News

Our elephant herd is growing again—this time with three female elephants from Calgary Zoo in Alberta, Canada! Next spring, Kamala, Swarna, and Maharani, will arrive here on loan from the Calgary Zoo, expanding our existing herd to seven. Kamala and Swarna were born in the wild around 1975 and came...

The Smithsonian's National Zoo will welcome three female Asian elephants –Kamala, Swarna and Maharani– next spring, expanding the Zoo's existing herd to seven. They will be on loan from the Calgary Zoo in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, which announced in April 2012 that it would relocate its elephants...

Calgary, AB – After an extensive international search and in-depth review of available accredited facilities, Calgary Zoo officials today announced that plans have been finalized for its three female elephants — Kamala, Swarna and Maharani — to make their new home together at the Smithsonian's...

When they hear the word "horse" most people have a distinct mental image of the domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus) we loved as children—who didn’t want a pony as a kid? The domestic horse has become a multi-million dollar industry to some and serves as companion animals to others. We have a vast...

Our fishing cat kitten, Wasabi, and his mom, Electra, are now on exhibit daily at Asia Trail's fishing cat exhibit. Lek (Wasabi's dad), is on exhibit in the second yard. Wasabi was born May 17, but had to wait to go into the outdoor exhibit until all of his vaccinations were up to date. Now he's...

While Damai was enjoying a break from the cubs this morning, our keepers were able to continue desensitization training with them. And they were able to take some photos of them! The training is going well and will help get the cubs used to the keepers' smell and presence. As you may have noticed...

The panda team at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat has officially started #cubwatch—which is normal for this point in the breeding season. Volunteer behavior watchers have been monitoring Mei Xiang via the panda cams 24-hours-a-day since August 7. Keepers say that Mei's behavior is...

Video Reproductive biologist, Budhan Pukazhenthi, with the Smithsonian's Conservation Biology Institute interviews about the first Przewalski's horse born July 27th, 2013 as a result of artificial insemination. This video also includes the filly's first steps at SCBI located in Front Royal, Virginia...

The Great Cats team at the Smithsonian's National Zoo is celebrating a conservation victory. The Zoo's female Sumatran tiger, Damai, gave birth to two cubs Monday, Aug. 5. The cubs appear healthy, and keepers have observed Damai grooming and nursing them. It's taken more than two years of...

Damai came out of her den on Tuesday while keepers were in the Great Cats building, which is a good sign! That means she is comfortable with the keepers being near her cubbing den. While she was out she appeared very calm and stayed out for quite a while. She ate all of the meat keepers had offered...

As we continue to watch Mei Xiang in hopes of a new addition to the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, we have noticed some behavioral changes in our female giant panda. In the past few days Mei has become much less interested in interacting with her keepers, and she continues to be...

Scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are celebrating the birth of a female Przewalski's (Cha-VAL-skee) horse—the first to be born via artificial insemination. The foal's birth July 27 signals a huge breakthrough for the survival of this species. SCBI Reproductive Physiologist...

Scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are celebrating the birth of a female Przewalski’s (Cha-VAL-skee) horse—the first to be born via artificial insemination. The foal’s birth on July 27 signals a huge breakthrough for the survival of this species. SCBI reproductive...

Twenty-seven million years before the first human was born in Africa, North America teemed with more than 25 species of dog-like animals. It was the heyday of dogs; never before or since has there been such a level of diversity among these animals. But scientists are still figuring out how we got...

As economic expansion and development fragments the forest landscape of central India, the species that rely on that habitat—including endangered tigers and leopards—face dwindling populations and increased competition for food and resources. Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute scientists...

Scientists at the Smithsonian's National Zoo have confirmed a secondary rise in urinary progesterone in Mei Xiang. The rise indicates that she will experience the end of a pseudopregnancy or give birth to a cub in 40 to 55 days. Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated twice March 30 after natural...

Scientists at the Smithsonian's National Zoo confirmed a secondary rise in urinary progesterone in its female giant panda Mei Xiang. The slow rise, which started around mid-July, indicates that she will experience the end of a pseudopregnancy or give birth to a cub in 40 to 55 days. Mei Xiang was...

Hank has been very active in the yard despite the heat. It's not unusual to see him running all over the yard, climbing every tree, and then playing in the pool. After about an hour or two running around the yard in the morning he and Hana normally settle down for a nap in the shade of the doorway...

Giant panda fans can tune into the panda cams, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund, at the Smithsonian's National Zoo once again. The cams went dark for upgrades May 30 but will begin streaming live uninterrupted video today at noon. The panda cam system upgrades were designed to maximize the...

Fans of the giant pandas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo can once again access the panda cams, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund. The cams went dark for upgrades May 30 but will begin streaming live uninterrupted video today at noon. The panda-cam system upgrades were designed to maximize...

The National Zoo's senior female cheetah, Tumai, died overnight. Preliminary results from a necropsy indicate that a tumor caused her spleen to rupture; however, a final pathology report will provide more information. She was 13 years old. Typically, female cheetahs in human care have a median...

Asia Trail curators and zoo staff have determined the sex of eight-week-old fishing cat kitten Wasabi—and it's a boy! Zoo veterinarians gave Wasabi a clean bill of health after performing a complete physical exam July 10 which included: listening to the kitten's heart and lungs; checking his mouth...

We know many of you miss watching Mei Xiang and Tian Tian on our panda cams. We want you to know we're working hard to get them up and running! As with many technical projects, we've hit some unanticipated delays. Primarily, we're having issues with the new consoles and getting the audio system to...

WHAT: Red panda Rusty—who temporarily left his enclosure at the Smithsonian's National Zoo June 24, 2013—will return to his exhibit tomorrow. Staff will move Rusty from the hospital into a behind-the-scenes holding area at his enclosure. Media will see Rusty transported in a crate. When staff...

Our fishing cat kitten has a spicy personality—and a name to match! Animal care staff has given the kitten the name "Wasabi." Wasabi recently had his/her first fishing lesson with mother Electra. A patient mother, Electra waited until Wasabi was paying attention. She showed her kitten the art of...