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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

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The Love Lives of Ducks Make for Great Drama

Breeding season at the National Zoo's Bird House can create some spectacular behavior

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Aspen and Juniper: A Beaver Love Story

When it comes to love, leave it to the beavers! Get the story of Aspen and Juniper’s rocky romance in this Q&A with keeper Jackie Spicer.

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Get to Know the Zoo's Meerkat Pups

From sweet snuggles to sassy vocalization and snatching snacks, it’s been a busy June for the Smithsonian National Zoo's growing meerkat pups!

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Oh, Baby! Meet Some of the Zoo's Newest Arrivals

Prepare for cuteness overload.

Two female Asian Elephants

Two Asian Elephants Arrive at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

The females, 19-year-0ld Trong Nhi and daughter, 9-year-old Nhi Linh, join males Spike, 41, Kamala, 47, Swarna, 47 and Maharani, 32, at the "Elephant Trails" exhibit in Washington, D.C.

Three female African lions rest in the sun and shade in a grassy area along a wood-panel fence

How Zookeepers Care for Aging Lions

Training allows lions to participate in their own health care

Asian elephant standing in a sandy patch at an outdoor zoo exhibit

Watch: How Do You Help An Elephant With a Toothache?

Experts come together to provide dental care for an Asian elephant

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji in a tree with his tongue sticking out

A Decade of Adorable Giant Panda Cam Moments

From newborn cubs to belly slides in the snow

Snake-necked turtle hatchling crawling over leaf

These Teeny, Tiny Turtle Hatchlings Fit in the Palm of Your Hand

The Zoo welcomed four snake-necked turtle hatchlings in October 2021

Close-up of giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji in a tree with his tongue sticking out

Watch Giant Panda Xiao Qi Ji’s Best Moments of 2021

How do you measure a year of giant panda cub cuteness?

Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji upside-down in a hammock

Watch: 10 Animal Videos That Topped Our List in 2021

Look back on a year of animal antics and conservation stories

Ring-tailed lemur standing on wooden platform with a flower

Stink Fights and Two Tongues? 5 Surprising Facts About Lemurs

Get the lowdown on lemurs from a primate keeper

In the eastern part of North America, purple martins rarely use natural nest cavities. Instead, they rely on artificial “condominiums” and groups of plastic gourds hung by bird enthusiasts.

Purple Martin ‘Landlords’ Manage a Different Kind of Tenant

Every year, bird enthusiasts hang groups of plastic gourds for purple martins to nest in

As we prepare to celebrate giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s first birthday Aug. 21, take a look back at his top 12 milestones that left panda fans around the world in awe and

Watch Our Favorite Videos from Giant Panda Cub Xiao Qi Ji's First Year

Celebrate Xiao Qi Ji's Birthday With a Look Back at His First Year

Bald eagles are native to the United States, but caring for them is a unique and rare opportunity. Every bald eagle in human care, including Annie pictured here, is a rescue.

Meet Rescued Bald Eagles Tioga and Annie

Every bald eagle in human care is a rescue

Western lowland gorilla Moke eating a snack

The Science Behind Animal Snacks

Meals to please the palates of giant pandas, flamingos and fishing cats

The cassowary's helmet-like casque is made of keratin, the same material that makes up our hair and fingernails.

Meet Cassowary Brothers Irwin and Dundee, Descendants of Dinosaurs

Cassowaries are considered to be the dinosaurs’ closest living relative

This 17-year Brood X cicada nymph is one step away from adulthood. After emerging from the dirt, cicadas typically crawl up the base of a tree to complete their final molt, expand their wings and fly away.

Cicada Snacks: The Wild (and Tasty) Side of Brood X at the Zoo

What will animals think of the impending bug buffet?

This leaf-tailed gecko hatchling receives his medication from a syringe, which he laps up with his impressive tongue.

How Do You Give Medicine to Zoo Animals?

Learn how zookeepers give medicine to animals, from salamanders to siamangs and everything in between.

Western lowland gorilla Baraka forages in the outdoor gorilla habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. The silverback takes mealtime seriously, say his keepers.

How Do You Help a Gorilla With a Toothache?

Western lowland gorilla Baraka is serious about food. When keepers noticed he wasn't eating, they wondered if his change in appetite masked something more serious.

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