Baby Giant Panda Born At D.C. Zoo

A giant panda lent to the United States by China and living at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. l has given birth to a cub, zoo officials said Monday. The birth occurred at about 10:46 pm local time Sunday, according to the zoo's chief veterinarian, Suzan Murray. During a press conference at the National Zoo on Monday, Dennis Kelly, Director of the Smithsonian National Zoo said, "We have pandas for research opportunities" and now that we have a cub, they will have even more to study. Mei Xiang, as the mom panda is called, "is cradling her cub closely, and she looks so tired," Murray said in a statement.

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National Zoo Welcomes 11 New Small-Clawed Otters

Where there was once two there are now 11. They're still really tiny. The Smithsonian's National Zoo is unveiling its 11 new Asian small-clawed otters this Saturday -- one of the largest groupings of this endangered animal in the U.S. These otters, which weigh in at less than 10 pounds, are the smallest and most social otter species in the world. Helpful, too -- the whole family pitches in for child-rearing.

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Video: Zoo Elephant Rocks Harmonica

In what could be the abosolute cutest thing we've seen since this dog, Shanthi the elephant at the National Zoo in Washington is developing her musical chops by playing a harmonica with her trunk.

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Video: National Zoo To Live Tweet Giant Panda Artificial Insemination

Forget watching for celebrity baby bumps. We're much more concerned with whether or not the National Zoo's giant panda Mei Xiang will be expecting in the coming months. After going into estrus over the weekend, National Zoo scientists and Li Desheng from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong performed an articificial insemination on Mei Xiang. 

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National Zoo gets $4.5 million for panda breeding

WASHINGTON – The National Zoo announced a $4.5 million gift Monday to fund its giant panda reproduction program for five more years.  Philanthropist David M. Rubenstein visited the pandas with China's ambassador to the United States to announce the gift.  "There are probably 10 million species on the face of the earth, and I doubt that any one of those species is more popular and more beloved than the giant panda," Rubenstein said at a news conference by the zoo's giant panda yard. He said the money is a holiday gift to the people of Washington and to the country because pandas make people happy.

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Animals Go Wild Ahead of Quake

The animals always know first. Well before any humans ducked beneath desks or sought shelter in doorways on Tuesday, wildlife at the zoo started to react to the oncoming earthquake.

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