After a potentially deadly injury, one endangered wild horse got a new lease on life thanks to the Smithsonian’s veterinary team.
than their domestic cousins, a factor ungulate curator Dolores Reed believes may have
Smithsonian scientists, in collaboration with the Fort Belknap Fish and Wildlife Department, are embarking on a five-year swift fox reintroduction project to restore swift foxes to tribal lands and to help reestablish connectivity between disjointed swift fox populations.
the Fort Belknap Fish and Wildlife Department in Montana, Smithsonian scientists have
Recently, our Great Cats team bid farewell to African lion Amahle, who moved to another zoo to breed. Keeper Katy Juliano shares how Amahle’s mother, Shera, is adjusting in this update.
visitors to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute may have
With their big ears, wide eyes and furry paws, sand cats may look adorable… but they’re quite tough! Sand cats are the only members of the cat family that live exclusively in desert environments. Get to know these hardy felines in this Q&A.
Many desert species—including sand cats—have a variety of physical and behavioral
This small, fairly common songbird travels between cool, boggy northern forests and warm southern regions each year. Unlike many of their warbler cousins, they are often seen foraging on the ground, not in trees, while bobbing their tail.
Eastern adults in their breeding plumage have yellow undersides with brownish gray
The Zoo’s two giant pandas look quite similar to the untrained eye. Panda keeper Mariel Lally offers some tips you can use to spot the difference!
Eye Patches Image: The pandas’ eye patches have subtle differences.
Why is giant panda Mei Xiang sleeping for longer periods, eating less and denning? After going into estrus this spring, months later, she’s experiencing a pseudopregnancy—even though she did not breed! Learn more from curator Michael Brown-Palsgrove.
Those of you who have followed our #PandaStory updates know that Mei Xiang and her
Love is in the air for the Zoo’s Sumatran tigers, Sparky and Damai! Their relationship, says keeper Dell Guglielmo, has been blossoming ever since the pair was introduced last September.
So far, they have shown interest in one another and behaved as we would expect.
With an aggressive attitude, an eager appetite for fish and the ability to “walk” on land, the northern snakehead fish is a powerful predator. Recently, Asia Trail keepers welcomed four snakeheads—one male and three females—into their care.
Snakehead fish have evolved to “walk” on land!
Animal care teams keep a close eye on the Zoo’s residents every day of the year, but staff take special measures to keep animals safe on hot days.
All of the Zoo’s outdoor exhibits have cool indoor holding areas and hiding spaces
