Small Stories, Big Science at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute in 2025

Tackling some extraordinary scientific challenges is one cause for celebration. Building a multidisciplinary community of conservationists is another. Doing both at the same time? Well, that’s just awesome. 

And it’s exactly what happened this year the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. As 2025 comes to a close, here are a few bite-sized stories that capture both the conservation wins and the inspiring teamwork that made our year so remarkable:

When it comes to restoring animals to their native habitats, the science is clear: it’s not enough to dump out a crate and wish the animals luck. For reintroductions to truly succeed, we need to learn more about (and help fix) the challenges that caused them to disappear in the first place.  

This year, Smithsonian researchers studied reintroductions for black-footed ferrets in Montana, loggerhead shrikes in Canada, and several amphibian species in Panama, uncovering the insights that will help build healthier, self-sustaining wild populations.

Another standout success? Thanks in part to Smithsonian avian experts like Erica Royer, a small but stable population of “extinct-in-the-wild” sihek (or Guam kingfisher) is flying free again for the first time in more than 40 years — and laying eggs.

As any conservation scientist knows, discovery doesn’t end in the field. It continues through analysis, collaboration…and often, a published paper.

Our research staff published peer-reviewed studies spanning an extraordinary range of topics, from birds “eavesdropping” on prairie dog alarm calls to avoid predators; to studies on the link between coffee flavor and plant-associated bacteria; to modeling how the deadly amphibian disease chytrid rises and falls with changing weather patterns. 

We also dove into far less glamorous topics — like poop. Smithsonian scientists explored how fecal transplants can help treat a cheetah’s gastrointestinal problems and how analyzing scat samples can identify and track individual animals in the wild. Here’s a tip for any future scientists reading: if you want to be a successful conservationist, you’d better be comfortable getting your hands dirty.

At our research and breeding facility in Front Royal, Virginia, love was definitely in the air. Amorous animals at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute produced an abundance of babies, each one an important contribution to our long-term conservation efforts. We said hello to four cheetah cubs, foals from three members of the horse family, a red panda cub and a whooping crane colt.

Meanwhile, a trio of maned wolf pups born at the end of last year continued to grow even taller, lankier, and more playful. And our black-footed ferret team welcomed oodles of kits, including the “children” of Willa, a ferret who died in the 1980s.

While others brave the chilly weather to celebrate the holidays, one furry family is staying snuggled inside. In October, we welcomed the birth of four cheetah cubs to Amabala, age 5. A temporary live camera feed available on our website offers a sneak peek into Amabala’s den as she bonds with and cares for her cubs.

Learn more about our cheetah breeding program.

The planet is changing, and our field teams are racing to understand how wildlife is changing with it. From monitoring Humboldt penguins on the beaches of Peru to collaring wildebeest in Kenya to tracking wood turtles across Virginia, our experts are gathering as much data as they can to support fragile animal populations in dozens of threatened ecosystems. 

In the Brazilian Amazon, Smithsonian fellow Fernanda Abra is studying the effectiveness of canopy bridges that are helping endangered monkeys avoid deadly highway crossings. Meanwhile, in the American West, our Montana-based science team is partnering with Tribal nations and local landowners to help restore and steward prairie lands that were once home to herds of the mighty bison — and may yet feel their thunderous hooves once again.

We recommend pairing this article with a slice of birthday cake, because September, we officially marked the 50th year of operations at our Front Royal conservation research campus. From its initial conception as a quiet sanctuary to breed sensitive animals like Père David’s deer, to its current status as a world-class scientific hub and learning center, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute has been the place where conservation science lives and breathes.

Another milestone worth celebrating? Our Bird Friendly® program turned 25. Over the past quarter-century, this program has helped hundreds of farmers across Latin America set aside critical habitat for migratory birds. (Plus, they make a darn good cup of coffee.) 

As the United States of America approaches its 250th birthday in 2026, our Snapshot USA team is looking ahead…. with some inspiration from the past. 

Next year, we’re launching The Lewis and Clark Survey, an ambitious nationwide wildlife monitoring project. Together with partners, we'll use camera trap technology to document species along the route traversed by the Lewis and Clark expedition two centuries ago. Because what better gift can we give for America’s semiquincentennial than data that will help protect and preserve America's wildlife?

None of these amazing stories would have been possible without support from our dedicated members, donors, and visitors. Thank you for helping us continue our work to save species.

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