Beginning Jan. 18, 2022, the Zoo is open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Entry passes are required for all guests, including infants. All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the Zoo, regardless of their vaccination status. Fully vaccinated visitors do not need to wear a mask in outdoor areas. Select animal buildings remain closed.
Watch giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji, as they chomp on bamboo, climb trees and tumble through the grass. 
The Center for Conservation Genomics works to understand and conserve biodiversity through the application of genomics and genetics approaches. CCG scientists creatively apply genetic theory and methods to gain knowledge about the evolutionary and life histories of animals, to understand the importance of genetic variation to their survival, and to identify the methods needed to sustain them in human care and in the wild.
Take a guided tour of the genetics laboratory in this video from lab manager Nancy McInerney.
By studying ancient DNA, scientists can learn about genetic variation and how certain species have changed over time. Ancient DNA methods have also proved useful in the study of wildlife disease.
Smithsonian scientists study infectious diseases and their impacts on wildlife, including malaria, invasive chytrid fungus, tick-borne pathogens and more.
Center for Conservation Genomics scientists sequence genomes and transcriptomes in large part to develop markers for detailed population studies, and to assess responses to stressors such as pathogens and climate change.
