A curious baby gets a look inside a lion's mouth, with a thick piece of glass safely separating them. But was the lioness really looking for a snack, or just being playful? Jorge Ribas finds out.
It might not be the most appealing way to find out if an animal is pregnant, but analyzing animal feces is definitely the least invasive. And at the Smithsonian Conservation Biological Institute, Jorge Ribas finds out how it's done.
Four lion cubs at the National Zoo took a swim test to find out if the animals could climb out of the moat around the lion habitat if they happen to fall in. The test is part of the zoo's larger efforts to build a lion pride.
An Asian small-clawed otter needs surgery to have an almond-sized bladder stone removed. For the vets at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, that means taking all the necessary precautions to make sure everything turns out right.
Nature's pincushion, porcupines can make anyone a little nervous. But at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, Jorge Ribas meets Clark, the Prehensile-tailed Porcupine, who's more interested in snacking then sticking anyone with his quills.
Food puzzles, habitat design and sensory training are just a few of the ways the Smithsonian's National Zoo enriches the lives of its animals. Jorge Ribas finds out more.