National Zoo

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Giant pandas eat bamboo at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, May 4, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) **FILE**

Panda express: China sends new breeding pair to National Zoo

By Sean Salai - The Washington Times

Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji eats bamboo in his enclosure at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

National Zoo waves goodbye to giant pandas as China, U.S. relations remain tense

By Matt Delaney - The Washington Times

Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji roams in his enclosure at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Panda diplomacy: The departure of D.C.’s beloved pandas may signal a wider Chinese pullback

By Ashraf Khalil and Didi Tang - Associated Press

The Smithsonian's National Zoo has increased security after teens set off fireworks that frightened patrons and a nearby shooting left two teens hospitalized at the start of the annual ZooLights festival this weekend. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

National Zoo evacuated after bomb threat

By Vaughn Cockayne - The Washington Times

In this Sept. 2019, photo provided by the White Oak Conservation, Cora, an Asian elephant, born Dec. 3, 1965, stands at the Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk City, Fla. (Stephanie Rutan/White Oak Conservation via AP) **FILE**

National Zoo gets two Asian elephants from Dutch zoo

By Brad Matthews - The Washington Times

This handout photo released by the Smithsonian's National Zoo shows a new 6-week old, still-unnamed, baby boy panda, born Aug. 21, 2020 at the zoo. (Roshan Patel/Smithsonian’s National Zoo via AP)

National Zoo asking public to help name panda cub

By Shen Wu Tan - The Washington Times

(Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo)

Panda cub born at National Zoo is a male

By Shen Wu Tan - The Washington Times

Mei Xiang cradles her newborn cub at the Smithsonian National Zoo on Aug. 25, 2020. Zookeepers expect to be able to perform a health check soon. (Smithsonian Institution)

Panda cub turns 1 month old and has first veterinary exam

By Shen Wu Tan - The Washington Times

In this Jan. 16, 2016 file photo, giant panda cub Bei Bei roams in his pen as he goes on public exhibit for the first time at the National Zoo, in Washington. The Smithsonian National Zoo said Bei Bei is recovering following surgery to remove a “lemon-sized mass of bamboo” from his small intestine. The Smithsonian said in a statement that the “life-saving” surgery was performed Friday, Nov. 25. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) **FILE**

Smithsonian’s National Zoo preparing to say bye bye to Bei Bei

By Sophie Kaplan - The Washington Times

Panda cub Bao Bao hangs from a tree in her habitat at the National Zoo in Washington in Washington, in this Aug. 23, 2014, file photo. The National Zoo says 3-year-old panda Bao Bao is heading to China this month. The zoo tweeted Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, that Bao Bao will fly to China on Feb. 21. The zoo recently announced a celebration of Bao Bao starting Feb. 16 in anticipation of her departure. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Bao Bao, U.S.-born panda cub, bound for China

By Jessica Gresko - Associated Press

Bao Bao will leave the Smithsonian's National Zoo, where she has been charming visitors since her birth on Aug. 23, 2013. As one of fewer than 2,000 giant pandas in the world, she will enter a breeding program in China. (Associated Press)

Bao Bao panda to leave National Zoo

By Julia Porterfield - The Washington Times

Illustration on the National Zoo pandas by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

INGRID NEWKIRK: Falling zoo attendance behind panda hype

By Ingrid Newkirk

Screen grab from Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's Facebook page.

Mei Xiang’s surviving panda cub is a male, fathered by Tian Tian

By Maria Stainer - The Washington Times

In this handout photo provided by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo shows keeper Stacey Tabellario bottle feeding the smaller of the two giant panda cubs at the zoo in Washington. The zoo said the smaller Giant Panda cub died Wednesday after three and a half days. (Shellie Pick/Smithsonian’s National Zoo via AP)

National Zoo says smaller of twin panda cubs has died

By Brett Zongker - Associated Press

In this Dec. 19, 2011, file photo, Mei Xiang, the female giant panda at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, eats breakfast. Zoo officials think the mother of 2-year-old giant panda Bao Bao is pregnant again. Veterinarians performing an ultrasound Wednesday detected what they think is a developing fetus. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

National Zoo says panda Mei Xiang has given birth to twin cubs

By Jessica Gresko - Associated Press

Bao Bao follows her mother, Mei Mei, back into their indoor enclosure for feeding time. On Saturday, zoo visitors can watch as the 1-year-old cub gets her birthday cake.

National Zoo birthday party for Bao Bao, its year-old panda cub

By Meredith Somers - The Washington Times

This handout photo provided by the Smithsonian's National Zoo, taken Jan. 6, 2014, shows keepers bottle-feeding the saved sloth bear cub at the zoo in Washington. Animal keepers at the National Zoo have saved a sloth bear cub after two others were eaten by the mother. The three cubs were born in December to a mother named Khali. One was eaten within 20 minutes, and a second cub was eaten after seven days. The zoo says it's not uncommon for carnivores to eat their young if they're compromised somehow. (AP Photo/Mindy Babitz, Smithsonian's National Zoo)

National Zoo saves sloth bear cub after 2 eaten

Associated Press

Bao Bao takes time to explore her indoor habitat with her mother, but zoo visitors likely will find the little ball of fur sleeping.

Bao Bao’s debut: First peek at National Zoo’s new panda

By Meredith Somers - The Washington Times

The female giant panda cub at the Smithsonian's National Zoo is measured on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Smithsonian's National Zoo, Abby Wood)

National Zoo’s female giant panda cub finally gets a name: Bao Bao

By Meredith Somers - The Washington Times

A three-month-old Sumatran tiger cub named "Bandar" shows his displeasure after being dunked in the tiger exhibit moat for a swim reliability test at the National Zoo in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013. All cubs born at the zoo must take a swim test before being allowed to roam in the exhibit. Bandar passed his test. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

National Zoo’s tiger cubs pass ‘swim test’ wet but no worse for wear

By Meredith Somers - The Washington Times