The Smithsonian National Zoological Park,
commonly known as the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in
the United States, and as part of the Smithsonian Institution,
does not charge admission. Founded in 1889, its mission is to
provide leadership in animal care, science, education,
sustainability, and visitor experience. The National Zoo has two
campuses. The first is a 163-acre (66 ha) urban park located in
northwest Washington, D.C. that is 20 minutes from the National
Mall by Metro to the Woodley Park station, or downhill walk from
the Cleveland Park station. The other campus is the 3,200-acre
(1,300 ha) Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI;
formerly known as the Conservation and Research Center) in Front
Royal, Virginia. SCBI is a non-public facility devoted to
training wildlife professionals in conservation biology and to
propagating rare species through natural means and assisted
reproduction. The National Zoo is accredited by the Association
of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Altogether, the two facilities contain 2,000 animals of 400
different species. About one-fifth of them are endangered or
threatened. Most species are on exhibit at the Zoo's Rock Creek
Park campus. Its best known residents are its giant pandas, but
the Zoo is also home to birds, great apes, big cats, Asian
elephants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic animals, small
mammals and many more. The SCBI facility houses between 30 and
40 endangered species at any given time depending on research
needs and recommendations from the Zoo and the conservation
community. The National Zoo, as part of the Smithsonian
Institution, receives federal appropriations for operating
expenses. A new master plan introduced for the park in 2008
designs to upgrade the park's exhibits and layout.
Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), the Zoo's membership
program, is the partner of the National Zoological Park that has
been providing support to wildlife conservation programs at the
Zoo and around the world since 1958. FONZ members receive free
parking, discounts at the Zoo's stores and restaurants, and
Smithsonian Zoogoer, an informative bimonthly magazine filled
with the latest Zoo news, research and photos. FONZ's 40,000
members include about 20,000 families, largely in the
Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and volunteers number more
than 1,000 individuals. FONZ provides guest services,
development support, education and outreach programs,
concessions management, and financial support for research and
conservation. The National Zoo is open every day of the year
except December 25 (Christmas Day). On occasion, it closes early
or opens late to host special events. |