Press Release Archive
An archive of press releases from Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
National Zoo Successfully Grows Two Species of Anemones Using Coral Techniques Learned in the Field
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo has become the first in the zoo and aquarium community to use coral larvae settling techniques to successfully grow two species of anemones—an accomplishment that will provide the Zoo a unique opportunity to learn how anemones grow.
“We have many questions about how...
Smithsonian Scientists Help Create First Frozen Repository for Hawaiian Coral
Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution and the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have created the first frozen bank for Hawaiian corals in an attempt to protect them from extinction and to preserve their diversity in Hawaii. Mary Hagedorn, an adjunct...
Photo Release: Smithsonian's National Zoo's Elephant Explores New Yard
As part of her acclimation to her new home, Shanthi, a 34-year-old female Asian elephant at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, explored her grassy “lower” yard yesterday for the first time. She happily drank from the new pool too. Throughout the summer, elephant keepers are gradually introducing...
Elephant Shrew and Acouchi Born at the National Zoo's Small Mammal House
A black and rufous giant elephant shrew, or sengi (Rhynchocyon petersi), was born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Small Mammal House around July 10.
This female sengi is the first birth for the baby’s parents. Sengis typically stay in their nest for about a month after birth, but this baby has...
Record Broken for Black-Footed Ferrets Born at the National Zoo's Virginia Campus
Once believed to be extinct, black-footed ferrets have had a banner year for breeding at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s conservation facility in Front Royal, Va. Twelve litters of black-footed ferrets have been born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute since May 7, including...
Rare Persian Onagers Born at "The Wilds" with Help of Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Four years of work by a team of scientists, veterinarians, animal care specialists and interns from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va., and ”The Wilds” in Cumberland, Ohio, have culminated in the birth of two rare Persian onagers (on-uh-ger). The foals, born at The...
National Zoo Celebrates Birth of Four Lion Cubs
Overnight, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo welcomed this year’s second litter of African lion (Panthera leo) cubs. On Aug. 31, Shera gave birth to four cubs—the first litter for 5-year-old Shera and the first surviving litter for 4-year-old male Luke.
“The National Zoo is thrilled that our captive...
Media Advisory: Smithsonian's National Zoo Opens Japanese Giant Salamander Breeding Center
What
Opening of the National Zoo’s Japanese giant salamander breeding facility
When
Thursday, July 22
10:30 a.m.
Where
Reptile Discovery Center
3001 Connecticut Avenue N.W.
(Park in Lot B)
Who
Ichiro Fujisaki, ambassador, Embassy of Japan in the United States
Eva Pell, Under Secretary for Science...
New Frog Species Pose Challenge for Conservation Project in Panama
The recent discovery of what may be three new frog species by researchers in Panama illustrates the hope and fear encountered daily by the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project. The discoveries lead to hope that project researchers can save these animals from a deadly fungus killing...
Gift from Japan Helps Smithsonian's National Zoo Establish Japanese Giant Salamander Breeding Center
After a voyage that has united two cultures in an international conservation effort, one of Japan’s “special natural treasures” is now among the National Zoo’s most valued scientific gems. The Japanese giant salamanders given to the Zoo by the City of Hiroshima Asa Zoological Park will be the...
Speke's Gazelle Euthanized at Smithsonian's National Zoo
The National Zoo euthanized the 15-year-old Speke’s gazelle named Bati today after animal care staff determined his health had declined significantly due to his advanced age. Per standard procedure, a necropsy will be performed.
He was the oldest documented Speke’s gazelle living in a zoo and...
Smithsonian's National Zoo to Hold Its First Garden Day
Visitors can celebrate the beauty of gardens at the National Zoo’s first Family Garden Day Saturday, July 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free event focuses on the Zoo’s unique collection of gardens and aims to educate visitors about conservation and how plants and animals coexist. It includes a...
