Field biologist George Schaller will be at the National Zoo Wednesday for a free lecture on his experience in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Tibetan Plateau. Photo courtesy of WCS. DCist's guide to lectures and panel discussions in the D.C. area Wednesday >> At 7:30 p.m., the National Zoo will have a free lecture by field biologist and Wildlife Conservation Society head conservationist, George Scheller. At A Life in the Wild, Schaller......

For the non FONZ members of the reading audience, Tian Tian is the adult male giant panda at the National Zoo. That is to say, he's the Butter Daddy. He and Mei Xiang are to thank for bringing that lovable little fella we call Butterstick into the world. Of course, as is custom for giant pandas, there isn't a relationship between the father and his offspring (beyond the occasional glimpse through the fence; they......

Photo of Golden Lion Tamarin, courtesy of the National Zoo, Jessie Cohen, NZP photographer Last week, panda lovers of D.C. shed many tears over the news that Mei Xiang will not be giving us a new baby panda this year, despite earlier signs indicating otherwise. This week, the Zoo would like you to remember that it does, in fact, have many other newborns at which to gawk. An email sent around by FONZ last......

It was three years ago today that the National Zoo welcomed Tai Shan into the world. We fell in love immediately with the little fella, whom we named after the first press release deemed him the "size of a stick of butter." The Zoo later officially gave him a different name (despite our best efforts otherwise). His first three years have been filled with some ups and downs — becoming the unchallenged object of affection......

According to a press release today from National Zoo Director John Barry, the earthquake that devastated some areas of China on May 12 put the Wolong Panda Reserve and the viability of its programs at risk. D.C.'s own adult giant pandas, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, were born in the reserve's breeding center, and the National Zoo has been working on panda conservation with Wolong for more than 20 years. Located in China's southwest Sichuan......

The Examiner reports on a new master plan for the future of the National Zoo set to be unveiled on Thursday that includes a call to build an aerial tram running the length of the 163-acre park. Other proposals include expanded exhibits, new visitor centers and a public plaza on the current site of the Great Ape House. The image at left is of the Skyfari aerial tram at the San Diego Zoo, which might......

The Associated Press has a shameful story this morning accusing the National Zoo's beloved panda cub, Tai Shan (aka Butterstick), of injuring a zookeeper. Pandas don't do anything wrong, AP! They are only adorable and cuddly and lovable and that's all. Didn't you get the memo? So the story is that Tai Shan entered his yard through an unsecured door Tuesday during a routine feeding, where he attempted to "play" with a zookeeper he encountered......

Good news for those of you who feel just the opposite of joy when seeing an amazing exotic animal behind a fence at the zoo. The National Zoo sent out the news this week that they are releasing a male scimitar-horned oryx into the wild as part of an international conservation effort. If you're as confused about what an oryx is as we were, the Zoo tells us:Oryx are a type of desert antelope that......

This is what a baby Asian elephant looks like. Wouldn't you like to have some of this out of control adorableness? The Associated Press reports that if all goes well, the National Zoo could be getting one of its very own late next year. The zoo conducted two artificial insemination procedures on Shanthi the elephant this week. They'll be monitoring her hormones for the next ten weeks to see if it worked, with the hopes......

If you know anything about DCist, you know we're suckers for anything the adorable animals who live at the National Zoo are up to. So you can imagine our reaction when FONZ sent out a press release announcing the sale of National Zoo Animal Vocalization Ringtones. Oh, the zoomanity. There are 25 animal vocalizations available for download, each for $2.99. All three of the Zoo's pandas are on offer, as well as the Sumatran tiger......

>> Yesterday we profiled Five Four, the hardest working all girl band in the city, with the cutest shoes, in a Three Stars piece. Tonight you can see those shoes up close and personal at DC9, $8. If that's not the dose of local music you were hoping for tonight, how about Meredith Bragg at the Black Cat, or Gist at Iota? >> Ever thought, I'd like to get a new perspective on Scientology. A......

Good morning, Washington. The week surrounding the holidays is almost always a certifiably slow news period, so you can bet good money every local media outlet in the country is shamefacedly relieved to be able to find their own angle on the terrifying fatal San Francisco Zoo tiger attack. Sister site SFist has the roundup of Bay Area coverage, and the Examiner steps up to the plate with the D.C. version of the story --......

Good morning, Washington. Think good thoughts for Tian Tian, the National Zoo's male giant panda and the biological father of Tai Shan/Butterstick. Tian Tian underwent eye surgery yesterday to remove inflamed tissue from one of his third eyelids. He's expected to make a full recovery, but in the meantime he'll have to live with the shame of being the one to expose this whole pandas having third eyelids monstrosity. DCist has always held a......

Here's some adorableness for you on a chilly Friday. Flickr user maxedaperture just uploaded this image from last summer of these elephants snuggling in the sun at the National Zoo. If you think the warm months are the only good times to hit up the zoo, grab a jacket and your scarf and head down to see ZooLights, the annual nighttime holiday celebration. The show is open Wednesdays through Sundays until December 30, from......

Good morning, D.C. The federal government is observing Veteran's Day today, which means Washington is much quieter than normal this morning. The chilly, wet weather certainly isn't helping make the work day, for those of us who are at our desks, any more inviting. Keep in mind that post offices, banks, schools and local government offices are closed for the day as well. Coal Train Clean-up Continues: Workers are still out cleaning up the site......

