News

By Lauren Augustine, Reptile Discovery Center Keeper at the National Zoo Eastern indigo snakes, Drymarchon couperii, are the largest nonvenomous snake in North America. They live in a variety of habitats depending on the region. They are beautiful, uniformly black but in sunlight they are remarkably...

Everything went very smoothly with Guntur's move to Japan. He went right into his crate without any hesitation and seemed quite comfortable there. He did object when people got too close to his crate, but other than that he lay in his hay and waited to see what in the world was going on. As always...

Experts at the Smithsonian's National Zoo have proof that romance is not only for the warm and fuzzy; friskiness is a trait all animals share-be they furry, feathered or finned. Seduction techniques abound in the animal kingdom: Zoo staff recognize when reptiles are feeling rapturous and giant...

Although 2012 has only just begun, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va., already has something to celebrate in the new year: the birth of four maned wolf pups Jan. 5. It is the first litter born at SCBI-FR in two years and will play an important role in helping...

A fundamental change in the conservation strategy to save wild tigers may save them from extinction. That change is taking shape in regional smart patrol training courses in Asia led by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's Tiger Conservation Partnership--one of the founding members of...

Wooing is an art form whether you're human or animal. Take a walk on the wild side and learn about romance in the animal kingdom at Woo at the Zoo on Feb. 11, at the National Zoo. Think love has to be warm and fuzzy? Think again. Reptile Discovery Center animal keepers, Barbara Watkins and Lauren...

Ever since the lion cubs celebrated their first birthdays, things among the pride have remained status quo—but changes are on the horizon. Don't worry, no one is leaving right now. In fact, we don't have any relocation recommendations for the youngsters just yet. However, if you've visited during...

Having grown up in San Diego, Damai is experiencing her first real winter this year. We are glad that so far the weather has been relatively mild. Visitors often ask if we put the cats out in the winter. While Sumatra doesn't have the cold weather that we have here, our Sumatran tigers do adapt to...

A big change is in the wind this winter for the lions at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. The time when all magnificent seven juveniles can share a yard at the Great Cats exhibit is winding down, and animal care staff have begun preparations for separating the 1-1/2 year-old male juveniles from their...

By Erin Stromberg, Great Ape Keeper at the National Zoo Late last year (2011) I got a phone call asking if I would like to go to Indonesia. Of course I accepted, and I am proud that this experience was made in part by one of my research demonstration with the orangutans at Think Tank. These...

Cities tend to be noisy places.

Sans berets, smocks or palettes, the animals at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are getting their paws dirty with non-toxic, water-based paint and creating one-of-a-kind works of art. Painting is one among many activities that fall under Animal Enrichment—a program that provides physically and...

The survival of wild tigers hinges on the ability of tiger-range countries and their partners in conservation to stop the biggest threat to tigers: poaching. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, as one of the founding members of the Global Tiger Initiative and with support from the World...

Although giant Pacific octopuses are masters of disguise, the new octopus at the National Zoo revealed its true identity Saturday when a keeper helped it select its name: Pandora. The octopus had a chance to pick one of four names submitted by the finalists in the Washington Post's KidsPost naming...

David M. Rubenstein donated $4.5 million to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to fund the giant panda program for the next five years. In appreciation, the giant panda complex—home to giant pandas Tian Tian (male) and Mei Xiang (female)—will be named the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat...

The Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park will announce a generous gift that funds the giant panda program for five years. Animal experts have also witnessed the first signs of breeding season: Tian Tian (male panda) is “power walking.” Speakers will discuss details of the new 2012 breeding plan...

A member of one of the world's most endangered species—the brown kiwi ( Apteryx mantelli)—hatched at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Bird House Dec. 11 at 10:25 a.m. The egg was laid Oct. 1 and keepers began looking for signs of the chick hatching starting in early December. The sex of the chick is...

The spotlight of ZooLights fell on the Kids' Farm, sponsored by State Farm®, Sunday at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Three winners were chosen from 23 entries for the Gin-GRR-bread Kids' Farm Habitat contest, sponsored by Starbucks in a ceremony hosted by Scott Thuman of ABC7/WJLA-TV and Debbi...

Springtime in Australia means balmier weather, but the Great Barrier Reef's future may depend on subzero temperatures. Researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and other partnering organizations spent two weeks at the end of November...

The International Elephant Foundation (IEF) is thrilled to announce another major grant to help fund the National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory (NEHL) at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Major donors of 2011's $52,000 grant include Alex Rines and Vinnie Christiano – fifth graders and best friends...

Imagine measuring the tail of a squirmy, inch-long tadpole. Now imagine doing that where the air is thin enough to make you dizzy, a hail storm is about to start and you just spent 45 minutes up to your elbows in a freezing cold stream. Last December, a research scientist with SCBI and a biologist...

The newest member of the charismatic cephalopod community at the Smithsonian's National Zoo may only be the size of a grapefruit now, but he (or she) has some long arms to grow. On Nov. 4, the Zoo's beloved giant Pacific octopus, Octavius, died at the old age of about 4 years and a feisty new young...

Nearly 20 years after the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute became the first to produce an Eld's deer fawn through artificial insemination, SCBI scientists have now contributed to the birth of the first Eld's deer via in vitro fertilization. The researchers collected eggs, inseminated them...

Instead of hibernating this holiday season, visitors can weather the winter at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. With so much to see indoors, a stroll through the Zoo will not feel like an arctic trek. Visitors can stop in any of the eight animal houses to warm up, enjoy animal demonstrations and chat...

WHAT: Washington Capitals Players, Marcus Johansson and Mathieu Perreault, skate with 50 contest winners on Dec. 11, at ZooLights, following the reveal of the Gin-GRR-bread Kids' Farm habitat contest winner. WHEN: ZooLights has been expanded this year with new activities and added dates. The event...