Animals

Giant pandas will arrive at D.C.'s National Zoo this week
After an 11-month wait, giant pandas will populate the zoo once again. A pair of pandas, which left China on FedEx's "Panda Express" cargo jet, are expected to arrive in the D.C. area on Tuesday.
Birders argue over plan to change dozens of bird names
On Thursday, a major birding society will discuss how to go about changing potentially offensive bird names. There's resistance to the original plan to rename all birds named after people.
Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park will soon be fenced off
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board passed a resolution Tuesday to formalize the park's boundaries, cutting off access to areas that are not part of the park.
Fat Bear Week delayed after a large bear kills a rival bear
The scene was relayed by a live webcam of bears on Alaska's Brooks River. “This is very difficult to watch and comprehend,” said Naomi Boak of the nonprofit Katmai Conservancy.
Understanding the cat lore of the 2024 presidential election
The “cat lady” tagline took off this year as an insult and an accolade — now it’s a mainstay in the presidential campaigns and beyond.
50 years and flying: The Raptor Center hosts public celebration, bird release for its anniversary
The Raptor Center is marking 50 years of helping Minnesota’s birds of prey. Lori Arent, interim executive director, joined Morning Edition Host Cathy Wurzer to talk about its history and a free, public celebration happening on Saturday.
The slowest of trailblazers: Better DNA testing means trafficked turtles can go home
New technology is making it easier to find the origins of trafficked wildlife so they can be released back to the habitat they came from, instead of languishing for decades as sometimes happens.