Michael Maslanka, who oversees the feeding of the 2,000 animals at the National Zoo, representing 400 species, gets that question a lot. He often replies: “A fig is not a fig.” How so?

The Philadelphia Zoo has sprouted five massive plant displays of giant animals and insects. At the entrance is a huge butterfly sculpture with outspread wings embedded with 3,200 tiny plants. Visitors ...

About nine months after coming to the zoo, lions Simba and Amahle are hanging out in the same space for the first time.

Billy, 40, and Tina, 59, will be moved to the Elephant Experience and Preserve at the Tulsa Zoo. Officials say they made the ...