National Zoological Park
See the Clouded Leopard Cubs at The Autumn Conservation Festival
Last March, two adorable clouded leopard cubs were born at the National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center (CRC) in Front Royal, Virginia. Pictures of the little cubs went viral on Facebook and other social networks. The Autumn Conservation Festival taking place this Saturday and Sunday at the ...
October 02, 2009 |
By Abby Callard
Cheetahs In Crisis
The National Zoo houses the world’s fastest land mammal, the cheetah. In tribute to this swift-moving animal, a panel of distinguished experts including Laurie Marker, founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund; Adrienne Crosier, research biologist at the Zoo; Craig Saffoe, bio...
September 30, 2009 |
By Audrey Reinhardt
Happy Trails, Zoo's Hippo Heads West
The National Zoo has been doing some remodeling. Their 163 urban acres are undergoing an internal expansion of the elephant exhibit. While this new layout means more ponds for the animals to bathe in and a greater selection of leaves for the creatures to chew, it also means having to say goodbye t...
September 29, 2009 |
By Audrey Reinhardt
Smithsonian Events for the Week of 9/28-10/2: Climate Change, Cheetahs, Tito Puente and Reading About Africa
Monday, September 28:Sorry kids, no special events happening at the Smithsonian today. But be sure to check out this site for a listing of regularly-scheduled happenings around the Institution.Tuesday, September 29: Smithsonian Education 3-Day Online Conference: Climate ChangeCome participate in th...
September 28, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian Events for the Week of September 21-25: Thomas Jefferson, The Jungle Book, and an Artists' Roundtable Talk
Monday, September 21: A Conversation with Thomas Jefferson and His Slave, Betty HemingsThis theatrical performance imagines what it's like to look at Thomas Jefferson through the eyes of Betty Hemings—a slave owned by Jefferson's father-in-law, John Wayles, and mother of Sally Hemings. This show fe...
September 21, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Weekend Events: Nighttime Artworks and a Fiesta!
Friday, September 18: Sorry kids, no special afternoon or evening events happening at the Smithsonian today. But be sure to check out this site for a listing of regularly-scheduled happenings around the Institution.Saturday, September 19: The Texture of Night: Etchings by James McNeill WhistlerCome...
September 18, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Weekend Events: Charles Darwin and Grandparents' Day at the Zoo!
Friday, September 11: Sorry kids, no special afternoon or evening events happening at the Smithsonian today. But be sure to check out this site for a listing of regularly-scheduled happenings around the Institution.Saturday, September 12: Darwin Anniversary SymposiumThe life and legacy of Charles D...
September 11, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian Events for the Week of September 7-11: Shirley Temple, National Zoo Photo Club, V-2 Rockets and More!
Tuesday, September 8: FONZ Photo ClubIf you’re a shutterbug with a penchant for snapping shots of critters, come on out to the National Zoo and participate in the FONZ (that’s Friends Of the National Zoo for those of you who think Henry Winkler when they see the word, FONZ) photo club’s monthly mee...
September 08, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Go Back to School With the Smithsonian!
Back to school season is upon us! Students are spazzing over course schedules and the teachers they have to expand their minds. Teachers are sure to wonder what young minds they get to contend with over the course of the next school year and parents are prepping for an onslaught of PTA meetings and...
September 03, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Register Now For Climate Change Online Conference
Registration is now open for the Smithsonian Education Online Conference: Climate Change held September 29 to October 1, 2009. This installment of the online conference series that started this past February will focus on Smithsonian exhibitions and research related to the global issue of climate c...
September 03, 2009 |
By Abby Callard
Burrowing Owl Chicks Born at the National Zoo
For the first time in 30 years, a couple of baby burrowing owls were born at the National Zoo. On August 2, zoo staffers welcomed two wide-eyed chicks born to a 5-year-old male and a 4-year-old female who have lived at the Zoo for three years.Burrowing owls, so named for their habit of living in un...
September 02, 2009 |
By Abby Callard
10 Things You Didn't Know About Asian Elephants
Tomorrow, the National Zoo and the embassies of Sri Lanka, Thailand and India will celebrate Asian elephants. Only 35,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants survive in the world, and of those, 15,000 are in human care. The National Zoo has three: Kandula, Shanthi and Ambika, who at 61 is the third oldest As...
August 21, 2009 |
By Abby Callard
Smithsonian Events for the Week of August 3-7: Andy Warhol, Orchids, Superheroes and More!
Monday, August 3: Warhol Himself: Culture in Motion PerformanceCome experience a fantasy interview with the iconic pop artist extraordinaire Andy Warhol in a performance piece that culls quips and quotations from the artist, portrayed here by Kryztov Lindquist. Free, but seating is limited. Call 20...
August 03, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Rare Deer Born at the National Zoo
A rare tufted deer was born at the National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Virginia on July 16. The deer was the fourth species to give birth in one week, joining the clouded leopards, Przewalski horses and red pandas in welcoming new members to the Zoo family.Tufted deer, called that fo...
July 28, 2009 |
By Ashley Luthern
Smithsonian Events for the Week of July 20-24: Apollo 11, Shadow Puppets, Ipswich House
Monday, July 20: Book SigningsThe Apollo 11 moon landing was a landmark event and has inspired authors and artists alike. Come on by the Air and Space Museum where several authors will be available to sign their books about the moon landing and tour the museum's recently-opened exhibit, Alan Bean: ...
July 20, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Must Be Something in the Water, Three Babies Born at the Zoo
Keepers at the Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, VA, had their hands full last week when three different animals delivered three babies just hours apart.First, a 3-year-old clouded leopard, named "Jao Chu" delivered another cub last Thursday at 5:30 PM. The same mother made new...
July 16, 2009 |
By Beth Py-Lieberman
Happy Birthday Tai Shan
Tai Shan, the National Zoo's youngest panda bear, celebrated his fourth birthday chowing down on a frozen treat made from water, shredded beets, beet juice and, of course, the animal's favorite snack — bamboo.Because pandas rely heavily on their sense of smell, zoo staff laid a trail of treats so T...
July 09, 2009 |
By Abby Callard
Smithsonian Events for the Week of July 6-10: Rainforest Animals, Zoo Serenade and a Ladybug Release
Monday, July 5: Nothing special going on today. Check out the Smithsonian events site for regularly scheduled events. Tuesday, July 7: Rainforest Summer with Reptiles Alive!Ever wanted to touch an iguana, turtle or boa constrictor? Now you can! Meet live animals from each level of the Rainforest an...
July 06, 2009 |
By Lauren Hogan
Elephant Love at the Zoo Is Not What It Used To Be
It's springtime and the animal kingdom is feeling especially amorous. Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it—they fall in love.The Asian elephants at the National Zoo, however, seem to have forgone the formalities of courtship and emotional attachment in favor of artificial insemination...
June 10, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Vote for the Clouded Leopards in the Cutest Zoo Baby Contest
Stumbling wide-eyed giraffes, fuzz-ball lions cubs, a curious baby gorilla rolling carelessly on his back or the unmistakable black and white fluff of a baby panda—all solicit coos and awws by even the sternest zoo visitor. But when it comes to choosing the cutest baby animal, why not be original?B...
June 05, 2009 |
By Jordan Steffen
