Press Release Archive
An archive of press releases from Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Wild Deer Lands in Lion Habitat at the National Zoo
A wild white-tailed deer jumped into a lion exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo Sunday afternoon, Nov. 8. There were two adult female lions in the habitat, one of which caught, trapped and injured the young adult doe. Zoo staff successfully transitioned the lions to their interior spaces. The...
National Zoo Launches Customized Conservation Stamps
Just in time for mailing holiday greeting cards, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo launches a series of customized conservation stamps featuring seven Zoo animals: the giant panda, Asian elephant, Panamanian golden frog, clouded leopard, Kirtland’s warbler, Scimitar-horned oryx and western lowland...
Elderly Sloth Bear Dies at the National Zoo
Merlin, the National Zoo’s senior male sloth bear, died this morning after a 48-hour illness. On Monday morning, Nov. 2, he underwent a routine physical examination. Although the examination went well, his anesthetic recovery was prolonged, and he had not returned to normal by the afternoon. While...
Oryx Die at National Zoo
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo has experienced the deaths of two scimitar-horned oryx , a female at the Rock Creek campus and a male at the Conservation and Research Center (CRC) in Front Royal, Va. On October 14, a 16-year-old male oryx died at CRC. This animal was in the process of being...
Fish and Wildlife Service Awards $800,000 in Grants to Explore Cause, Control of White-Nose Syndrome in Bats
At an event held in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced six grant awards totaling $800,000 going toward research efforts to explore the cause and control of white-nose syndrome, a wildlife health crisis...
Teacher Appreciation Day at Smithsonian's National Zoo
Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) invites pre-kindergarten through high school teachers/educators from the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area (Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia) to participate in its first Teacher Appreciation Day at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. The event takes...
Hippo Leaves the National Zoo for Milwaukee
“Happy,” the National Zoo’s 28-year-old Nile hippopotamus, was transported early yesterday morning to his new home at the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin. The 5,000-pound hippo arrived safely shortly after 3 a.m. at his destination. National Zoo staff moved Happy, the Zoo’s solitary hippo, in...
National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center to Hold Annual Autumn Conservation Festival
“Happy,” the National Zoo’s 28-year-old Nile hippopotamus, was transported early yesterday morning to his new home at the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin. The 5,000-pound hippo arrived safely shortly after 3 a.m. at his destination. National Zoo staff moved Happy, the Zoo’s solitary hippo, in...
After a Hiatus of 30 Years, Burrowing Owl Chicks Hatch at the National Zoo
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo welcomed two burrowing owl chicks Aug. 2—the first hatching of this species at the Zoo in 30 years. The chicks’ parents, a 5-year-old male and 4-year-old female, have been at the Zoo since June 2006. The last time burrowing owls successfully bred at the National Zoo...
Baby Boom of Endangered Species at National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center
It was an exciting and busy 24 hours at the National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center (CRC) in Front Royal, Va., last week as three births took place just hours apart. On the evening of July 9, a clouded leopard cub was born, followed by a Przewalski’s horse foal and a red panda cub. Jao Chu...
Smithsonian Institution and World Bank Group Join Forces to Save Wild Tigers from Extinction
The Smithsonian Institution and the World Bank Group today announced a new program under the Global Tiger Initiative to help stabilize and restore wild tiger populations and save this endangered species from extinction in its natural habitats. Poaching, habitat loss and other issues have reduced the...
Rare Crane Hatching Marks a Victory for Both Science and Conservation
A rare white-naped crane has hatched at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va. on May 23. The two-week-old female chick is the most genetically important hatchling in the North American White-Naped Crane Species Survival Program. The population has...
National Zoo Artificially Inseminates Asian Elephant
Veterinarians and animal care staff conducted a series of artificial insemination procedures this week on Shanthi, one of the Asian elephants at Smithsonian’s National Zoo. A successful pregnancy is an important milestone in the Zoo’s commitment to Asian elephant conservation. National Zoo staff...
Eleven Stingrays and Two Arowanas Die Overnight in Amazonia Exhibit
Eleven stingrays and two arowanas (fish) were found dead in their pool at the National Zoo’s Amazonia exhibit Monday, May 25, shortly after 7 a.m. Preliminary tests of the water from the pool showed low levels of dissolved oxygen, indicating the deaths may be due to mechanical difficulties rather...
National Zoo's Giant Panda Is Not Pregnant
Staff at Smithsonian’s National Zoo confirmed late yesterday that female giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) is not pregnant but was experiencing a pseudo, or false, pregnancy during the past several months. National Zoo scientists, veterinarians and keepers were keeping a close eye on Mei Xiang...
Eight Institutions Join Together to Save Amphibians with the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project
Eight institutions announced today their joint venture to save amphibians from the brink of extinction in the eastern region of Panama—an area rich with diverse amphibian species. Experts from the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Africam Safari...
National Zoo Giant Panda Pregnancy Update
Scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo detected the start of the decline in urinary progestin levels in the Zoo’s female giant panda, Mei Xiang (may-SHONG). This hormone decline indicates that Mei Xiang’s reproductive cycle will be concluding fairly soon. Animal keepers report that she has...
Giant Anteater Born at the National Zoo
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of a giant anteater born yesterday, March 12, in an indoor enclosure. This is only the second giant anteater to be born in the history of the Zoo. National Zoo animal care staff and veterinarians have been closely monitoring mother...
National Zoo Baby Gorilla Is Named
The Smithsonian's National Zoo is pleased to announce the name of its 2 1/2-month-old female baby western lowland gorilla—Kibibi (kee-BEE-bee)—which means little lady in Swahili. More than 10,000 people voted in a public naming contest held by the Zoo and the Friends of the National Zoo. The public...
Clouded Leopard Cubs Born at National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center
An endangered clouded leopard at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center (CRC) in Front Royal, Va., gave birth to a genetically valuable litter of two cubs on Tuesday, March 24. Staff had been on pregnancy watch of the two-and-a-half year-old clouded leopard “Jao Chu” (JOW...
Raise a Glass to Wildlife Conservation at the National Zoo's "Grapes With the Apes" Event
Toast wildlife conservation at The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s annual wine-tasting event, “Grapes With the Apes,” April 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests can sample wines from both local and national wineries and vineyards while enjoying live music and exclusive after-hours access to the Great Ape House —...
Washington's African American Community Gathers at the National Zoo to Celebrate a Century-Old Tradition on Easter Monday
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Friends of the National Zoo will host the free event “Easter Monday: Celebrating the African American Family” April 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Since the 1890s, the Monday after Easter has been an unofficial holiday—a day of rest and recreation for many local...
New Spectacled Bear at the National Zoo
Billie Jean, a three-year-old female spectacled bear, made her debut at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Weighing about 113 pounds and still growing, she is quite agile—climbing high in the new structures in her yard. The installation of the new climbing structures are part of the Zoo’s enrichment...
Rare Horse Dies at National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center
A six-month-old, male Przewalski’s horse died at the National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va. Friday, Jan. 30, due to a fractured neck. The cause of injury remains undetermined—staff closely observing the horse in the moments preceding its death did not notice any unusual...