Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2025

JAG said:
They'll probably also downplay any assertion that American environments and wildlife face human-caused threats. We don't have any endangered species. That problem doesn't exist in a golden age.
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All the new narrative coming out of DC makes "woke" look like a kid's cuddling toy. All getting very toxic and brainless around your capital and far beyond unfortunately.
 
It was only a matter of time, and I've been expecting this shoe to drop for the last several months. I'm hoping the zoo can escape the spotlight by the fact it deals in animals and nature rather than subjects of human society, but that isn't to say it won't probably suffer tremendously. Cost-cutting at the government level always hurts state and federally funded educational institutions since the benefits they provide are more abstract and difficult to measure.

JAG said:
They'll probably also downplay any assertion that American environments and wildlife face human-caused threats. We don't have any endangered species. That problem doesn't exist in a golden age.
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Spot on, I think this is exactly where we will see the influence creep on or crop up. I expect references to climate change will be the top priority for elimination.

Kifaru Bwana said:
All the new narrative coming out of DC makes "woke" look like a kid's cuddling toy.
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Very, very well-said.
 
Kevin2342 said:
Murphy, the zoo’s big impressive male Komodo dragon, passed away recently at the age of 26. The zoo has not announced anything yet but my friend who’s a regular visitor of the zoo told me.
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How long do they normally live
either in captivity or in the wild
 
JVM said:
It was only a matter of time, and I've been expecting this shoe to drop for the last several months. I'm hoping the zoo can escape the spotlight by the fact it deals in animals and nature rather than subjects of human society, but that isn't to say it won't probably suffer tremendously. Cost-cutting at the government level always hurts state and federally funded educational institutions since the benefits they provide are more abstract and difficult to measure.


Spot on, I think this is exactly where we will see the influence creep on or crop up. I expect references to climate change will be the top priority for elimination.


Very, very well-said.
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What this inevitably leading to is an admission charge to the zoo and, ultimately, all Smithsonian institutions .
That is their ultimate goal.
After all, they will rationalize , they charge admission to Kennedy Center events. Don’t they?
 
For folks worried about the zoo, the canary in the coal mine will probably be Front Royal. Some of the younger members of the forum won't have remembered, but that facility - the conservation powerhouse of the zoo, in many ways - was slated to be closed during the George W. Bush presidency by order of Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small. Thankfully, it escaped the chopping block and has powered on to this day (and I've noticed that whereas it used to be kept as almost a secret facility before, the zoo is much more vocal about promoting it these days, perhaps to help protect it with a higher profile). Before anything happens to the zoo, Front Royal - which the admin should shutter or defund without generating anywhere near as much backlash or controversy - would be in the crosshairs first.
 
Piece of November 2024 News / Other Early 2025 News Not Mentioned:
On November 23rd, it was announced that the zoo transferred 2 domestic ferrets to ZooAmerica in Pennsylvania.

ZooAmerica

On January 29th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (1.0) red wolf to Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

On February 28th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (1.0) common raven named Chogan to Lehigh Valley Zoo in Pennsylvania.

Lehigh Valley Zoo

On March 20th, it was announced that the zoo, alongside the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute & the Amphibian Survival Alliance, received a $2 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to launch the Tropical Amphibian Resilience Initiative, a new 5-year project spanning 4 Central & South American countries to rewild captive native amphibians, to boost populations of 25 most threatened species, and launch a new biobank to safeguard the genetics of 25 species (and potentially more).

Frog defenders

On April 18th, it was announced that the institute transferred (0.2) red-crowned cranes to Minnesota Zoo in Minnesota.

Minnesota Zoo

On April 21st, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (1.0) southern lesser galago named Mopani to Staten Island Zoo in New York in March.

86 reactions · 8 comments | We’re excited to welcome Mopani, a male bushbaby, to our zoo family! Mopani joins us from the National Zoo and has been settling in wonderfully since his arrival last month. Though small in stature, Mopani is full of personality. You might not spot this little primate at first glance — but take a moment, look closely, and you just might catch him cuddling with our female Hilda, exploring enrichment, or even accepting bugs from his keepers. Once you see him, we promise you’ll fall in love, too. Come say hello to Mopani in our Africa wing and see how this sweet little duo is settling into their cozy, enriched habitat! | Staten Island Zoo

On May 6th, the zoo announced their (1.0) Virginia opossum named Basil passed away at age 2 1/2 on May 1st due to declining health caused by heart/gallbladder diseases.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
 
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute To Welcome Critically Endangered Arabian Leopards In a Major Conservation Cooperative Agreement With Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) have announced an agreement involving the international conservation and loan of critically endangered Arabian leopards from Saudi Arabia. This collaboration unites NZCBI’s world-renowned conservation science expertise with RCU’s highly successful breeding program to help establish a backup population, advance ex situ and in situ conservation and research, and raise global awareness for one of the planet’s most threatened big cats.

The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) is classified as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Fewer than 120 animals are estimated to survive in small, isolated groups in Oman and Yemen. The species is considered possibly extinct in the wild in Saudi Arabia. This collaborative agreement represents a proactive, international effort to secure a future for this iconic animal, a symbol of pride and natural heritage for Saudi Arabia.

