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Press Releases

A small green lizard, called an Asian water dragon, with scaly skin, a long, thin, striped tail, small spikes along its spine and short claws on its digits
Jul. 05, 2019
Asian Water Dragon Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
A 2-year-old female Asian water dragon who was the first documented birth by facultative parthenogenesis in her species died from blood cancer.... read press release
A male African lion laying on the ground with greenery in the background
Jul. 01, 2019
Male African Lions in Human Care Hit Puberty Earlier Than in the Wild
Lion cubs grow up fast, and even faster in zoos. In a long-term study, scientists at SCBI found that male African lions living in human care hit puberty a full year earlier than their counterparts in... read press release
A sea lion pup born June 23, 2019, at the Smithsonian's National Zoo falls asleep while nursing with its mother
Jun. 28, 2019
Sea Lion Pup Born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
A new set of flippers splashed down at Smithsonian’s National Zoo, where American Trail keepers are celebrating the arrival of a California sea lion pup. Animal care staff are closely monitoring the... read press release
Red panda cub being weighed.
Jun. 25, 2019
Endangered Red Panda Cub Born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Moonlight, a 4-year-old red panda, gave birth to a cub overnight June 12 at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. Moonlight and the cub appear to be doing well and... read press release
A hooded crane chick in the grass.
Jun. 19, 2019
Keepers Help Vulnerable Hooded Crane Hatch at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
A small beak broke through one of the hooded crane eggs at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia, June 12.... read press release
Asian water dragon mother (top) and parthenogenic offspring (bottom).
Jun. 05, 2019
Scientists Confirm Facultative Parthenogenesis in Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Asian Water Dragon
Life found a way at Smithsonian’s National Zoo, where a female Asian water dragon at the Reptile Discovery Center underwent facultative parthenogenesis—that is, she reproduced and contributed a... read press release
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