Merlin, the National Zoo’s senior male sloth bear, died this morning after a 48-hour illness. On Monday morning, Nov. 2, he underwent a routine physical examination. Although the examination went well ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. © Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute The post A Win for the Species ...

Two sloth bear cubs were born at the National Zoo, which appears to be good news for this vulnerable species and perhaps bad news for the termites on which they dine. The births, which occurred Dec. 7 ...

For the first time since 2013, keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) have welcomed two sloth bear cubs. The cubs were born Dec. 7 at approximately 2:30 ...

DNA testing will confirm which of two male bears is the cubs' father Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute The Smithsonian's National Zoo welcomed two sloth bear cubs on Dec. 7 ...

Two sloth bear cubs were born at the Smithsonian National Zoo on December 7, 2025. It is the first time in 12 years that sloth bear babies are present at the zoo. The birth is part of the Association ...

The tiny cubs, currently off-exhibit, are expected to debut in Spring 2026. Mike Bock Nearly one month old, the two sloth bear cubs are shown resting in their den on Jan. 5, 2026. Zoo staff are ...