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Washington Metro. at Cleveland Park or Woodley Park. Website. nationalzoo .si .edu. The National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. The zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution and does not charge admission.
The 163-acre park in the heart of Washington, D.C., is home to approximately 4,000 animals representing nearly 400 species. Almost a quarter of the animals at the National Zoo are endangered species, including, Asian elephants, North Island brown kiwis and western lowland gorillas.
Shaped by Science. The Zoo has continued its legacy of saving species started by Hornaday throughout its more than 130-year history. By the 1950s it was emerging as a leader in animal care and conservation science, and hired its first full-time veterinarian.
See all videos for this article. The zoo, which occupies about 76 hectares (187 acres), has approximately 5,000 specimens of more than 500 species. It has developed one of the world’s finest collections of small mammals and became famous for breeding pygmy hippopotamuses.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- The Inspiration for the Zoo Came from a Trip Out West. The Smithsonian Institution’s chief taxidermist, William Temple Hornaday, established the National Zoo in an effort to save several North American species from extinction.
- You'll Never Believe the Smithsonian Zoo's Original Location. The DC Zoo’s original location was behind the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall and featured deer, foxes, prairie dogs, badgers, beavers, lynx, and bison.
- A Contribution from Kansas (Sort Of) In 1899, Kansas frontiersman Charles “Buffalo” Jones added a bighorn sheep (although it was captured outside of the Sunflower State) to the Smithsonian National Zoo’s collection.
- The Zoo's Most Famous Residents are Giant Pandas. The National Zoological Park is one of the few places in North America where you can explore a beautifully designed panda habitat.
About. A park-like zoo containing 4,000 animals and 500 different species. Duration: More than 3 hours. Meets animal welfare guidelines. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Improve this listing. Tours & experiences. Explore different ways to experience this place. See options. All photos (3,992)
Zoom out. What’s this place all about? On any given weekend, Smithsonian’s National Zoo is one of the most popular places in town—and for good reason. Sprawled across 163 acres of Rock Creek...
