The Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, established in 1959, is a central government-affiliated comprehensive animal science research institution under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The institute leverages the rich genetic diversity resources of Southwest China and Southeast Asia, relying on distinctive platforms such as the National Major Science and Technology Infrastructure for Phenotypic and Genetic Research on Model Animals (Primates), to focus on three main research directions: “Biodiversity Research and Conservation,” “Comprehensive Utilization of Genetic Resources,” “Analysis and Regulation of Animal Complex Traits,” and “Construction and Application of Primate Disease Animal Models.” It aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of biodiversity, reveal the genetic drivers and developmental regulatory patterns of animal genetic diversity and adaptive evolution, develop primate animal models for major human diseases, and overcome key technological challenges in the conservation and innovative utilization of biodiversity resources. The institute is committed to becoming a world-class research center, a hub for talent, and a source of original achievements in this field, supporting national strategic needs for biodiversity conservation and sustainable innovative utilization.
The Kunming Institute of Zoology currently publishes two academic journals. Among them, Zoological Research (ZR) was founded in 1980 and is a leading core journal in zoology co-published by the Kunming Institute of Zoology and the Chinese Zoological Society. It has long been dedicated to promoting the development of zoology and related disciplines and facilitating global academic exchange. ZR switched to full-English publication in 2014 and is currently indexed in major domestic and international databases and platforms such as SCIE, PubMed/PMC, CSCD, and Scopus. In 2024, its impact factor was 4.7, ranking 3rd among 181 SCIE journals in the field of zoology (Q1 zone), and it is listed in the Web of Science JCR Zoology Zone 1. It was also selected for the “2023 Chinese Academy of Sciences Literature and Information Center Journal Zone Table” in both the Biology category and the Zoology subcategory. The journal is supported by the “China Science and Technology Journal International Influence Enhancement Program” (Category B, 2016–2018) and the “China Science and Technology Journal Excellence Action Plan” (tiered journal). Its subsidiary journal, Zoological Research: Diversity and Conservation, focuses on publishing cutting-edge research in the field of global animal diversity and ecology. It has been selected for the 2022 China Science and Technology Journal Excellence Action Plan High-Startup New Journal Project.
