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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Smithsonian Voices

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Young Pandas Seem ‘Very Interested In Each Other’, Say Keepers at National Zoo

Bleats and chirps between two giant pandas are a sure sign that flirtatious feelings are in the air! Read all about the 'bears and the bleats' in this update from the Zoo's panda keeper team.

by Laurie Thompson and Mariel Lally | May 16, 2025

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Meet the Bat-Eared Fox, an Unusual Animal That Can Hear Insects Burrowing Underground

Get to know the bat-eared fox, an insect-eating creature found in the grasslands and savannas of Africa (and also the Smithsonian's National Zoo.)

Mike Bock | May 16, 2025

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Leaf-Tailed Gecko Treated With Chemotherapy Regimen at National Zoo

Veterinarians performed the innovative treatment on a 4-year-old Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko, a species at the fringes of zoo medicine.

Mike Bock | April 17, 2025

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Why Do Shorebirds Stand on One Leg?

It's a question visitors ask staff all the time at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Bird House. The answer may surprise you!

Mike Bock | March 17, 2025
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Maned Wolf Program at the National Zoo's Research Campus Welcomes Three Pups

The three baby wolves were born this winter at the Smithsonian National Zoo’s conservation and research campus in Front Royal, Virginia.

Mike Bock | February 14, 2025
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How Are Animals Paired at the National Zoo?

Get ready for Valentine’s Day by learning how zoo matchmakers use science to “swipe right” for conservation.

Mike Bock | February 10, 2025
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Meet Vostok, the National Zoo's New Amur Tiger

The 2-year-old male tiger is now at home with the other residents of the Great Cats exhibit. Get the facts on how animal care teams helped this endangered animal adjust to his new surroundings.

Mike Bock | January 23, 2025
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How Can You Tell the National Zoo's Giant Pandas Apart?

The Smithsonian's National Zoo's two giant pandas look quite similar to the untrained eye. Animal keeper Mariel Lally offers some tips you can use to spot the difference!

Mike Bock | January 14, 2025
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See How the Pandas (And Other Animals) Enjoyed a Chilly Snow Day

Several inches of snowfall kept the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute closed to visitors this week. But the animals and their caretakers still had a good time!

Mike Bock | January 8, 2025
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