Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Name

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Legal name

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Website

https://nationalzoo.si.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park and Conservation Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wildlife Watching & Encounters (Birding, Whale Watching, Primates) (THAJAIAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Animal exhibits
• Zoo education programs
• Conservation research
• Live animal webcams

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, District of Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Daily Entry Passes: Digital tickets for daily zoo entry, available free of charge but requiring advance reservation through the website
2. Memberships: Annual membership programs offering various benefit levels including Circle and Council memberships
3. Parking Passes: Separate paid parking passes for onsite vehicle parking
4. Special Event Tickets: Ticketed special events including ZooLights, EleFest, Boo at the Zoo, Night of the Living Zoo
5. Donations: Direct donations supporting animal care and conservation programs
6. Merchandise Sales: Proceeds from plush toys, books, and apparel sold through Smithsonian Store supporting the Smithsonian mission
7. Filming Fees: Location fees for filming at the zoo with standard schedule: $1,000 for 1-4 hours, $2,000 for 4-8 hours, $350 per additional hour, plus $500 perpetuity fee
8. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate giving and corporate partner programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Smithsonian's National Zoo operates a free-admission zoological park in Washington, D.C. with animal exhibits, daily keeper demonstrations, and live animal webcams, supported by its Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute research campus in Front Royal, Virginia. It sells annual memberships, parking passes, special event tickets (ZooLights, EleFest, Boo at the Zoo), museum merchandise, and filming location services. The Zoo's offerings are anchored by conservation science, education programs, and species survival breeding initiatives.

Product overview

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute operates as a unified institution combining a traditional zoo visitor experience with a conservation science research division. The core visitor-facing offerings include day entry passes and annual memberships for access to animal exhibits (Small Mammal House, Reptile Discovery Center, Primates, Great Cats, Elephant Trails, Kids' Farm), live animal webcams streaming giant pandas, elephants, lions, and other species, and signature events such as ZooLights, EleFest, and Boo at the Zoo. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia serves as the research arm, conducting conservation programs for endangered species including Asian elephants, giant pandas, and amphibians. Education programs span kids, families, schools, teens, and adults through field trips, virtual programs, and classroom activities. Digital ticketing is handled through a third-party payment processor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoo Entry Passes Digital ticketing system for daily zoo entry, with free and paid passes available online with QR code delivery.
• Zoo Membership Annual membership programs offering unlimited zoo access, member-only events, discounts at gift shops and cafes, and Circle and Council Membership tiers.
• Live Animal Webcams Real-time streaming video feeds featuring giant pandas, elephants, lions, black-footed ferrets, and naked mole-rats, allowing online visitors to observe animals remotely.
• Daily Animal Demonstrations Scheduled keeper-led demonstrations and talks throughout the day at various exhibits including Amazonia, American Trail, Asia Trail, Bird House, Elephant Trails, Great Cats, and Reptile Discovery Center.
• EleFest Annual three-day festival celebrating elephants with cultural performances, conservation programming, and family activities, typically held in August.
• ZooLights Annual winter holiday light display and family-friendly event held November through January, featuring illuminated animal displays and seasonal entertainment.
• Boo at the Zoo Ticketed Halloween celebration event featuring spooky activities and entertainment for families.
• Education Programs Educational offerings for kids, families, schools, teens, and adults including field trips, classroom activities, virtual programs, and webinars.
• Filming Location Services Location rental for film and photography productions at the zoo, with a standard published fee schedule processed through the Smithsonian Film Committee.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully breeding endangered species including Asian elephants, giant pandas, black-footed ferrets
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Royal Commission for AlUlamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026Global conservation partnership to save the critically endangered Arabian leopard. The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and the Royal Commission for AlUla are launching the next phase of a global conservation partnership focused on international conservation and loan of critically endangered Arabian leopards from Saudi Arabia.
• Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEight institutions including Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Africam Safari, Defenders of Wildlife, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Houston Zoo, Summit Municipal Park, and Zoo New England joined to save amphibians from extinction in eastern Panama.
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Zoo participates in AZA's Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs for breeding and conservation of endangered species.
• Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZA SAFE sloth bear program where Smithsonian scientists participate in wildlife surveys and monitoring efforts across sloth bear range countries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: Major AZA-accredited zoo with a Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) and active species survival plan participation. Comparable to Smithsonian NZCBI in research-driven conservation focus and breeding programs.
• Zoo Atlanta: Major AZA-accredited zoo renowned for its giant panda program and participation in dozens of Species Survival Plans. Comparable to Smithsonian NZCBI in flagship species conservation, research, and educational mission.
• Zoological Society of London (London Zoo): One of the world's oldest scientific zoos operating alongside the Institute of Zoology, with global field conservation programs. Comparable as a long-established zoo paired with a major in-house conservation research institute and international species recovery work.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo): Operates the Bronx Zoo and four other NYC wildlife parks alongside a global field conservation program spanning dozens of countries. Directly comparable as a large urban zoo with major international conservation research and species survival plan involvement.
• Houston Zoo: Large AZA-accredited zoo with a substantial in-house conservation program, partner of the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project alongside Smithsonian. Directly comparable in conservation partnerships, education programming, and endangered species work.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: One of the world's largest and most respected zoological organizations, combining a major public zoo with a global conservation research arm. Closely comparable to Smithsonian NZCBI in scale, conservation mission, scientific publications, and endangered species breeding programs.
• Audubon Nature Institute: Family of museums, parks, and a zoo/aquarium complex in New Orleans with active wildlife conservation and research programs. Comparable as a multi-venue zoological and conservation institution with strong education focus.
• Saint Louis Zoo: A leading AZA-accredited zoo with free general admission, a dedicated WildCare Institute for conservation, and active participation in species survival plans. Highly comparable in free-admission model, conservation research, and educational programming.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Sister Smithsonian Institution museum in Washington, D.C., with comparable federal trust instrumentality status, public-facing education mission, and conservation/biology research focus. Comparable in institutional structure, brand umbrella, and visitor scale rather than as a direct zoo competitor.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom: Theme park incorporating extensive zoo exhibits and the Disney Conservation Fund. Comparable in scale of animal collection and conservation funding, but operates as part of a much broader entertainment portfolio rather than a specialized conservation institution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nationalzoo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/SmithsonianNZP
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalzoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/smithsonianzoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smithsonian-national-zoological-park

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smithsonian National Zoological Park