Read Some of the National Zoo’s Most Amazing Animal Stories of 2024

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    <p>No two days are alike at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.</p><br />
    <p>This year has been filled with remarkable and touching stories about the wildlife and the dedicated individuals who care for them. Let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the extraordinary events that unfolded this year.</p><br />
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    <p>It's not every day that visitors encounter a small, venomous ball of fur, and even rarer to spot a pair of them. This year, two pygmy slow lorises—the only venomous primates in the world—entered the world, born to Naga and Pabu at the Small Mammal House. Their arrival offers a glimmer of hope for this endangered species, which faces threats from wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction.</p><br />
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    <h3>Inside a Rare and Life-Saving Cheetah Surgery</h3><br />
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            <p><span class="credit">Smithsonian/Roshan Patel</span></p><br />
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    <p>A cheetah's spine should not take on a C-shape. When keepers noticed a bulge on nine-month-old Freya’s spine during a routine check-up, Dr. Kristina Delaski and her team realized they had a limited time to intervene. Discover how a collaborative effort of veterinary specialists employed 3D modeling technology to give Freya a new chance at life at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute earlier this year.</p><br />
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    <h3>A Baby Boom at the Bird House</h3><br />
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            <p><span class="credit">Smithsonian/Roshan Patel</span></p><br />
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    <p>Did you know that the Bird House is the only place globally where the common yellowthroat has successfully hatched? This year, in addition to these charming little warblers, 27 chicks from nine different species were welcomed into the world at the Zoo. With North American bird populations having plummeted nearly 30% since 1970, Smithsonian staff are working diligently to identify breeding patterns among songbirds and waterfowl to take action before it’s too late.</p><br />
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    <h3>Staff Unite for an Abandoned Baby Monkey</h3><br />
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            <p><span class="credit">Smithsonian/Becky Malinsky</span></p><br />
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    <p>Shortly after his birth, Edgar was rejected by his mother—an unfortunate occurrence that can happen in both the wild and in captivity. Realizing that Edgar required special care to survive, Curator of Primates Becky Malinsky rallied a dedicated team of staff members to provide the support he needed. Read the heartwarming tale of how Edgar is now thriving with the rest of the Allen’s swamp monkey troop at the Zoo’s Think Tank exhibit.</p><br />
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    <h3>Feeding the Zoo's Insect-Eating Animals</h3><br />
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            <p><span class="credit">Smithsonian/Roshan Patel</span></p><br />
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    <p>Insects are nutritious, cost-effective, and always in demand. Take a look behind the scenes as commissary staff prepare and distribute thousands of these crunchy morsels to the insect-eating residents of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.</p><br />
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    <h3>Care for Animals with Impairments</h3><br />
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    <p>All animals at the Zoo receive specialized care, but some require additional support to maintain their health and well-being. Join the keepers at the Small Mammal House and American Trail as they provide dedicated care for rescued animals like Basil the opossum, Acadia the eagle, and Jo-Jo the seal.</p><br />
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    <h3>New Giant Pandas Arrive at the Zoo</h3><br />
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    <p>The Smithsonian’s National Zoo has once again welcomed giant pandas! After bidding a heartfelt farewell to Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Qiao Qi Ji last fall, keepers greeted a new pair of pandas from China on October 15. The 3-year-old pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, are currently settling into their new habitat and will make their public debut on January 24, 2025.</p><br />
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