National Zoo

The debut of new pandas in D.C. marks the latest chapter in China's 'panda diplomacy'

9:17am January 24, 2025

Friday's debut of new pandas at the National Zoo in D.C. is the latest chapter in a long tale of "panda diplomacy" between China and the rest of the world.

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Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji plays at his enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington in September.

More pandas will be coming to the U.S., China's president signals

8:55am November 16, 2023

by The Associated Press

After meeting with President Biden in California, President Xi Jinping signaled that he will send new pandas to the U.S., calling them "envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples."

Rusty was found in Adams Morgan, which borders the park lands around the zoo.

National

Rusty the red panda, who briefly ran free in D.C. in 2013, has unexpectedly died

6:11am October 21, 2022

by Halisia Hubbard

Rusty the red panda escaped his National Zoo enclosure and was briefly free in Washington, D.C., in 2013. He has died at age 10 of unknown causes.

Lions watch visitors from their enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in July 2020.

Health & Safety

9 Lions And Tigers At The National Zoo Are Being Treated For COVID

2:35pm September 17, 2021

by Sharon Pruitt-Young

Zookeepers noticed something was amiss when the animals began eating less and were seen coughing and sneezing. Visitors are not at risk because the public doesn't have access to the enclosures.

The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., says an ultrasound taken Friday showed what could be signs of a fetus in its panda Mei Xiang.

National

Panda Watch: Mei Xiang, National Zoo Panda, Could Soon Give Birth

4:26pm August 15, 2020

by Jason Slotkin

Veterinarians have found what appear to be fetal tissue during an ultrasound. The zoo says she could give birth in the next couple of days.

Pierre Comizzoli (right), reproductive physiologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, performs an artificial insemination on giant panda Mei Xiang March 29, 2019. Don Neiffer (left), chief veterinarian at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, p

National

What To Expect When Your Giant Panda Might Be Expecting

7:42pm March 30, 2019

by Cat Schuknecht

A team of scientists and veterinarians at the National Zoo artificially inseminated Mei Xiang on Thursday evening. Giant Pandas are only able to get pregnant for 24 to 72 hours each year.

As of Wednesday, you won't be able to ride this bald eagle at the carousel at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The zoo and Smithsonian museums closed to the public because of the partial government shutdown.

Unexpected Ways The Government Shutdown Might Affect You

9:32am January 02, 2019

by Cat Schuknecht

In the second week of the federal shutdown, consumers might notice fallout in unexpected places, from poop in national parks to closed museums.

If the current federal government shutdown, which began Dec. 22, continues past Jan. 1, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will close, effective Jan. 2.

Smithsonian And National Zoo To Close After New Year's Day In Government Shutdown

10:46pm December 27, 2018

by Vanessa Romo

"There's no getting around it," Linda St. Thomas, chief spokeswoman for the Smithsonian. About two-thirds of the institution's staff are federal employees and will be furloughed effective Jan. 2.

Smithsonian's National Zoo has released a video of panda Bei Bei rolling around and having a great time in the snow earlier this week.

National

VIDEO: We Hope Your Day Is As Great As This Snow-Loving Panda's

7:31pm November 16, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

The giant panda named Bei Bei at Smithsonian's National Zoo somersaults down a snow-covered hill. He climbs trees and dangles from branches. He luxuriates on a snow-dusted bed of bamboo.

Moke, a western lowland gorilla, was born on Sunday to great delight at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Welcome, 'Little One': Critically Endangered Gorilla Born At National Zoo

12:35pm April 17, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

He's named "Moke," which is a Lingala word meaning "little one." He's the first of his kind to be born at the National Zoo in nine years, perfect and wrinkly and clinging to his mother.