News

To figure out why Eastern box turtle numbers are dropping across Virginia, Smithsonian researchers are turning to some surprisingly low-tech tricks.

Hiding in Appalachia’s cool mountain streams is one impressively large salamander.

Find comprehensive resources for media on the giant panda program at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Giant panda Bao Li celebrated turning 5 years old with a shark-themed birthday bash, complete with a fruitsicle "cake" and boat buoy enrichment.

Smithsonian researchers have identified the genetic relationships among all the Hawaiian honeycreeper species that were known to exist since the arrival of Europeans to the islands.

Feast your eyes on our frisky bat-eared fox kits—the first born here in 75 years—in this keeper Q&A!

Join us in celebrating the dedicated professionals who care for our animal ambassadors!

Look who’s learning to “elephant paddle!” Linh Mai, our 5-month-old Asian elephant calf, reached a major milestone this week: baby’s first swim!

Flamingo parenting comes with plenty of surprises. Bird House curator Sara Hallager explains.

We could hardly "bear" the wait. A shaggy pair of sloth bear cubs have officially made their Zoo debut.

With only a few hundred red wolves left, Smithsonian scientist Jennifer Nagashima is pioneering new ways to preserve their genetic diversity.

It's on our currency, our seals, and in our imagination. But how well do you really know the bald eagle?

Think cats hate water? Learn what makes the fishing cat one of Asia’s most remarkable, and least understood, wild predators.

Veterinary technician Jo Fujito builds dummy devices that help the National Zoo’s animals practice for medical procedures.

They're one of North America’s most recognizable animals, but how well do you really know these fascinating creatures?

Visitors can celebrate elephants during EleFest, a three-day festival at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Aug. 7–9.

Get to know our delightful brown pelican rescues—Eugene, Pippin and Frankie—in this Q&A with keeper Erin Whatley.

Smithsonian scientists and partners are retracing Lewis and Clark's journey — with a 21st-century toolkit.

Smithsonian researcher Maya Rayle is studying whether artificial beaver dams can revive the stream valleys of the Great Plains.

Dive into their stories and find out which ones you might see on your next visit.

Ants, beware. A new tamandua is slurping his way into his habitat at the National Zoo.

Early in Asian elephant calf Linh Mai’s life, her gut health needed a little help.

Tall, graceful, and among the rarest birds on earth. Here are eight things you probably didn't know about this awe-inspiring species.

New research shows human presence and habitat modifications impact how animals behave in unexpected ways.

Explore the careers of female scientists whose work shaped the field of zoo research and wildlife conservation.