The Smithsonian National Zoo was founded in 1889 by an Act of Congress for “the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people.”  Located in Washington, D.C. the National Zoo, free to visitors, is set on 163 acres of Rock Creek Park and is now home to 2000 individual animals of 400 species.

Some of you may not know but the Smithsonian National Zoo has two installations, the zoological park as well as the Conservation Biology Institute.  Established in 1975, known before its renaming in 2010 as the Conservation & Research Center is located on 3,200 acres in Fort Royal, Virginia.  The Conservation Biology Institute is devoted to training wildlife professionals in conservation biology and to breed rare species through natural means and assisted reproduction, such as in vitro fertilization.