Bee Creative: National Zoo Seeks Honey Recipes and Honeybee Poetry in Honor of New Colony
Visits to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo just became a little bit sweeter with the arrival of a new honeybee colony. With a hive made of glass in the Zoo’s Pollinarium and full access to the outdoors, these bees are showing off the wondrous ways of their world.
“Our display allows you to get up...
Unique Agave Plant Blooms at the National Zoo
Standing an impressive 12 feet tall with vibrant yellow flowers at its tip, the agave plant is in bloom at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. The plant, whose Latin name is Agave parryi, has been at the Zoo for many years, but the exact age of the plant is unknown. An agave plant blooms once in its...
First Red Panda Cub Born at the National Zoo's D.C. Campus in 15 Years
It was love at first sight for Shama and Tate, the red pandas at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and now, nearly 1½ years after they were introduced, the pair has a cub as evidence of their strong bond. On Wednesday, June 16, Shama gave birth to a single cub—the first for both of the Zoo’s red...
Chicks Hatch at the National Zoo; Red-billed Hornbill and Temminck's Tragopan Chicks Call Bird House Home
One, possibly two, red-billed hornbill chicks hatched in early May at the National Zoo’s Bird House. This is the first red-billed hornbill hatching at the Zoo since 1994. However, due to this species’ peculiar nesting behavior, it was only recently that keepers have been able to confirm one...
Sloth Bear Francois Returns Home to the National Zoo
The newest sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is not so new at all—born at the Zoo, his debut on Asia Trail marks his homecoming after seven years. Francois, a 260-pound, 19-year-old bear, was born at the Zoo in 1991 and was later moved to the Little Rock Zoo in...
In the Face of Forest Loss, Scientists Call for Accelerated Conservation
New England forests are at a turning point. For the first time in 200 years, forest cover—which peaked at 80 percent of the landscape in 2000—has begun to decline in every New England state. If sprawl and development continue at current rates, 63 percent of the landscape may be developed by 2030...
National Zoo's Lone Speke's Gazelle Turns 15 on May 12
Bati, an endangered Speke’s gazelle at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, turns 15 years old tomorrow, May 12. He was born at the St. Louis Zoo in 1995 and is the oldest documented Speke's gazelle living in a zoo. Bati will receive an ‘herbivore’s delight’ consisting of grass, herbs, shrubs and...
FONZ Offers an Abundance of Educational Experiences Through Its Volunteer Program
Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) is seeking volunteers with an interest in animals and their conservation to assist with upcoming events, games, projects and keeper needs. Volunteers offer invaluable support to the Zoo—they work with staff, visitors, animals, plants, independently and in...
Conservation, Chefs and Cuisine to Bring Out Thousands for ZooFari 2010 at the National Zoo
Don’t miss what has become a spring tradition and one of the premier culinary events in Washington, D.C.: ZooFari! Taking place at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on May 20 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and hosted by the Friends of the National Zoo, ZooFari 2010 – “A Panda Bear Affair” – will bring...
Oryx Breeding Program Kicks Off with Birth of Female Calf; Staff Confirm Sex of Clouded Leopard Cubs
A scimitar-horned oryx has joined the ranks of endangered animals born this year at the National Zoo’s conservation center in Front Royal, Va., where scientists also recently confirmed the gender of the Zoo’s nearly 3-month-old clouded leopards.
Birth of Lion Cub Expands National Zoo's Lion Pride
For the first time in more than 20 years, tiny lion paws are making a mark at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Early this morning 6-year-old lion Nababiep gave birth to one cub, adding another member to the lion pride the Zoo has carefully worked to build over the past year.
“This is a historic...
Ambassador Names National Zoo's First Female Kiwi Chick
History was made March 30 in the Bird House at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo when its first female brown kiwi chick (Apteryx mantelli) emerged from her shell. To mark this historic hatching, keepers bestowed the honor of naming the chick on one of her countrymen: New Zealand Ambassador to the...