Smithsonian's National Zoo: #PandaStory: A Splashing Good Time

Judging from the crumbs clinging to the tooth, it appears it wiggled free while he was eating his morning leafeater biscuits.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: A Cheetah Cub Check-In

Get an inside look at the one-week-old cheetah cub animal care staff at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Black-Footed Ferrets: Top Milestones For A Species Once Presumed Extinct

Black-footed ferrets, North America’s only native ferret species, were thought to have gone extinct in 1979.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: How Do You Keep Animals Cool In The Heat?

"We make sure our animals are kept in appropriate temperatures year-round".

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Learning About Swift Foxes From What They Leave Behind

The swift foxes have been selected from healthy populations in Wyoming and Colorado, and then moved to the reservation.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: #OrangutanStory: Happy 5th Birthday, Redd

It seems like yesterday Batang was carrying him on her shoulders across the O-Line because he was too young to climb the cables on his own.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: 44-Hour Flights: Tracking Curlews Across North America

This update was written by graduate student Paula Cimprich with contributions from ecologist Andy Boyce.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Tracking Technology Solves 100-Year-Old Black-Crowned Night Heron Mystery

These devices can measure the amount of sunlight, communicate locations with satellites and even ping an antenna on the space station.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Smithsonian And Partners Pioneer Method To Boost Endangered Coral Populations Separated By Vast Distances

The movement of genes between populations to speed up adaptation, called assisted gene flow, is an emerging tool in conservation.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Meet The Snakehead: A Fish That Can 'Walk' On Land

In the wild, they eat fish that are up to one-third their own body length, as well as frogs, beetles and dragonfly larvae.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Meet Our Sweet And Rambunctious Persian Onager Filly

Once we determined Sayeh was in estrus, we put her and the filly’s father—a 14-year-old stallion named Mandrake—together for breeding.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Meet Bentley And Beemer, Our Collared Lemur Brothers

Three-year-old collared lemur brothers Bentley and Beemer arrived at the Zoo in May and made their public debut at the end of July.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Caring For Black-Footed Ferrets: Stories From A Real-Life Zoo Guardian

Despite their small stature, black-footed ferrets are elusive and fierce carnivores. They can also be playful and complete goofballs.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Tracking Backpacks For Tiny Falcons

Not all heroes wear capes, some wear GPS-enabled backpacks and have feathers.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: New Hooves, New Home: Keeping Up With The Lesser Kudu

Machi is still nursing but has started eating pellets, browse (leafy branches) and hay just like the rest of the family.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Purple Martin ‘Landlords' Manage A Different Kind Of Tenant

Purple martins are social cavity nesters, meaning they build nests in sheltered holes and prefer to nest in groups.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Tracking Backpacks For Tiny Hawks

"We have 19 transmitters and all have been deployed on females in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties here in Virginia".

Smithsonian's National Zoo: #PandaStory: Two Birthdays Are Twice As Nice

"We are celebrating yet another special birthday today. Xiao Qi Ji’s father, Tian Tian, is 24 years old".

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Meerkat Dies At Smithsonian's National Zoo

For several years, our animal care team treated Dogo for health issues related to old age, including spondylosis, and arthritis.

DC History Center: Our Vision In Focus: Introducing Our Community Council

A vision statement is only the beginning of the work, and while it outlines a goal, it doesn’t necessary determine how to get there.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: New Destinations Ahead For The Ferrets

The males have wider and rounder heads, while the females have more pointed, elongated faces.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Giant Panda Xiao Qi Ji Celebrated First Birthday At Smithsonian's National Zoo

When Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji entered their outdoor habitat at 7:30 a.m., they approached Mei Xiang’s cake first.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: 2 Scimitar-Horned Oryx Calves Born As Result Of Artificial Insemination At Smithsonian Conservation Biology

“Assisted reproduction for rare and endangered species is constantly evolving,” said Budhan Pukazhenthi, reproductive physiologist at SCBI.

DC History Center: The Quanders: Stories That Teach The Relevance Of The Past

Educators are constantly challenged to help students understand the relevance of the past.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Happy First Birthday, Xiao Qi Ji

One year ago, the Smithsonian's National Zoo welcomed Xiao Qi Ji—a precious giant panda born in the midst of a global pandemic.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: #PandaStory: A Panda With A Personality That Shines

Whether climbing up or down, he takes his time and is careful about his footing. He very rarely misses a step.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: The Ferret Kits Receive Their Names

This update was written by Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute biologist Adrienne Crosier.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Black-Footed Ferret Kits Receive Names At The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

The female kit received the name “Aster,” in honor of a purple flower that is native to the American Prairie.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Happy Andean Bear Day

Like all bears, Andean bears are very intelligent. It can be a challenge to keep them entertained.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Play, Hunt, Sleep, Repeat: A New View On The Ferret Kits

For the first time ever, Potpie and her kits' full enclosure outside the den is on view via a second Black-footed Ferret Webcam.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: New At The Zoo: Meet Amur Tiger Metis

Metis is easily distinguished from Nikita and our female Sumatran tiger, Damai, because of his size.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Happy First Birthday, Yipes

From the moment Hartmann's mountain zebra Yipes was born on July 2, 2020, his arrival brought our animal care team abundant joy.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Caring For Bald Eagles: Stories From A Real-Life Zoo Guardian

Over the last few years, the American Trail team has been focusing on building a relationship with Annie and Tioga.

Smithsonian's National Zoo Visitation Update

'We’re making incremental adjustments while focusing on exhibit lines, crowd flow, safety and overall experience.'

DC History Center: Researching Latino/a/x DC

'We have found that we need to change how we collect, describe, and provide access to the materials we hold in trust for the public.'

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Why Are Flamingos Pink? And Other Flamingo Facts

Flamingos really are what they eat. Many plants produce natural red, yellow or orange pigments, called carotenoids.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: Mysterious Bird Deaths In The Mid-Atlantic Region

In late April, birds in the D.C. region began to turn up sick or dying. Scientists are trying to figure out why.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: #PandaStory: A Quick Learner

This update was written by giant pandas keepers Mariel Lally and Nicole MacCorkle.

Ferret Kits Look ‘Fur'-Tastic At 1 Month Old In Smithsonian's National Zoo

'One exciting development we noted in the last week was their deciduous, or baby, teeth growing in.'

DC History Center: Welcome Adé Heyliger And Chinyere Hubbard

In late January, the DC History Center welcomed four new trustees!