It is a government-funded research institute specialising in scientific issues relevant to the conservation of animal species and their habitats.
The Institute is based alongside London Zoo at ZSL's Regent's Park site in the City of Westminster.
The Institute is supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in partnership with the University of Cambridge, and receives additional research funding from UK research councils (NERC, BBSRC, ESRC) and research charities (the Wellcome Trust and the Leverhulme Trust).
Research covers many fundamental aspects of biological sciences which have relevance to the conservation of animal species and their habitats.
The Institute offers research training through Ph.D. studentships, and hosts Undergraduate and Masters level research projects conducted as part of its own M.Sc.