Keepers can learn a lot about an animal’s needs just by monitoring its weight. But how do you weigh a wiggly ferret or get a full-grown elephant onto a scale? Find out in this update from primate keeper Erin Stromberg.
The scale is built into the base of a protective elephant chute, which keepers have
Eastern screech-owls are commonly found in evergreen and deciduous forests near water. They are short, stocky owls with gray or reddish-brown feathers and yellow eyes.
They are short, stocky and have large heads with almost no neck.
Emperor tamarins are small monkeys native to the southwest Amazon Basin. They are easily identified by their long, white whiskers that look like a mustache.
They have dark fur on their faces and ears, and their bodies are primarily gray with
The shaggy-coated sloth bear is native to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Sloth bears primarily eat termites and ants, and unlike other bear species, they routinely carry their cubs on their backs.
Fact Sheet Conservation Meet the Animals Physical Description Sloth bears have
The Zoo cares for five female Asian elephants from a few different family groups. Luckily, there are a few things that keepers can do to encourage them to build positive relationships. Learn more in this update from keeper Kayleigh Sullivan.
Bozie (left) and Shanthi (right) may be from different family groups, but they have
Challenge How can scientists produce research on environmental topics impacting local communities that decision makers in those communities can trust? In August 2016, scientists from the Changing Landscapes Initiative collaborated with community leaders in Northwestern Virginia to answer that question. This case study shows how CLI researchers combined community knowledge with scientific data to create a set of future scenarios designed to help planners make important land use choices.
Narrative “Strong long-term planning and minimal climate impacts have led to the
Whether you know them as red pandas, red bear-cats, firefoxes, first pandas, lesser pandas or simply “the other pandas,” get to know these ferociously furry animals.
Scientists have long debated the red panda’s taxonomy.
For Asian elephant keepers, working among the giants of the animal kingdom entails training, enriching and caring for the Zoo’s multi-generational herd, as well as contributing to research and educating visitors about the conservation of this endangered species.
examine each elephant and look for any cuts, scrapes, injuries or illness that may have
An egg-citing new finding from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute could help bolster the success of assisted reproduction for some of the most endangered species—with implications for human reproduction, too.
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute researchers have taken a crucial step
Our male Asian elephant, Spike, looks a little different. The 42-year-old bull recently underwent a routine tusk trim! Get the story from curator Tony Barthel.
Image: If you’ve visited Elephant Trails in the last few weeks, you may have noticed
