National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Blog

National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Smithsonian Voices

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?

Mike Bock | June 10, 2026

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.

Maya Rayle | May 29, 2026

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

Get the stories behind the new arrivals.

Mike Bock | May 28, 2026

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.

Mike Bock | May 22, 2026

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.

Mike Bock | May 8, 2026

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.

Mike Bock | April 27, 2026

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

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

Mike Bock | April 9, 2026

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

These facts will make you a beaver believer.

Mike Bock | April 3, 2026

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!

Laurie Thompson and Mariel Lally | April 1, 2026

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.

Mike Bock | March 4, 2026

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.

Brian Gratwicke | February 10, 2026