Current News

• Clouded Leopard Baby Boom
  Three clouded leopards were born last month at Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo thanks to the efforts of the Thailand Clouded Leopard Consortium—an international collaboration between Asian and U.S. scientists, including several scientists at the National Zoo.
• FONZ to Host "Elephant Romp," 21st Annual ZooFari Fundraising Gala
  ZooFari 2004 will bring together more than 100 of the Washington area’s finest restaurants and more than 20 vintners from around the country for an evening of gourmet food, fine wines, and fabulous entertainment—all for a good cause. Proceeds benefit the Zoo's 10-year revitalization program.
• FONZ Hosts Guppy Gala, Annual Family-Friendly Fundraiser to Benefit the National Zoo
  FONZ will once again host its annual family-friendly fundraising extravaganza, Guppy Gala, today, Friday, May 14, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit FONZ's public education programs.
• Zoo Scientists Collaborate with Brazilian Colleagues to Conserve Golden-Headed Lion Tamarins
  Brazil’s chocolate-producing cabruca forests provide protection for endangered golden-headed lion tamarins. As these forests become more fragmented, the population of this already endangered primate continues to decline.
• National Zoo Reopened Great Ape House and Outdoor Gorilla Yard on May 8
  Zoo officials determined that the medical risks of TB transmission to Zoo visitors—who do not come in close contact with the animals—are extremely low, and pose no reason to keep the facility closed.
• FONZ to host Annual Fundraising Galas
  This May, FONZ will once again host its annual fundraising galas, Guppy Gala and National ZooFari, to benefit the National Zoo.
• Zoo Euthanizes Elderly Macaque
  On Monday, April 26, animal care and veterinary staff at the National Zoo euthanized an elderly Sulawesi macaque. The macaque had a condition known as spondylosis -- an often painful condition of the backbones that affects the spinal cord -- for which it had been receiving long-term medication.
• Zoo's Female Giant Panda Artificially Inseminated
  After two days of attempts, giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian did not successfully mate this season. Late on the afternoon of May 2, Zoo researchers and animal-care staff vaginally inseminated female Mei Xiang, using a sample of Tian Tian’s semen that had been previously collected and frozen.
• Tiger Cubs Born at the National Zoo
  On May 2, the Zoo's female Sumatran tiger, Soyono, gave birth to a litter of three cubs. This is Soyono's second litter. She gave birth to her first, a single male named Berani, in September 2001.
• Zoo Breaks New Ground for Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat and Asia Trail
  The Zoo, FONZ, and Fujifilm broke new ground today, April 28, on the future site of the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat, the first step in a 10-year renovation of the Zoo.
• National Zoo Closes Great Ape House and Outdoor Gorilla Yard
  The Great Ape House and outdoor gorilla yard were closed to the public late Saturday afternoon, April 24, and may remain closed for several weeks as a precautionary measure, due to an inconclusive tuberculosis (TB) test result in a four-year-old male Zoo gorilla. Questions and Answers About TB
• Current News Archive
  2004 l 2003 l 2002

Upcoming Events

• Flamingo Fever
  Thursday, June 10
• Moo at the Zoo - Celebrating the Kids' Farm Opening
  Saturday, June 12
• Sunset Serenades
  Thursdays, July 1 - August 5

Media Contact Information

National Zoo
For stories and information regarding the National Zoo and its conservation and science programs, as well as animals featured at the Zoo, please call the National Zoo Office of Public Affairs at 202-673-0209. To receive press information about the Zoo’s regular lectures, please send your name and e-mail address to rsvp@nzp.si.edu.

FONZ
For stories and information regarding special events and Friends of the National Zoo education, membership, and volunteer programs, please call the FONZ Office of Communications at 202-673-4925.

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