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
The New Caledonian gecko is the largest known gecko species and grows to lengths of about 14 inches. When threatened, the New Caledonian gecko can detach (and later regenerate) its tail.
They are a sexually dimorphic species; males tend to have a broader head and more
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.
Scientists have long debated the red panda’s taxonomy.
The Zoo cares for five female Asian elephants from a few different family groups. Luckily, there are a few things that keepers can do to encourage them to build positive relationships. Learn more in this update from keeper Kayleigh Sullivan.
Bozie (left) and Shanthi (right) may be from different family groups, but they have
Challenge How can scientists produce research on environmental topics impacting local communities that decision makers in those communities can trust? In August 2016, scientists from the Changing Landscapes Initiative collaborated with community leaders in Northwestern Virginia to answer that question. This case study shows how CLI researchers combined community knowledge with scientific data to create a set of future scenarios designed to help planners make important land use choices.
Narrative “Strong long-term planning and minimal climate impacts have led to the
Slow down with Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s three southern two-toed sloths. Keeper Kara Ingraham works with Athena and Vlad in the Small Mammal House, and keeper Denny Charlton tends to Howie in Amazonia. Find out what it takes to care for these unique animals!
Kara: I have always loved animals and grew up dreaming of saving the rainforest.
Keepers can learn a lot about an animal’s needs just by monitoring its weight. But how do you weigh a wiggly ferret or get a full-grown elephant onto a scale? Find out in this update from primate keeper Erin Stromberg.
The scale is built into the base of a protective elephant chute, which keepers have
‚Hoppy‘ Amphibian Awareness Week! All week long, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute will be sharing stories about amazing amphibians and the scientists working to save them from extinction.
Have you ever wondered what the difference between a reptile and amphibian is?
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.
Once we have completed our assessment, we provide them with hay and head outside
Fire-bellied toads, also called bombina, are warty, aquatic toads with bright orange or red undersides. These gregarious frogs are native to China and Russia.
Males, unlike females, also have nuptial pads on the first and second fingers.
