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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

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Why Firefighters Burned Down an Old Building on the National Zoo’s Science Campus

When faced with the challenge of an aging facility, staff at the Zoo's science campus found a creative solution to its closure.

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Linh Mai Inspires a New Era for the Zoo’s Elephant Cam

With the return of the Zoo’s Elephant Cam, a group of trained volunteers are helping chronicle the daily lives of Asian elephants.

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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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9 Fascinating Facts About North America’s Master Builder, the Beaver

These facts will make you a beaver believer.

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Flirting Like a Panda: Spring Sparks for Bao Li and Qing Bao at the National Zoo

A sure sign of spring is when giant pandas show interest in one another. Watch how Bao Li and Qing Bao "flirt" in this update!

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To Help Save Wildlife, Ecologists Learn A.I. Skills at the National Zoo’s Science Campus

In a unique class hosted at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, early-career ecologists learned to apply emerging technologies to power conservation breakthroughs.

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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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See How the Animals Enjoyed a Snowy Week at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

While the Zoo was closed, staff members captured some rare scenes of the animals experiencing the falling snow.

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The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Welcomes Two Sloth Bear Cubs

The tiny cubs, currently off-exhibit, are expected to debut in Spring 2026.

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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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Small Stories, Big Science: 2025 in Review at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute

A collection of short highlights from our year in conservation science work.

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The Animal Care Stories That Shaped 2025 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

We’ve gift-wrapped a few short highlights that capture the spirit of the year in animal care.

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7 Spooktacular Animal Facts for Halloween

Read on for some chilling curiosities from the creatures of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

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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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Do Shade-Grown Coffee Farms Have a Higher Value Than Carbon Markets Recognize?

Coffee farms with mature shade trees store far more carbon than planting new trees can capture, a new study reveals.

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Scientists Use Climate Data to Map and Predict Outbreaks of Amphibian Chytrid Disease

Researchers may have a new tool in the fight to protect neotropical frogs from extinction, thanks to climate data.

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Bao Li, Qing Bao and the Secrets of Summer Panda Life at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

How are the giant pandas spending their first summer in Washington, D.C.? And what’s changed since they arrived nine months ago? Keeper Mariel Lally explains.

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New DNA Monitoring Tool Enables Scientists to Identify Specific Animals by Their Feces

Scientists from the Smithsonian have successfully used swift fox droppings to identify individual animals and collect other data vital to monitoring a reintroduced population in Montana.

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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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The Hidden Architecture Behind a Wildlife-Friendly Garden at the Zoo

Zoo teams transformed the yards outside the Bird House into a thriving, wildflower-filled garden that attracts birds and other wildlife. Find out how they did it.

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