Stories about amphibians don’t always end with “happily ever after,” but scientists around the globe, including Brian Gratwicke at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, are working together to rewrite frogs’ fate.
The more chytrid DNA we find on a swab, the more heavily infected a frog is.
Landscape ecologist Hila Shamon lives and works in Montana, where she studies the prairie and its wildlife. Over the last year and a half, she has been working with Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and other collaborators to develop a swift fox reintroduction program.
Continue Exploring July 29, 2025 Study: New DNA Tool Identifies Animals by Their
From the moment his hearty squeal heralded his arrival, giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji became one of the most beloved bears on the planet. Celebrate with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo as we look back at how this curious cub and his adorable antics have inspired the conservationist in all of us.
Veterinarians took a quick swab of the cub’s cheek for DNA analysis.
Does an animal’s personality play a role on whether it will survive in the wild? Researchers are using a surprising clue to find out: poop.
Continue Exploring July 29, 2025 Study: New DNA Tool Identifies Animals by Their
One of the world’s largest land tortoises, Aldabra tortoises can reach sizes of up to 550 pounds and ages of up to 150 years old. They are native to Aldabra Island, one of the Seychelles northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
The Aldabra tortoises at the Reptile Discovery Center have not yet been DNA tested
Smithsonian scientists discuss the impact of the first federal law designed to save endangered and imperiled animals from extinction.
Red wolf Black-footed ferret Continue Exploring July 29, 2025 Study: New DNA
Whether you know them as red pandas, red bear-cats, firefoxes, first pandas, lesser pandas or simply “the other pandas,” get to know these ferociously furry animals.
Later, DNA analysis suggested that red pandas might belong in the bear family.
American bison are North America’s largest terrestrial animals. Millions once roamed the grasslands and prairies of the Great Plains, but today the bison population survives primarily in conservation herds.
The taxonomy of bison has been under debate, and through DNA analysis it was determined
From the arrival of adorable chicks to award-winning excellence in animal care, much is brewing behind the scenes at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Prior to hatching, scientists confirmed the chick’s sex using DNA samples taken from
October was an exciting month for the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s giant panda cub! His eyes and ears opened, mother Mei Xiang took him on “field trips” to explore the world outside their den and he grew bigger (and more adorable) by the day.
Biology Institute’s Center for Conservation Genomics analyzed our giant panda cub’s DNA
