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Beginning Jan. 18, 2022, the Zoo is open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last admittance 2:30 p.m.). Select animal buildings remain closed. Entry passes are required for all guests, including infants. All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the Zoo, regardless of their vaccination status. Fully vaccinated visitors do not need to wear a mask in outdoor areas.

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Press Releases

California Sea Lion Pup
Aug. 22, 2019
Sea Lion Dies at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
American Trail keepers at Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of a 3-year-old female California sea lion named Catalina, who died Aug. 20.... read press release
Bei Bei eating his frozen cake made of diluted juice and fruit.
Aug. 22, 2019
Giant Panda Bei Bei Celebrates His Fourth Birthday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Bei Bei (BAY-BAY) turned 4 years old today, Aug. 22. The Department of Nutrition Science at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo made him a panda-friendly frozen cake as a birthday treat. ... read press release
Juvenile dama gazelle
Aug. 15, 2019
Juvenile Dama Gazelle Dies at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The Smithsonian's National Zoo is mourning the loss of an 11-month-old male dama gazelle named Gustav who died Aug. 7. read press... read press release
Hereford calf Willow at the Kids' Farm.
Aug. 15, 2019
Hereford Calf Debuts at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Kids’ Farm keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo welcomed a new member to the cattle herd—a 10-month-old female Hereford calf named Willow. Her arrival bumps the number of cattle at the Kids’... read press release
Red-fronted Lemur Flare at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Lemur Island habitat.
Aug. 07, 2019
Elderly Red-Fronted Lemur Dies at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Primate keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are mourning the loss of Flare, an elderly red-fronted lemur who was humanely euthanized Aug. 6. At 33 years old, she was one of the oldest red-... read press release
An endangered purple fringeless orchid.
Aug. 06, 2019
Citizen Scientists Discover Endangered Orchid in Virginia
Local citizen scientists working with the Changing Landscapes Initiative and Virginia Working Landscapes, both programs of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), discovered a rare... read press release
A Kirtland's warbler perched on a branch.
Jul. 31, 2019
Kirtland’s Warbler No Longer Needs Protection from Brown-Headed Cowbird in Michigan
For the past 40 years, brown-headed cowbirds have been trapped and killed in Michigan to prevent them from laying eggs in endangered Kirtland’s warbler nests—causing warbler parents to care for... read press release
A newborn scimitar-horned oryx calf with tan skin and large ears stands in the grass near its mother, an oryx named Chari, and another adult oryx
Jul. 16, 2019
Critically Endangered Scimitar-horned Oryx Calves Born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's herd of scimitar-horned oryx is growing. Keepers welcomed five calves during the past few weeks.... read press release
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