News

On hot days, humans rely on air conditioning, pools and fans to cool us down. Grasshoppers came up with their own clever trick for beating the heat: climbing.

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

Giant panda Qing Bao had a routine checkup Oct. 22. Veterinarians say she is in very good health!

Keepers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia are celebrating the births of a litter of cheetah cubs.

Read on for some chilling curiosities from the creatures of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

A new species just arrived at the Reptile Discovery Center… and visitors can meet a living “dragon” up close!

Wondering which orangutan you’ll meet on your next visit? Get to know their names and personalities in this guide written by the Primates keeper team.

The Smithsonian celebrates the birth of three litters of black-footed ferrets in the lineage of Antonia, a clone of a ferret who died more than 30 years ago.

Together with partners, educators at the Zoo and Smithsonian museums are delivering unique learning experiences to early childhood classrooms.

In this Q&A, keeper Jessica Kordell shares the latest on our red panda cub’s developments.

Join us in wishing our “4-ever sweet” giant panda Qing Bao a happy 4th birthday!

Say hello to Jasper, Rocky, and Yukon — three Canada lynx brothers you can now see at the Great Cats exhibit!

New Smithsonian research indicates prairie dogs and grasshoppers have some of the largest impacts on grassland nutrient cycles.

They’re agile on land. Intelligent in behavior. And…they can gallop like a horse? Learn what makes Cuban crocodiles so extraordinary.

Which meerkat is which? Small Mammal House keeper Ann Gutowski offers some clues on how you can tell the meerkats apart.

Boo at the Zoo and Night of the Living Zoo will return this fall at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

What started as a way to protect migratory birds has grown into a global effort that safeguards tropical forests, conserves wildlife, and helps farmers build more resilient livelihoods.

Our giant pandas didn’t breed this year, but changes in Qing Bao’s behavior and hormones indicate she’s going through pseudopregnancy. Learn more in our panda team update!

They’re roly-poly, prickly and precious: meet our lesser tenrec babies! Get to know our growing tenrec family in this Q+A.

A new Smithsonian study reveals that carbon-capture initiatives may be overlooking a critical tool in sustainable farming programs: mature trees.

Behind the scenes, our South American canid puppies are growing fast. Get a glimpse into their daily lives in this update from the SCBI keeper team.

Thirteen years of climate data helps scientists understand the spread of a deadly amphibian disease and predict potential outbreaks.

American Trail keepers at the National Zoo are mourning the loss of Nick, an 18-year-old male California sea lion who died suddenly Aug. 7.

See our giant panda celebrate his special day with a panda-friendly cake and presents from his keepers.

How are the new giant pandas spending their first summer? And what’s changed since they arrived nine months ago? Keeper Mariel Lally explains.