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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

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

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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Inside a Komodo Dragon Vet Exam at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Learn how Zoo veterinarians deliver expert care for an apex island predator.

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Hope Returns to Panama’s Forests With the Rediscovery of Four Missing Frog Species

Smithsonian researcher Brian Gratwicke and colleagues describe how acoustic technology aided the remarkable rediscovery of four amphibian populations thought to have vanished from Panama’s mountain forests.

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How Human Health Technology Is Improving Orangutan Welfare at the National Zoo

Redd’s daily treatment reveals how orangutans with chronic respiratory diseases are adapting to use certain medical tools designed for humans.

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8 Fascinating Facts About the Cuban Crocodile, a Rare Caribbean Predator

They’re agile on land. Intelligent in behavior. And…they can gallop like a horse? Learn what makes Cuban crocodiles so extraordinary.

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Checking In on the Foals: New Arrivals at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Behind the scenes, Smithsonian care teams welcomed four animal babies from three imperiled species: Hartmann’s mountain zebra, Przewalski’s horse, and Persian onager.

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Read Some of the Most Exciting Stories From the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in 2024

Celebrate and look back at some of the groundbreaking achievements made by Smithsonian scientists this year.

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How to Perform a Black-Footed Ferret Health Exam

The ferret kits at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's breeding facility in Front Royal, Va., just passed their 90-day health check with flying colors.

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A Celebration of Life: 50 Years Under the Endangered Species Act

Smithsonian scientists discuss the impact of the first federal law designed to save endangered and imperiled animals from extinction.

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Rain, Rivers and Radiotrackers: Releasing Captive-Bred Harlequin Frogs Into the Wild

A team of scientists ventured deep into the rain-soaked Panamanian forest on a mission to restore wild populations of a critically-endangered amphibian.

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A New Leap in the Fight to Save Frogs

Scientists identify best practices for reintroduction of endangered and extinct amphibians in a new publication.

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After An Insect Detox, Can Once-Poisonous Frogs Get Their Spice Back?

Poison frogs living in human care aren’t poisonous, thanks to a “detox” diet of mild insects, like crickets and fruit flies. Can adding alkaloids to a frog’s diet help it regain its toxins and get its “spice” back?

A small wood turtle stands in a pile of fallen leaves in a forest

Meet the Researchers Working to Save Wood Turtles

To ensure a future for these endangered turtles, scientists need to know how many are left

A male Guam kingfisher bird wearing a transmitter on its back is held gently in an animal keeper's gloved hand

Scientists Are Using 3-D-Printing Technology to Ready Guam Kingfishers for Reintroduction to the Wild

'Test flights' using replica transmitters will help scientists select the best option for siheks

Guam rail bird with stocky body, striped chest feathers and stripes on its head walks through grass

Conserving the Last of Guam’s Avifauna: The Recovery of the Guam Rail

Walking through the forests of Guam is arresting — because it’s silent. But the sound of the forest is returning.

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