News Archive

Smithsonian scientists have confirmed that chytridiomycosis, a rapidly spreading amphibian disease, has reached a site near Panama's Darien region. This was the last area in the entire mountainous neotropics to be free of the disease. This is troubling news for the Panama Amphibian Rescue and...

Five cheetah cubs were born May 28 to 6-year-old Amani at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va. Amani is a dedicated mother according to keepers, who have observed her nursing and grooming the cubs. This litter is particularly significant to the Association of Zoos and...

The predictability and scale of seasonal changes in a habitat help determine the distance migratory species move and whether the animals always travel together to the same place or independently to different locations, according to a paper published online in February in Global Ecology and...

The National Zoo’s great cat program has recently expanded with the arrival of 2 1/2-year-old female Sumatran tiger, Damai, who is now out of quarantine and spending time outside in her exhibit where visitors can see her. The National Zoo plans to bring a male tiger in to breed with Damai later this...

Researchers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and partnering organizations will build a frozen repository of Great Barrier Reef coral sperm and embryonic cells. Genetic banks composed of frozen biomaterials hold strong promise for basic and applied research and conservation of...

The National Zoo has welcomed several new additions to its . Ten giant clams arrived in February from the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and after six weeks in quarantine are now on exhibit in the coral tank. These giant clams are of the Tridacna crocea species, the smallest of the giant clam species...

Scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo have detected a secondary rise in urinary progesterone levels in the Zoo’s female giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG). This hormone rise indicates that it should be 40 to 50 days before Mei Xiang either gives birth to a cub or comes to the end of a...

By Jason Gue, Elephant Keeper at the National Zoo If you come to the National Zoo on most days you will find us conducting an elephant husbandry demonstration. During the narration we talk about how elephants are endangered and are in constant competition with humans for the use of limited land and...

A female clouded leopard at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va., gave birth to a litter of two cubs Monday, March 28. Staff had been on a pregnancy watch of the 2-year-old Sita (SEE-ta) for one day. Sita gave birth to the first cub at 1:15 p.m. and the second cub at 1...

The Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park’s newly-named giant anteater pup Pablo holds on tight as mom Maripi makes her decision. Maripi chose from the names Demetrio, Fausto and Pablo—the top three vote-getters from the Zoo’s website voting poll. These three names were paired with a different food...

At a little more than 3 weeks old, both cubs are growing fast and doing great! The female cub weighs 24 ounces and her brother weighs 29 ounces. Both cubs, born March 28 at the Zoo's Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, have had their eyes completely open for more...

Many people may have heard or recognize the, teacher teacher teacher teacher song of the ovenbird ( Seiurus aurocapilla) as they walk through forested areas in North America during the spring and summer months. The ovenbird's song signifies late spring and early summer as they arrive to northern...

A female clouded leopard at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia, gave birth to a litter of two cubs Monday, March 28. Staff had been on a pregnancy watch of the two-year-old Sita for one day. Sita gave birth to the first cub at 1:15 p.m. and the second cub...

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, animals—and their keepers—at the National Zoological Park’s Small Mammal House got into the holiday spirit. Keepers created animal-enrichment activities and objects full of treats for many of the small mammals. These enrichment activities provide...

On the heels of spring’s arrival, a wattled crane ( Bugeranus carunculatus) chick hatched at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo March 20, the third of its kind in the park’s history. National Zoo veterinarians examined the chick and took a blood sample when it was 4 days old, which they will use to...

Rainfall can be disruptive.

There is no doubt that Smithsonian curators are experts in their field. But how much do people know about the great work they do? Now, the public has a chance to test its knowledge about the National Zoo’s animal enrichment program. Participants can match wits with Heidi Hellmuth, curator of...

The Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park euthanized a female 44-year-old western lowland gorilla, Haloko, today because her declining health compromised her quality of life. Haloko was the Zoo’s oldest and only wild-born gorilla. Per standard procedure, a necropsy will be performed. On Dec. 1...

Beginning today, the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park is soliciting help to name its newest anteater—a male born this past winter. The public can vote for its favorite name via the Zoo’s website from a list provided by keepers and volunteers. The top three vote-getters will move to round two...

For more than three decades Dr. JoGayle Howard dedicated her life and work to reproducing endangered species. Since she arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park in 1980 as a freshly graduated veterinarian (Texas A&M University), her intense focus on animal reproduction and her success...

There comes a time in life for every bird to spread its wings and leave the nest, but for gray catbirds, that might be the beginning of the end.

Perhaps no bird species in North American elicits a more emotional response from birders and researchers alike than the brown-headed cowbird ( Molothrus ater; hereafter: cowbirds). Cowbirds are fascinating to many for having maybe the most unusual breeding biology of any bird on the continent, yet...

The National Zoo’s giant panda mating season began early for the third consecutive year with female Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) and male Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN) attempting to mate Jan. 29. Mei Xiang continues her January ovulation pattern that started in 2009; historically her estrus occurred in March...

Researching animals in the wild can be challenging, especially if it involves a rare or elusive species like the giant panda or the clouded leopard. To remedy this, scientists rely heavily on camera traps—automated cameras with motion sensors. Left to photograph what passes in front of them, the...

The National Zoo has welcomed a new addition to Asia Trail. Lek, a 1-year-old male fishing cat from the Cincinnati Zoo, arrived in December and is now in his exhibit. Lek is set to breed with 6-year-old Electra, the Zoo’s only female fishing cat, who for now is in the enclosure next to him. The Zoo...