Smithsonian National Zoological Park Email Format
Museums, Historical Sites, and ZoosDistrict of Columbia, United States51-200 Employees
The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is part of the Smithsonian Institution and leads global efforts to save species, understand ecosystems, and train future conservationists. Founded in 1889, it operates two campuses in Washington, District of Columbia, that collectively host more than 2,000 animals, including some of the planet’s most critically endangered species, with the Zoo itself home to nearly 1,800 animals representing more than 360 species. The Zoo is free to the public and sits on a 163-acre park in the heart of the city, drawing close to two million visitors each year. The organization integrates public engagement with scientific work to advance conservation. The Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute runs a 3,200-acre campus in Front Royal, Virginia, where scientists and animal care experts conduct veterinary and reproductive research to save wildlife and habitats, housing more than 270 animals across 20 species. In addition to its campuses, Smithsonian researchers operate field stations in more than 30 countries, generating knowledge to support the conservation and management of both captive and wild populations.