Koi fish are colorful, ornamental versions of the common carp. Modern Japanese koi are believed to date back to early 19th-century Japan where wild, colorful carp were caught, kept and bred by rice farmers. The word “koi” comes from the Japanese word for “carp.”
Though carp domestication is believed to have begun in China as far back as the 4th
Happy salamander Saturday! This annual holiday honoring these amazing amphibians takes place on the first Saturday in May. To celebrate, we’re counting down animal keeper Matt Neff’s top six favorite salamander facts! Stop by the Reptile Discovery Center’s Jewels of Appalachia exhibit to see these awesome amphibians up close.
Salamanders have super-sensitive skin—and many breathe through it.
Eight-week-old Allen’s swamp monkey Zawadi is on the move. Over the past few weeks, biologist Becky Malinsky has watched the baby—whose name means „gift“ in Swahili—become more independent.
At the Zoo, the monkeys don’t have to worry about predators, but we put water in
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is home to over a dozen species of primates. The homestead for the Zoo’s gorillas and orangutans is the Great Ape House.
Whether inside or outside, the apes have an opportunity to climb trees and multi-level
Asian small-clawed otters are the smallest of all 13 otter species and are native to Asia. Well adapted to life in the water, these social, intelligent animals spend a majority of their time on land.
Sheet Conservation Meet the Animals Physical Description These otters have
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.
You: July 2020 Grab a delicious snack with prehensile-tailed porcupine Quilliam, have
Elephant Trails is more than an exhibit; it is also an extensive conservation program built on decades of science. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s rich history of caring for and studying Asian elephants spans more than a century.
the Elephant Community Center and the surrounding outdoor yards, the elephants have
For Asian elephant keepers, working among the giants of the animal kingdom entails training, enriching and caring for the Zoo’s multi-generational herd, as well as contributing to research and educating visitors about the conservation of this endangered species.
examine each elephant and look for any cuts, scrapes, injuries or illness that may have
Eastern screech-owls are commonly found in evergreen and deciduous forests near water. They are short, stocky owls with gray or reddish-brown feathers and yellow eyes.
They are short, stocky and have large heads with almost no neck.
Emperor tamarins are small monkeys native to the southwest Amazon Basin. They are easily identified by their long, white whiskers that look like a mustache.
They have dark fur on their faces and ears, and their bodies are primarily gray with
