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 males have a concave plastron (belly shell) that aids in mating.
Always free of charge, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is one of Washington D.C.’s, and the Smithsonian’s, most popular tourist destinations, with more than 2 million visitors from all over the world each year. The Zoo instills a lifelong commitment to conservation through engaging experiences with animals and the people working to save them.
mother Shera and father Luke, the 14-week-old cubs passed their swim test in May and have
September 26 marks 40 years since black-footed ferrets were re-discovered in the wild, kick-starting today’s breeding and reintroduction program. Find out what it takes to care for Zoo Guardians‘ September Animal of the Month and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s black-footed ferrets from animal keeper Vicki Lake!
I have black-footed ferret socks, shirts and ornaments.
Our newest litter of cheetah cubs are busy exploring… and they just got their first physical! Learn about caring for cubs in this update from carnivore biologist Adrienne Crosier.
You may have even seen a few cubs go into one of the Cheetah Cub Cam dens on their
Find the answers to some of the most-searched questions about black-footed ferrets, North America’s only native ferret species!
These playful animals were once thought to be extinct but have made an incredible
, SCBI marine physiologist Mary Hagedorn and research assistant Virginia Carter have
Bird keeper Wesley Bailey shares an update on the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s success breding brown kiwi.
If you have followed my fellow keeper Erica Royer’s updates, you already know that
What does it take to care for a baby that weighs a mere 40 grams at birth? Biologist Kenton Kerns gives the scoop on raising the tiny tots in our latest keeper Q&A.
Since she doesn’t have many relatives in the North American fennec fox population
The spotted turtle is a small species of turtle found near ponds, swamps and streamside habitats in the eastern United States and lower Canada. They are recognizable for the yellow polka-dot pattern covering their bodies.
Fact Sheet Conservation Physical Description Spotted pond turtles have a brown
The gray wolf, also called the timber wolf, is the largest member of the canine family with fur ranging from gray to brown, black or white. Packs of gray wolves hunt at night, using their speed, sharp teeth and claws to catch caribou, moose, deer, bison, beavers, rabbits and fish.
Gray wolves are highly adaptable and have been known to survive in all habitats in
