News Archive 2006
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
- National Zoo's Three New African Lions to Make Public Debut
The three new African lions at the National Zoo, two females and one male, will go on limited public exhibit beginning Saturday, Dec. 23.
- The National Zoo Goes Non-Smoking
Beginning Dec. 1, 2006, smoking will be prohibited in the public areas at the National Zoo and the Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va. - Giraffe Leaves the National Zoo for Florida
Randle, the Zoo’s only giraffe, has left for his new home at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida. - FONZ Recruiting Interpreters for Zoo's Asia Trail, "How Do You Zoo?", and Reptile Discovery Center
Interpretive volunteers play a critical role at the Zoo by explaining the natural history and status of the animals, raising awareness about efforts to conserve endangered species, and sharing animal artifacts. - National Zoo Welcomes Three New Lions
The National Zoo welcomed three new lions from South Africa (one male and two females) on Oct. 30.
- National Zoo Celebrates the Grand Opening
of
the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat and Asia Trail
The new exhibit area, which covers nearly six acres and features seven Asian species, opened Oct. 17.
- National Zoo Mourns the Deaths of Conservationists in Nepal
Statement from National Zoo Director John Berry - National Zoo and FONZ to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Fiesta Musical
On Sept. 17, the Zoo and Friends of the National Zoo will commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month when they host Fiesta Musical, an annual festival celebrating the richness and diversity of Latin American culture and wildlife. - National Zoo's Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat and Asia Trail Set to Open Oct. 17
The public opening for the Zoo's Panda Habitat and Asia Trail has been changed. - National Zoo's Three Tiger Cubs Meet the Public
The Zoo's three Sumatran tiger cubs, two females and one male, made their public debut on Sept. 2.
- FONZ Recruiting Interpreters for Zoo's Elephant House and Small Mammal House
Interpreters play a critical role at the Zoo by engaging the Zoo visitors, explaining the natural history and status of the animals, raising awareness about efforts to conserve endangered species, and sharing animal artifacts.
- National Zoo Asks Public to Help Name Three New Sumatran Tiger Cubs
The Zoo and FONZ invite members of the public to choose the names of three Sumatran tiger cubs born on May 24. - National Zoo Celebrates 10 Millionth Visitor to the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat
The Zoo and FONZ celebrated the 10 millionth visitor to the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat at just after 10 a.m. on July 20. - Peril and Promise for Wild Tigers
Three Zoo scientists are among the authors of the most comprehensive scientific study of tiger habitats ever completed. The results showed that the big cats reside in 40 percent less habitat than they were thought to a decade ago, and only seven percent of their historic range in Asia. - FONZ Recruiting Volunteers for Asia Trail and Amazonia
FONZ is currently recruiting volunteers to serve as interpreters at two Zoo exhibit areas: Amazonia and Asia Trail, which is scheduled to open on Sept. 20. - National Zoo Celebrates Tai Shan's First Birthday at the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat
The Zoo and FONZ celebrated the first birthday for Tai Shan, the Zoo's giant panda cub, on Sunday, July 9. - National Zoo Gorilla Dies
A 34-year-old male western lowland gorilla collapsed and died at the Great Ape House on July 3. - National Zoo Gorilla Dies During Cardiac Surgery
A 23-year-old male western lowland gorilla, died July 1 while undergoing surgery to receive a biventricular pacing/implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
- FONZ Incoming Executive Director Selected as Finalist for Service to America Medal
Robert J. Lamb, recently named as incoming Executive Director of Friends of the National Zoo, the non-profit support organization of the National Zoo, has been selected as a finalist for the 2006 Service to America Medals. - National Zoo Launches Campaign to Save Asian Elephants
The National Zoo today (June 20) launched Elephant Trails, a new campaign to save Asian elephants that includes a new home for elephants at the Zoo's Washington, D.C. campus and a new elephant research facility at the Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va. - National Zoo to Open to the Public at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 17
On Saturday, June 17, the National Zoo will be closed to the public until 11 a.m. as FONZ hosts a special member-appreciation event called Cockadoodle Zoo. - National Zoo’s Tiger Cubs Get Their First Medical Exam
Veterinarians and animal-care staff at the National Zoo got their first look at the newest litter of Sumatran tigers—two females and one male. - FONZ Names Robert J. Lamb Executive Director
The FONZ Board of Directors today (June 5) announced the appointment of Robert J. Lamb to the position of executive director of FONZ, the Zoo's non-profit support organization.
