Press Release Archive
An archive of press releases from Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Elderly Andean Bear Euthanized at National Zoo
A longtime resident of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, an elderly female Andean bear was euthanized Monday after a decline in her health compromised her quality of life. At 33 years old, Bandit outlived the average Andean bear by nearly a decade. In general, Andean bears live to be 20–25 years old...
Smithsonian's National Zoo Mourns Loss of Female Gibbon
The National Zoo’s 27-year-old female Northern white-cheeked gibbon ( Nomascus leucogenys), Siam, died this morning after an aggressive encounter with Mickey, a 25-year-old male gibbon. Keepers separated the pair and immediately brought the injured female to the veterinary hospital, where Zoo...
National Zoo and Partners First to Breed Critically Endangered Tree Frog - Media Release
As frogs around the world continue to disappear—many killed by a rapidly spreading disease called chytridiomycosis, which attacks the skin cells of amphibians—one critically endangered species has received an encouraging boost. Although the La Loma tree frog, Hyloscirtus colymba, is notoriously...
National Zoo Launches Lion Cub-Naming Contest
For the past three months, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has delighted animal lovers around the world with its lion cub cam, featuring the Zoo’s seven young African lion cubs. Now it is the viewers’ turn to make a video for the lions—and to help name two of the seven cubs in the process.
National Zoo Is Part of Elephant Study Awarded Prestigious Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s endocrinology laboratory is set to play a vital role in what will be the most comprehensive and collaborative study on elephant welfare in zoos—a project funded by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services with the Honolulu Zoo serving as...
National Zoo Launches Text-to-Give Campaigns for Elephants and Frogs
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo has entered the mobile-giving marketplace with its latest “TEXT ELEPHANT” and “TEXT FROG” fundraising campaigns. Aimed at visitors on the go, animal enthusiasts and citizen conservationists, the Zoo’s text-to-give efforts allow people to easily and inexpensively...
National Zoo's Three Youngest Lion Cubs Appear Healthy and Strong
At 2 weeks old, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s three African lion ( Panthera leo) cubs born to 6-year-old Nababiep Sept. 22 appear to be healthy, Zoo veterinarians said today after completing the cubs’ first health exam. “We’re happy to see that the cubs are growing and that each appears to be in...
National Zoo Launches Live Webcam for Second Litter of Lion Cubs
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo welcomed its second litter of African lion ( Panthera leo) cubs in three weeks Sept. 22. Nababiep and her cubs can now be seen on the Zoo’s live webcam. Viewers are able to toggle between four different cameras, as Nababiep, Shera, mother of the first litter of four...
All Four Lion Cubs at the Smithsonian's National Zoo Likely Female
The four lion cubs born at the National Zoo Aug. 31 had their first physical exam today. All four cubs are believed to be female, according to the vets, but it is difficult to determine their gender with certainty at such a young age. Each cub weighs between 7 and 8 pounds. “They were great first...
National Zoo Welcomes an Additional Three Lion Cubs
The birth of three more lion cubs at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo this morning has contributed to the growth of the Zoo’s lion pride over the past three weeks and has brought the total number of cubs to seven so far. The Zoo’s six-year-old lion Nababiep gave birth to the three newest cubs three...
Make Waves with Project Blue Planet to Save the Oceans 9/27/2010
It is easy to feel small in face of large environmental problems, especially with the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which continues to threaten wildlife and habitats. Project Blue Planet, organized by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Friends of the National Zoo, is a way that children...
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Holds Annual Autumn Conservation Festival
It’s that time of year again. In fact, the only time of year when the gates to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, open to the public. During the Autumn Conservation Festival visitors can tour the sprawling campus in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, meet some of...
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...
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.
Smithsonian's National Zoo Receives Prestigious Award
The National Zoo’s kori bustard ( Ardeotis kori) team received the prestigious Edward H. Bean Award Sept. 15 from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its work on the long-term propagation, breeding and management of kori bustards. This award recognizes institutions that contribute to the...
National Zoo Opens Phase I of Elephant Trails New Home for Asian Elephants
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo celebrated the completion of Phase I of Elephant Trails, an innovative and expanded home for Asian elephants, Sept. 2. Phase I has four elements: a new elephant barn, two new outdoor yards, the Elephant Exercise Trek and The Homer and Martha Gudelsky Elephant Outpost...
Smithsonian Researchers Find Unexpected Genetic Differences between Magnificent Frigatebirds in the Galapagos Islands and on the Mainland
Although the magnificent frigatebird may be the least likely animal on the Galapagos Islands to be unique to the area, it turns out the Galapagos population of this tropical seabird may be its own genetically distinct species warranting a new conservation status, according to a paper by researchers...
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...
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...