News Archive

In the event of a government shutdown, our museums, research centers, and the National Zoo will remain OPEN through at least Thursday, Dec. 26. Please note that we are closed on Dec. 25.

Celebrate and look back at some of the groundbreaking achievements made by Smithsonian scientists this year.

This year was filled with incredible and heartwarming stories about the animals and the people who care for them. Enjoy a look back at some of the amazing things that happened this year.

Take a look behind the scenes as animal care teams provide an endless bamboo buffet to the Zoo's new giant pandas.

Next time you’re walking through fallen leaves in a forest, keep an eye out for the Eastern red-backed salamander—a small woodland creature with a huge role to play.

The Zoo is home to two world-famous pandas who are symbols of conservation. View and download a gallery of Qing Bao and Bao Li images and video files.

A few weeks after their arrival, staff are helping giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao settle into their new home at Asia Trail.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute community is mourning the loss of Kamala, beloved member of its Asian elephant herd and ambassador for her species.

Find comprehensive resources for media on the giant panda program at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) Tuesday, Oct. 15

Washington, D.C.’s beloved family-friendly winter wonderland, ZooLights, returns to brighten the holiday season.

A new study shows environmental conditions in migratory birds’ winter homes affect their ability to survive the rest of the year.

With the help of 3D modeling technology, a team of veterinary experts successfully carried out a rare spinal surgery on a female cheetah cub.

Reaching up to 10 feet (3 meters) long, arapaima are the largest freshwater fish in South America. Learn what else makes these animals unique.

Kiwi feathers collected from across the U.S. and Europe will soon be heading home in a repatriation effort between the U.S. and New Zealand.

This summer has been eventful for our youngest western lowland gorilla, Zahra, who will be 16 months old on Sept. 27. Read primate keeper Francesca Bozzo's update!

Conservation partnership advances the establishment of the first wild population in more than 30 years

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has been awarded a five-year accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

David M. Rubenstein has pledged $10 million toward the Zoo’s $25 million campaign to fund the giant panda conservation program.

Through a creative collaboration, Smithsonian scientists are using historic collections and current conservation practices to bring back declining populations of grassland birds.

It looks like the angriest housecat you’ve ever seen, but it’s actually the Pallas’s cat: a small Asian wildcat known for its thick fur and unusual face.

How do you monitor disease in Asian elephants? By building their trust and teaching them to voluntarily participate in medical exams! Get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into caring for our herd.

A recently published study sheds light on the ecological importance of red-backed salamanders in the northeastern United States. The article, published in the journal Biology Letters, revealed the amphibians’ densities and biomass across the region were much higher than expected, with a great...