Curator of horticulture Teresa Vetick gives her top tips to build your own pollinator-friendly garden.
everywhere can take small actions to help pollinators around them, whether they have
Center for Conservation Genomics scientists sequence genomes and transcriptomes in large part to develop markers for detailed population studies, and to assess responses to stressors such as pathogens and climate change.
birds and amphibians, and to ancient DNA samples to examine how animal genomes have
In celebration of Squirrel Appreciation Day on Jan. 21, here are six facts to get you better acquainted with the Prevost’s squirrel.
They have stunning fur coats.
Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammals and the most socially solitary of the great apes. All three orangutan species — Bornean, Sumatran and the newly discovered Tapanuli — are critically endangered, primarily due to habitat loss.
They have large jaws and flattened noses in concave faces.
They’re spunky, opinionated and enjoy splashing in a cool pool on a hot summer day. Who are these playful pachyderms? Our Asian elephants, Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh! Get to know their personalities and quirks from Elephant Trails keepers Rebecca Riley and Ashley Fortner.
Do they have a favorite enrichment item?
The Bird House team at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has many beaks to feed, including 23 species of migratory songbirds and shorebirds.
Hallager and nutritionist Erin Kendrick share some of the valuable lessons they have
Aldabra tortoises may be slow and steady, but they are also full of surprises! Did you know that they can live to be more than 150 years old, or that their shells are sensitive to the touch? Get to know these gentle giant from Reptile Discovery Center keeper Matt Neff.
They could have been much older, though.
Blue-gray and silver-beaked tanagers are colorful birds native to South America. They primarily eat fruit and insects.
They have pale gray underparts, heads and throats.
Naked mole-rats are pink, nearly hairless subterranean rodents that live in burrows in eastern Africa. These surprisingly long-lived animals are one of the only true eusocial mammals; they live in large colonies in which only one female breeds and the majority of individuals spend their lives working for the colony.
Fact Sheet Conservation Physical Description Naked mole-rats have wrinkly pink
Many of the Zoo’s animals are built for extreme temperatures, including the fennec fox! Learn how animal keepers care for these desert dwelling foxes.
The dens also have multiple entrances and exits to provide the fox with a safe escape
