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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

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How X-Rays, Plastic Cups and Spools of String Help National Zoo Researchers Find Wild Box Turtle Nests

To figure out why Eastern box turtle numbers are dropping across Virginia, Smithsonian researchers are turning to some surprisingly low-tech tricks.

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11 Fascinating Facts About the Hellbender, North America’s Largest Amphibian

Hiding in Appalachia’s cool mountain streams is one impressively large salamander.

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Museum Specimens Help Solve a Century-Old Mystery in Hawaiian Bird Evolution

A new genomic study from Smithsonian scientists traces the honeycreepers' explosive diversification to the formation of O'ahu millions of years ago, offering fresh insight into a group of birds now facing one of the steepest extinction rates in the world.

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Practical Tips for Anyone Currently Raising Nine Flamingo Chicks at the Same Time

Flamingo parenting comes with plenty of surprises. Smithsonian’s National Zoo curator Sara Hallager explains what you should know.

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We Can Freeze Human Reproductive Cells. Can We Do the Same for Red Wolves?

With only a few hundred red wolves left, Smithsonian scientist Jennifer Nagashima is pioneering new ways to preserve their genetic diversity

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How Well Do You Know America’s Bird? Nine Fascinating Facts About the Bald Eagle

It soars on six-foot wings, graces our currency and stares out from a thousand patriotic murals. But how much do you actually know about the bald eagle?

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Meet the Striped Skunk, America's Misunderstood Neighbor

They're one of North America's most recognizable animals, but how well do you really know these fascinating creatures?

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To Restore Montana’s Prairie Streams, Smithsonian Researchers Are Thinking Like Beavers

Smithsonian researcher Maya Rayle is studying whether artificial beaver dams can revive the stream valleys of the Great Plains

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Meet the Cute, Rare and Remarkable Babies Born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo This Spring

Get the stories behind the new arrivals.

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Eight Fascinating Facts About the Whooping Crane, the Tallest Bird in North America

They’re tall, graceful and among the rarest birds on earth. Here are eight things you probably didn't know about this awe-inspiring species.

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