The fickle nature of the giant panda's reproductive system has foiled us once again. The National Zoo gave up the ghost this morning and announced that Mei Xiang's latest maybe-pregnancy won't result in an adorable panda cub for us to hug and squeeze and love forever. The Zoo said Mei either lost a developing fetus or once again experienced a "pseudopregnancy." From the release:In a pseudopregnancy, an animal's hormonal changes and behaviors are identical to......

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 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......