Press Release Archive

Scientists at the Smithsonian's National Zoo confirmed a secondary rise in urinary progesterone in its female giant panda Mei Xiang. The slow rise, which started around mid-July, indicates that she will experience the end of a pseudopregnancy or give birth to a cub in 40 to 55 days. Mei Xiang was...

Fans of the giant pandas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo can once again access the panda cams, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund. The cams went dark for upgrades May 30 but will begin streaming live uninterrupted video today at noon. The panda-cam system upgrades were designed to maximize...

The National Zoo's senior female cheetah, Tumai, died overnight. Preliminary results from a necropsy indicate that a tumor caused her spleen to rupture; however, a final pathology report will provide more information. She was 13 years old. Typically, female cheetahs in human care have a median...

WHAT: Red panda Rusty—who temporarily left his enclosure at the Smithsonian's National Zoo June 24, 2013—will return to his exhibit tomorrow. Staff will move Rusty from the hospital into a behind-the-scenes holding area at his enclosure. Media will see Rusty transported in a crate. When staff...

Red panda, Rusty, continues to do well and Zoo veterinarians have confirmed that he is in good health following his rabies booster vaccination. He will remain at the hospital, but Animal Care staff hopes to return Rusty to his enclosure by July 4. A multi-disciplinary team of Zoo experts, led by...

Bozie, a 37-year-old female Asian elephant, made her debut in the Elephant Community Center today. She arrived at the Zoo on May 22 and spent 30 days in quarantine per standard procedure. Introductions between Bozie and her two female companions—Ambika (65) and Shanthi (38)—continue to go well...

The popular Pizza Playground at the Smithsonian's National Zoo has a new recipe thanks to a $110,000 donation from Ledo Pizza and donations from Friends of the National Zoo. The new playground, which has been closed for the past several weeks for renovation, will reopen to the public June 29 at noon...

The onset of summer for animal care staff at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va., means patiently awaiting endangered-animal births, hand-raising youngsters and saying farewell to cubs that are ready to be matched with mates. This year, SCBI-Front Royal celebrated its...

The daring and adventurous sloth bear cub, Hank, made his public debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo today. He is the first sloth bear born at the Zoo in seven years. Born Dec. 19, 2012, Hank and his mother, Hana, have spent the past six months in a den near the Asia Trail exhibit. Now that he...

The hottest tickets in town are to see cold-blooded animals at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Tickets are on sale for exclusive tours of the Zoo's Reptile Discovery Center. The tours include a guided stroll through the Reptile Discovery Center with a Zoo Salamander Ambassador filled with fun facts...

WHAT: Sloth bear cub, Hank, will make his media and public debut in his yard with mother Hana. WHEN: Thursday, June 20, 9:30 a.m.—10:30 a.m. WHO: Mindy Babitz, Asia Trail keeper, Smithsonian's National ZooStacey Tabellario, Asia Trail keeper, Smithsonian's National Zoo WHERE: Sloth Bear exhibit (top...

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Brew at the Zoo event, held on Thursday, July 11, 2013 from 6 to 9 p.m. Hosted by Friends of the National Zoo, the beer tasting fundraiser showcases craft and microbrewers from around the nation, all in support of wildlife conservation. Being able to taste over...

Animal care staff at the National Zoo welcomed a new resident to Elephant Trails May 22--Bozie, a 37-year-old female Asian elephant. She arrived safely at approximately 3:30 p.m. and is now in quarantine for approximately 30 days. Along with Elephant Manager Marie Galloway, Zoo Veterinarian Nancy...

At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, the seals of American Trail are ready to splash down and make their big debut! To help the marine mammals acclimate to their new surroundings, animal care staff added 24,000 pounds of salt to the 125,000 gallon pool last week. Yesterday, three gray seals—Gunther...

The Andean Bear exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo will be double the fun when twin cubs make their debut Saturday, May 11. The male and female cubs, named Curt and Nicole, were born at the Zoo Dec. 14, 2012, and are significant births for the population of Andean bears in human care. They...

The National Zoo will soon welcome Bozie, a 37-year-old female Asian elephant, into the Zoo's existing herd. She will be on loan from the Baton Rouge Zoo. Bozie's last companion at the Baton Rouge Zoo died in March. Elephants are social species and to meet Association of Zoos and Aquariums standards...

WHAT:Twin Andean bear cubs, Curt and Nicole, will make their media debut in their yard with their mother Billie Jean; their public debut is Saturday, May 11 WHEN:Tuesday, May 7 10 a.m.—11:30 a.m. WHO: Craig Saffoe, curator of Andean bears, Smithsonian's National Zoo Karen Abbott, Andean bear keeper...

The Smithsonian's National Zoo is inviting its Facebook fans to name one of Asia Trails' most adventurous and charismatic critters: a sloth bear cub. Starting Wednesday, May 1, the Zoo is hosting a poll on its Facebook page; fans can vote for their favorite among three names that keepers selected to...

A 7-year-old sand cat named Thor is the newest addition to the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Small Mammal House exhibit. Thor will serve as an ambassador to his wild cousins and teach Zoo visitors and researchers about the behaviors of this secretive species. Native to Northern Africa, Southern Asia...

Baby marmoset monkeys that began eating solid food earlier than their peers were significantly more likely to be obese at one year of age, scientists at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute have found. Marmosets on track for...

The Smithsonian's National Zoo is mourning the loss of its elderly white-cheeked gibbon, a female named Mae, who died April 8. She was 43 years old and lived well past the median life expectancy of zoo gibbons, which is about 28 years old. Mae arrived at the National Zoo in 1976 from the Los Angeles...

Reproductive scientists and veterinarians from the Smithsonian's National Zoo, alongside Tang Chunxiang, the assistant director and chief veterinarian of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at Wolong performed a second artificial insemination on giant panda Mei Xiang on...

Spring has sprung and the giant pandas are breeding again at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Scientists detected a rise in urinary estrogens March 26, in its female giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG). This rise and her behaviors indicated that Mei Xiang was in estrus and ready to breed. A team of Zoo...

The clouded leopard cubs born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va., Feb. 6, are healthy and growing. At nearly two months old, they just received their first vaccinations. As they have grown, their diet has changed to match their appetites and nutritional needs. When...

Asia Trail Curator Tony Barthel and keeper staff at the Smithsonian's National Zoo have determined the sex of a 3-month-old sloth bear cub: it's a boy! Keepers report that the cub is quite daring and adventurous; he will balance himself atop wobbly enrichment toys (such as logs and boomer balls) and...