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Press Releases

Following remarks, Smokey Bear; Steven Monfort, John and Adrienne Mars Director, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute; Jim Hubbard, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and P
May. 23, 2019
Smokey Bear Exhibit Opens at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
A new Smokey Bear outdoor exhibit opened May 23 inviting visitors to look back in time to the mid-20th century, when a black bear cub was rescued from a forest fire and placed under the Zoo’s care.... read press release
May. 21, 2019
Media Advisory: Public Invited to Smokey Bear Exhibit Opening
A new Smokey Bear outdoor exhibit will open at Smithsonian’s National Zoo Thursday, May 23, inviting visitors to look back at the legacy of one of the most famous residents in the Zoo’s 130-year... read press release
A life-sized animatronic T. Rex.
May. 14, 2019
“Dino Summer” Events at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Listed below are events being held June through August as part of the “Dino Summer” experience at Smithsonian’s National Zoo. read press... read press release
A newly hatched Guam kingfisher rests on a soft white towel at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Apr. 26, 2019
Extinct-in-the-Wild Guam Kingfisher Hatches at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
A tiny egg nestled in an incubator at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute began wiggling and cracking April 22 until a featherless Guam kingfisher chick emerged. Guam kingfishers are... read press release
A woman stands on stage next to a large dinosaur puppet
Apr. 24, 2019
It’s “Dino Summer” at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
This summer visitors can travel back millions of years as the Zoo presents "Dino Summer” featuring two dinosaur experiences of prehistoric proportions — “Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live,” a theater... read press release
A wood turtle at the bottom of a stream, blending in with the surrounding rocks.
Apr. 23, 2019
Smithsonian Scientists Use eDNA for the First Time To Find Wood Turtles in Virginia
Wood turtles are endangered and can be difficult to find in the wild because of their cryptic nature and frequently small populations, but scientists from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology... read press release
Gray wolf Crystal explores her habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's American Trail Exhibit.
Apr. 23, 2019
Elderly Gray Wolf Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
American Trail keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of Crystal, a female gray wolf who was humanely euthanized Sunday, April 21. At 14 years old, Crystal was considered... read press release
A photo from the second naked mole-rat cam at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. The cam gives a behind-the-scenes look at the naked mole-rats moving through the tunnels that link the chambers of their exhibit together.
Apr. 11, 2019
Second Live Naked Mole-rat Cam Is Coming to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Virtual visitors to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s website will soon be able to watch naked mole-rats on two live webcams ... read press release
Andean Bear Beorn
Apr. 02, 2019
Spring Events at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
See a list of events being held at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo from April through the beginning of June 2019. read press release
Giant panda Mei Xiang sits in the grass eating bamboo in her outdoor habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Mar. 29, 2019
Giant Panda Mei Xiang Is Artificially Inseminated at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
A team of reproductive scientists, veterinarians and panda keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute performed an artificial insemination on giant panda Mei Xiang (... read press release
Mar. 28, 2019
Mass Amphibian Extinctions Globally Caused By Fungal Disease
An international study led by The Australian National University (ANU) has found that a fungal disease has caused dramatic population declines in at least 501 amphibian species, including 90... read press release
An approximately 5-month-old wallaby joey sticks its head out of its mom's pouch.
Mar. 20, 2019
Wallaby Joey Born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
A wallaby popped its head out of its mother’s pouch last week at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.  read press release
Asian Small-Clawed Otter Peaches
Mar. 15, 2019
Asian Small-Clawed Otter Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Asia Trail keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of Peaches, a 7-year-old female Asian small-clawed otter who was humanely euthanized March 11. Over the past eight months,... read press release
A brown kiwi chick, a flightless bird native to New Zealand, at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Mar. 07, 2019
Second Kiwi Chick Hatches at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute This Year
A female brown kiwi chick hatched at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) Feb. 3 and is thriving after initially requiring veterinary care. The chick had difficulty hatching, and her... read press release
A male whooping crane named Alta at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
Mar. 07, 2019
Three Animals Die at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
A scimitar-horned oryx, an elderly whooping crane and an Eld’s deer died at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) between Feb. 23 and Feb. 26.... read press release
Cheetah Amani with one of her cubs in 2011 at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
Feb. 27, 2019
Elderly Female Cheetah at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Dies
Amani (Ah-MON-ee), an elderly cheetah living at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, was humanely euthanized Feb. 19. ... read press release
Giant panda Bei Bei sits in a hammock eating a special ice cake treat during the Panda House Warming Celebration at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Feb. 23, 2019
Smithsonian’s National Zoo Celebrates New Panda Exhibit With Housewarming Party
On Feb. 23, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China hosted a housewarming party, sponsored by Airbnb, to celebrate the new... read press release
Giant panda Bei Bei in the snow.
Feb. 20, 2019
VIDEO: Pandas in the Snow Feb. 20, 2019
Snow in Washington, D.C. today, Feb. 20, brought out the playful side of the giant pandas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.  read press release
Giant panda Tian Tian plays in the snow.
Feb. 14, 2019
Public Invited to Giant Panda Housewarming Celebration
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China will host a housewarming, sponsored by Airbnb, to celebrate the new exhibit for visitors inside the panda house. ... read press release
A kiwi chick standing on a small white towel
Jan. 29, 2019
Top Animal News Updates
During the federal government shutdown from, Jan. 2 to Jan. 28, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s animal care team, almost all federal workers, reported to work and... read press release