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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Tasi is a 4-year-old Guam rail and a marvel, considering that just a few decades ago his species nearly disappeared.

Meet Tasi, a Little Bird with a Big Purpose

We care for many rare and endangered species here at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, including a little brown bird named Tasi. Tasi is a 4-year-old Guam rail and a marvel, considering that just a few decades ago his species nearly disappeared.

A bison on the Northern Great Plains.

I Spent the Summer Studying a Herd of Bison, And Here’s What I Learned

From May to August, I spent most days observing a herd of about 300 bison in Montana.

The Peruvian tern's desert camouflage makes it almost impossible to track, but that’s exactly what our research team set out to do. It would take us four months to survey more than 1,851 acres for the bird, battling sandstorms, stifling heat and impossible landscapes inside Paracas National Reserve — terrain that the tern has mastered.

Searching for the Invisible, Invincible Peruvian Tern

The Peruvian tern's desert camouflage makes it almost impossible to track, but that’s exactly what our research team set out to do. It would take us four months to survey more than 1,851 acres for the bird, battling sandstorms, stifling heat and impossible landscapes inside Paracas National Reserve — terrain that the tern has mastered.

This young Hartmann's mountain zebra colt, born in July 2020, was a first for the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Our 3-month-old Zebra Colt is Earning His Stripes, One Butterfly and Biscuit at a Time

Our playful Hartmann's mountain zebra colt is a bundle of energy! Find out how the young colt spent his summer in this update from ungulate keeper Tara Buk.

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The Unexpected Arrival of a Teeny, Tiny (and Critically Endangered) Spider Tortoise

A "surprise" spider tortoise hatchling arrived July 5 at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Reptile Discovery Center. Get the scoop from assistant curator Matt Evans.

A 28-day-old female Guam kingfisher chick at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Raising One of the World's Rarest Birds

Guam kingfishers are incredibly rare and difficult to breed, so we are thrilled to be closing out the breeding season with four new chicks. This has been our biggest year to date, and one of our busiest!

The Zoo's 1-month-old giant panda cub had its first veterinary exam over the weekend. Get the scoop from Laurie Thompson, assistant curator of giant pandas.

Giant Panda Cub's First Veterinary Exam

The Smithsonian's National Zoo's giant panda cub reached a big milestone over the weekend. The 1-month-old cub had its first veterinary exam, and all signs point to a healthy, strong cub. Get the scoop from Laurie Thompson, assistant curator of giant pandas.

Spindly legs and thick, red fur have earned them the nickname “foxes on stilts,” but maned wolves are neither fox nor wolf.

What the Rhythm of a Maned Wolf's Heart Reveals

Spindly legs and thick, red fur have earned them the nickname “foxes on stilts,” but maned wolves are neither fox nor wolf. Today, researchers are monitoring maned wolves' heart rates to learn more about these unique, charismatic canids.

A 41-day-old Guam kingfisher chick at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. With fewer than 140 Guam kingfishers left in the world, all living in human care, every chick is precious.

Growing Up Guam Kingfisher

Breeding season is the most demanding time of year for the bird team at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, but it can also be the most rewarding. With fewer than 140 Guam kingfishers left in the world, every egg laid and chick hatched is a step closer to saving this species.

Tigers are the largest cat species in the world. Amur tigers (sometimes called Siberian tigers) are the biggest tigers, with males weighing up to 660 pounds and measuring up to 10 feet long from nose to tip of the tail.

What Does Tiger Poop Look Like? And More Tiger Facts

Do tigers purr? How far can they jump? And what does tiger poop look like? Sink your teeth into these fun facts about big cats.

Lemur leaf frogs, best known for their big, striking eyes, are critically endangered.

Meet the Lemur Leaf Frog

Meet the lemur leaf frog! These attractive amphibians — best known for their big, beautiful eyes — are critically endangered. The good news? Reptile Discovery Center keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are working to save them from extinction. Get the scoop on how they cracked the code on breeding this species from assistant curator Matt Evans.

A black-tailed prairie dog stands near its burrow.

Ecologists Dig Prairie Dogs, And You Should Too

Are prairie dogs pests or ecosystem engineers? It all depends on your point of view

researcher Tremie Gregory climbs high up a tree in Peruvian Amazon rainforest to set up a camera trap

How Scientists Are Uncovering the Secrets of Life in the Rainforest Canopy

Camera trap photos show arboreal animals living hundreds of feet above the ground

Animu and Giha’s male Guam kingfisher chick at 23 days old.

Winging It: A Parenting Test for Guam Kingfishers

In April, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute celebrated the birth of two extinct-in-the-wild Guam kingfisher chicks. Find out more about the new chicks in this update from animal keeper Erica Royer.

Bozie (left) and Shanthi (right) may be from different family groups, but they have built a lasting friendship.

How Do You Encourage Elephants to Build Positive Relationships?

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.

Clouded leopard cubs Jilian and Paitoon made their debut at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in September 2019.

School is in Session for Clouded Leopard Cubs

Get a sneak peek into one very important aspect of clouded leopard cubs' daily care at the Zoo: training.

One of the common species Bird House keepers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo are working to better understand is the wood thrush — the official bird of Washington, D.C.

Continuing the Legacy of Bird Conservation

Raising awareness about the plight of migratory birds is key to their survival. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is in the midst of completely transforming its beloved Bird House from its humble foundation (circa 1928) into a celebration of birds and their amazing annual journeys. Since the Bird House closed to visitors in 2018, animal keepers, nutritionists and scientists have been working behind the scenes to better understand the husbandry of native songbirds and shorebirds.

Head of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center Scott Sillett.

Birds Connect Our World

As the sounds of traffic and crowds have hushed, you may have noticed more birdsong than usual. Stay-at-home measures keeping most of us indoors are likely emboldening our feathered friends, and many more humans are stopping to listen.

Female Guam kingfisher Giha at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Guam kingfishers are extinct in the wild, but scientists are working to change that by breeding the species for release in the near future.

Some Egg-citing News and a Few Love Bites

There are only 135 Guam kingfishers in the world. The species is extinct in the wild, but scientists are working to change that by breeding the species for release in the near future.

A female Guam kingfisher at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in 2012.

Guam Kingfishers: A Truly Rare Breed

As an animal keeper at SCBI, some of my favorite birds to work with are small but sassy. Guam kingfishers certainly fall into this category. We have three pairs to introduce during this year's breeding season, so we have our work cut out for us.

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