...
Her Name Is Bao Bao!
After 100 days and 123,039 votes the giant panda cub at the Smithsonian's National Zoo received her name—Bao Bao—today, Sunday, Dec. 1. Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough, Ambassador Cui Tiankai from the People's Republic of China and Assistant Secretary Kerri-Ann Jones from the U.S. Department of...
Smithsonian Scientists Honored as AAAS Fellows
Four Smithsonian scientists have been awarded the distinction of Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They have been elevated to this rank because of their efforts toward advancing science applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished. The names...
Giant Panda Cub Naming Ceremony Is Dec. 1 at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 1. 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. 12:15 p.m. Media arrival and set-up WHAT:After receiving more than 123,000 online votes, officials and dignitaries will reveal the name of the giant panda cub at the Smithsonian's National Zoo at a special ceremony celebrating her 100th day of life. The...
Smithsonian's National Zoo Animal Keeper Bit by Grevy's Zebra
At approximately 8:45 a.m., a Smithsonian's National Zoo animal care staff member was bitten multiple times by a 10-year-old male Grevy's zebra named Gumu.