In the Company of Pandas

About this event

Giant pandas have captivated human observers for centuries. Like people, they have strong individual personalities, quirks, habits, likes, and dislikes. Panda expert Brandie Smith, John and Adrienne Mars director, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, unveils the lives of these bamboo-devouring carnivores, describing what it's like to feed them, care for them, and help them survive, offering first-person insights about their behavior, biology, and conservation. Smith shares stories of working with the pandas who have called the National Zoo home, addressing misconceptions about giant pandas, including surprising truths about panda biology, evolution, and the challenges involved in taking care of them. Giant pandas have a unique reproductive style that has worked perfectly for millions of years in the wild but has made it challenging for them to respond to climate change and habitat destruction and makes propagating them in zoos extremely difficult. She also discusses raising baby pandas and the ongoing quest to save giant pandas from extinction. Smith's new book, In the Company of Pandas: My Life with the World's Favorite Bear (Atria), is available for purchase. Book Sales Information - Coming Soon! General Information View Common FAQs and Policies about our Online Programs on Zoom .