- Tiger Cubs Born at National Zoo
A Sumatran tiger at the National Zoo gave birth to a litter of three cubs on May 24. - National Zoo's Sloth Bear Cub
Goes on Exhibit
The newest bear cub at the National Zoo will greet visitors for the first time on May 23. The 4 1/2-month-old male sloth bear is now old enough to begin exploring his outdoor exhibit under the watchful eye of his mother. - National Zoo Euthanizes Elderly Cheetah
A 12-year-old female cheetah with chronic kidney failure was euthanized May 21, at the National Zoo, after a rapid decline in the animal’s condition. - FONZ Hosts ZooFari 2006, "Black & White Night"
The most celebrated of the many special events held each year at the Zoo will take place this Thursday, May 18, from 6:30 to 10 p.m., as FONZ hosts ZooFari 2006, Black & White Night, the 23rd annual fundraising gala benefiting the National Zoo. - First Cheetah Cubs Born at the National Zoo Heading West
The two male cheetahs from the National Zoo's first litter will be leaving the Zoo soon for the Milwaukee County Zoo as part of the Cheetah Species Survival Plan. - FONZ Hosts Guppy Gala, Annual Family-Friendly Fundraiser
More than 4,000 people are expected to join the fun at Guppy Gala, FONZ's annual family-friendly fundraiser to benefit Zoo public education programs. - FONZ Announces Winner of "Cards for Creatures" Mother's Day Contest
Amber Rock, 9, of Long Beach, Calif., won a trip for her and her family to Washington, D.C., for a visit with a giant panda keeper at the Zoo's Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat and a special private tour of the Zoo on Mother's Day. - National Zoo's Small Mammal House Exhibits New Animals
A group of meerkats and two litters of Prevost's squirrels are now delighting visitors with their frisky antics at the National Zoo's Small Mammal House. - National Zoo Welcomes Two Young Sea Lions
Two female California sea lion pups are the latest arrivals in the Beaver Valley section of the National Zoo. The 10-month-old pups were rescued in June 2005 on separate beaches in California.
- It's Another Male Bear Cub at the National Zoo
Staff at the National Zoo got their first look at the sloth bear cub during a quick veterinary check. - National Zoo and FONZ Host African-American Family Celebration on Easter Monday
A century-old tradition continues as Washington's African-American community gathers at the National Zoo to celebrate Easter with a variety of family-friendly activities hosted by the Zoo and FONZ.
- Avian Influenza Information
Information from the National Zoo and the American Zoo and Aquarium Association - National Zoo and FONZ Celebrate Panda Month and New Zoo Mothers with Launch of Cards for Creatures Mother's Day Contest
Children looking for a fun and creative way to celebrate their mother this Mother's Day can enter to win Cards for Creatures, a Mother's Day contest being hosted by the Zoo, FONZ, Fujifilm, and Animal Planet. - FONZ Recruiting New Zoo Volunteers
FONZ is currently recruiting for two volunteer programs at the National Zoo: golden lion tamarin monitors and Bird House interpreters. - African Lion Euthanized at National Zoo
Tsavo, a 17-year-old African lion, was euthanized March 17 at the National Zoo, following a dramatic decline in his physical condition and quality of life. - National Zoo Artificially Inseminates Asian Elephant
Continuing two decades of elephant conservation and research, National Zoo elephant experts and a team of German veterinary scientists have completed the first of what may be two artificial insemination procedures on Shanthi, one of the Zoo’s Asian elephants.
- National Zoo Opens New Banded Mongoose
Exhibit
The National Zoo recently welcomed three banded mongooses to its Small Mammal House in a new exhibit. The Zoo is one of only two zoos in North America that has these social African animals. - Rare Kiwi Hatches at the National Zoo
A North Island brown kiwi has hatched at the Zoo—only the second of these endangered kiwis to hatch during the Zoo’s 116-year history. - FONZ Launches Cell-Phone Recycling Program
FONZ has launched a cell-phone recycling program at the Zoo that will reduce pollution and help protect wild gorillas from poaching and habitat destruction. - Prehensile-tailed Porcupine Born at the National Zoo
The Zoo's adult female prehensile-tailed porcupine gave birth early Wednesday morning, Feb. 8, to a single baby in its exhibit at the Zoo’s Small Mammal House.
- Asian Elephant Euthanized
Toni, a 40-year-old Asian elephant, was euthanized Wednesday morning at the Zoo, following a dramatic decline in her physical condition and quality of life. - National Zoo Euthanizes Elderly Cheetah
A 13-year-old female cheetah with chronic kidney failure was euthanized January 23, after a rapid decline in the animal’s condition. - National Zoo’s Sloth Bear Gives Birth to a Cub
The Zoo's female sloth bear gave birth to a single cub on January 9 in an inside den at the sloth bear exhibit. - Friends of the National Zoo Recruiting Volunteers for Three Zoo Exhibits
FONZ is currently recruiting volunteers to serve as interpreters at the Zoo's Beaver Valley, Invertebrate Exhibit, and Kids' Farm.
