Press Release Archive
An archive of press releases from Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Report Shows Bird Friendly Shade Coffee Farms Are the Next Best Thing to Natural Forest
A Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center review of more than 50 studies in regions ranging from Central and South America to Indonesia over the past 15 years demonstrates that shade-grown coffee farms far outshine sun-grown coffee farms when it comes to sustainability measurements.
National Zoo Artificially Inseminates Asian Elephant 9/27/2010
Veterinarians and animal care staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo conducted a series of artificial insemination procedures on Shanthi, a 34-year old Asian elephant, September 19, 20, 21 and 22 with sperm from elephants from the Fort Worth Zoo and Tulsa Zoo. A successful pregnancy would be an...
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...
National Zoo's Think Tank Exhibit Boasts New Animal and Visitor Enhancements
Visitors to the Think Tank exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo will see new interactive activities relating to orangutans—an ape may spray them with water at the Orangutan Mister or play tug-of-war with them at the Orangutan Pull. These new interactive enhancements give the orangutans an...
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 to...
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 faculty...
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 the...
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 litters...
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...
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 the...
Media Advisory: Smithsonian's National Zoo Opens Japanese Giant Salamander Breeding Center
WhatOpening of the National Zoo’s Japanese giant salamander breeding facility WhenThursday, July 2210:30 a.m. WhereReptile Discovery Center3001 Connecticut Avenue N.W.(Park in Lot B) WhoIchiro Fujisaki, ambassador, Embassy of Japan in the United StatesEva 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 frogs...
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 chick....
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 Arkansas...
Chaska and Bernardo Are the Names of the National Zoo's Andean Bear Cubs
One week and nearly 5,000 votes after the Smithsonian’s National Zoo opened the online polls to the public to name its male and female Andean bear cubs the Zoo has two winners: Chaska, pronounced Chas'-kuh, for the female and Bernardo for the male! Animal keepers and the embassies of Peru and...
Poised for New Discoveries, Smithsonian's National Zoo Opens New Genetics Labs
With test tubes filled with sparkling juice in hand, Smithsonian scientists and officials toast the new genetics lab, which the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute officially opened today at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Genetics research at the Zoo will help conservationists worldwide...
Andean Bear Cubs Gear Up for Public Debut; Public Can Weigh in on Naming the New Bears
The two Andean bear cubs, Tremarctos ornatus (also known as the spectacled bear), that were born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in mid-January are getting ready for two big events: receiving their names May 19 and making their public debut May 22. After months of seclusion in their indoor den...
Smithsonian's National Zoo Opens New Genetics Lab
The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s geneticists are ironing their lab coats and revving up their DNA sequencers for the celebration of the group’s new state-of-the-art genetics lab at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., where researchers will look at life’s smallest building blocks in...