RCU manages the cutting-edge Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Center in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Since RCU assumed management in 2020, the leopard population there has more than doubled due to dedicated care and breeding successes, including seven cubs born in 2023 and five in 2024—featuring a rare set of triplets. In early 2025, the center achieved accreditation from the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, the first wildlife institution in Saudi Arabia to meet these high international standards.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, NZCBI has a long track record of success managing rare and endangered species, with specialized expertise in felid conservation and breeding programs for cheetahs, clouded leopards and tigers. A global leader in conservation science and animal care, NZCBI has partnered on complex recovery initiatives for species such as the black-footed ferret, golden lion tamarin, scimitar-horned oryx and giant panda. This experience directly informs NZCBI’s role in the Arabian leopard initiative, contributing advanced conservation science, animal care expertise and public engagement strategies to help ensure the survival of this critically endangered big cat.

This collaboration focuses on building shared knowledge and scientific understanding of the Arabian leopard through joint research, capacity building and professional exchanges. NZCBI and RCU are launching a joint conservation and research plan and are exploring an Arabian leopard exhibit in Washington, D.C. to help raise awareness of the urgent need to protect this magnificent cat and the desert ecosystems it inhabits.

“We are honored to collaborate with the Royal Commission for AlUla to protect the critically endangered Arabian leopard,” said Brandie Smith, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of NZCBI. “Saving the world’s most vulnerable species takes global cooperation, scientific rigor and innovation—and that’s what we do best. For decades, we’ve delivered data-driven solutions and applied our deep expertise to protect species on the brink. Together, we’ll lead collaborative research, create the only Arabian leopard exhibit in the United States and inspire millions to help secure a future for this magnificent animal and the ecosystem it depends on.”

“This partnership with the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute highlights RCU’s growing leadership in global conservation and is a major step in our mission to protect the Arabian leopard,” said Abeer AlAkel, CEO at RCU. “Sharing these precious animals allows us to establish a vital backup population and bring the story of this magnificent species—a true symbol of Saudi Arabia’s natural heritage—to a wider international audience. It reflects our deep commitment, under Saudi Vision 2030, to restore ecological balance and ensure these animals thrive for generations, with the ultimate goal of returning them to their native habitat in AlUla.”

This initiative is part of RCU’s broader strategy for the comprehensive regeneration of AlUla, a region in northwest Saudi Arabia. This includes extensive habitat restoration, reintroducing native prey species and engaging local communities—all aimed at creating a sustainable ecosystem where Arabian leopards can eventually roam freely once again.
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Austin the Sengi said:
If all goes well with this program, we could very well see some form of an SSP for this particular subspecies in the near future!

Additionally, from the same article; it was mentioned that the NZCBI and RCU are exploring plans to build a new exhibit dedicated to the Arabian Leopard in D.C!
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Let's not get ahead of ourselves on an SSP given the high threshold for the number of facilities participating, but certainly exciting there'll be a new exhibit in DC.
 
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Given the timing, I assume the leopard announcement must have come out of Trump's diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia. If so, I'll concede it's good to see him do something positive for the National Zoo and conservation of a species that needs it.

Either way, the only Arabian leopards in the US, and presumably a state-of-the-art new exhibit to house them! This is some of the better news I've heard all year.
 
JAG said:
Given the timing, I assume the leopard announcement must have come out of Trump's diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia. If so, I'll concede it's good to see him do something positive for the National Zoo and conservation of a species that needs it.

Either way, the only Arabian leopards in the US, and presumably a state-of-the-art new exhibit to house them! This is some of the better news I've heard all year.
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The announcement was likely timed to coincide with his trip, yes. But the press release makes it seem like these have been ongoing conversations, and knowing how slow the Smithsonian operates that would make sense to me. He's naturally incurious about anything that isn't encased in gold, so I doubt he's ever uttered the words 'arabian leopard' in his life...but maybe I'm wrong.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
The announcement was likely timed to coincide with his trip, yes. But the press release makes it seem like these have been ongoing conversations, and knowing how slow the Smithsonian operates that would make sense to me. He's naturally incurious about anything that isn't encased in gold, so I doubt he's ever uttered the words 'arabian leopard' in his life...but maybe I'm wrong.
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From the January 27th, 2025 Smithsonian Board of Regents meeting minutes:

The Secretary then informed the Board that the Smithsonian is engaging in
discussions with representatives from AlUla, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World
Heritage Site, and an organization called Catmosphere, about developing a conservation program for Arabian leopards at the National Zoo and Conservation
Biology Institute (“NZCBI”). Arabian leopards are a critically endangered species,
and Secretary Bunch noted that species conservation is an area in which NZCBI
excels and has already demonstrated leadership. The Secretary will keep the
Board updated as details develop around the collaborative scientific research
program.
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Considering this is from a meeting that took place just a week after he took office, safe to say these discussions were happening long beforehand.
 
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