Good morning, Washington. Flickr user zenfrisbee went down to the West Lawn yesterday to catch the festivities surrounding the Dalai Lama's visit and acceptance of a Congressional Gold Medal. China, naturally, had "solemnly demanded" the cancellation of the event, which saw President Bush appear with the Dalai Lama in public -- something no sitting U.S. president has done before. Bush dismissed China's concerns over the event, saying he didn't think it would severely damage relations......

>> Veterinarians at the National Zoo have euthanized Ume, an 8-year-old male cheetah, due a to the animal's ill-health. [AP] >> Little Richard is even more wolf-faced crazy than you ever imagined. [BrightestYoungThings] >> D.C. Sports blogger Jamie Mottram is heading to Yahoo! Sports. [Mr. Irrelevant] >> Queen of Sheba gets a decision ... No, wait. [14th & You] >> The U.S. attorney's investigation into the shooting of 14-year-old DeOnté Rawlings by off-duty police......

Who knew that a flamingo could look quite so gloomy? Flickr user maxedaperture gives the bird an image makeover with this moody shot of a lone flamingo at the National Zoo, cloaked in darkness.......

Voting for the National Zoo's Name the Baby Anteater contest ended on Aug. 26, but we now finally have an official name for the long-nosed bundle of joy: Aurora. The female name beat out the other choices by a healthy margin of votes (1,600 vs. 1,200 for Isabel and 1,100 for Pilar), and now that zoo officials have finally determined the anteater's gender, the winner of the boy's name contest is moot (though we did......

Months after a fire gutted the interior of Eastern Market's South Hall and almost destroyed the District landmark, vendors will be back in business tomorrow in a temporary structure built across the street. The structure, which looks like a big white tent, cost $1.5 million and will be used while $25 million in repairs are completed on the South Hall, a process that could take up to two years. We're happy to see things slowly......

Another adorable baby animal at the National Zoo, another list of potential names for us to vote on. As you already know, the Zoo welcomed a brand new baby Giant Anteater last month, and nicknames for the little creature have already abounded -- Little Schnozzy being by far the most popular. But theoretically, Schnozzy won't be "little" forever, and the Zoo would like your input on selecting a proper name. The names this time around......

>> Mayor Adrian Fenty has chosen Clark Ray to serve as the city’s director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. Ray was previously the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services. >> D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier has called for her third summertime "All Hands on Deck" initiative for Monday and Tuesday, to coincide with Tuesday's National Night Out. The last "All Hands on Deck," when Lanier requires all MPD......

Good morning, Washington. Just one day after officials did their best to reassure metro area drivers that our bridges are safe to travel on, the Washington Post has pored over U.S. Department of Transportation statistics that show that a dozen bridges in the District, hundreds more in Maryland, and nearly 1,200 in Virginia are listed as "structurally deficient," -- the same rating as the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis Wednesday. Still, DDOT says that......

A begrudging Mazel Tov from DCist to the city of San Diego is in order, as the Associated Press reports that Bai Yun, the San Diego Zoo's female panda, is definitely pregnant. Bai Yun has been put on "24-hour birth watch" after officials detected a fetus and fetal heartbeat through ultrasound images on July 18. More tests confirmed the pregnancy and the zoo made an official announcement yesterday. As you'll no doubt recall, Mei Xiang,......

My jumpings. Let me show you them. This biggie sized lolcat comes to us from animal lover zenfrisbee, who appears to have spent some quality time at the National Zoo recently. This photo caught our eye for several reasons, the most striking being the string of water drops from this tiger's tail. We also like the cat's facial expression and paw position, which makes him look like your everyday house cat, ready to pounce......

Tai Shan, aka Butterstick, is 2 years old today. The National Zoo gave the furball a birthday treat made of apples, pears, and bamboo frozen in beet juice and water -- and a giant number 2 that apparently scared him quite a bit when it fell over. It's no beersicle, but it'll do. Happy birthday from all of your pals at DCist, Tai Shan.......

Welcome back to work, Washington. This week promises not only to feel longer than normal thanks to its coming on the heels of a holiday, but also hot enough that you might want to consider setting up an ad-hoc shower in your office, as there's little chance you'll get there without breaking into a sweat first. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has issued a Code Orange alert because of the heat wave, and......

LAist was comped front row seats by the Dodgers due to Malingering being struck by a foul ball last week, and she came back with some great photos, and earlier made fun of 4th of July on Venice Beach. But the biggest stories of the week was that the Mayor's Hot Tamale was revealed, and that a Kwik-E-Mart was erected in Burbank. Phillyist was busy doing the Fourth of July up right, exercising their......

Woe is all of us this morning, as the National Zoo has officially announced that Mei Xiang is not really pregnant after all. Real panda pregnancies are notoriously difficult to diagnose, and this time, unlike two years ago, the hormonal spike recently tracked in the mama panda was a symptom of a false pregnancy. Sniff. This makes Mei Xiang's fourth pseudopregnancy. She had three before giving birth to Butterstick (aka Tai Shan), her only cub......

As is usually the case on this day in D.C., there is very little news to roundup, thus our rather loose definition of 'morning' today. We certainly hope you're having a relaxing and fun holiday so far. As you gather up beer and meat (or faux-meat) and head to your respective barbecues, take care. We've mentioned it before, but the entire city will be under added security measures today in the wake of the attempted......