The principal scientific directions of the Institute are the research of animal world of Caucasus (and Georgia in particular) and animal biodiversity conservation.
The scientific program of the Institute is based on the investigations and analysis of the problems of ecology, animal biology and distribution, taxonomy, parasitology, hydrobiology, etc.
The spectrum of studied animal groups is vast and contains all vertebrates (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes), several groups of insects, mites, mollusks and worms (Annelida, Nematoda).
Currently researches in the following major scientific fields are ongoing:

• Zoogeography and fauna formation of Caucasus;
• Speciation and evolutionary processes;
• Animal ecology and ethology;
• Biodiversity conservation.

Besides, following applied zoological work is in progress:

• Cadastre of the biological diversity of animals of Georgia;
• Conservation issues of some threatened species (e.g. Bats, Birds-of-Prey etc.).

Results of scientific research of the Institute are published in its main issue "Proceedings of the Institute of Zoology" (up today 22 volumes are published). Besides of this, the following books series have been published: "Materials of the fauna of Georgia", "Parasitological collection", "Hydrobiology and ichthyology of internal reservoirs of Georgia", "Ontogenetic development of animals", as well as numbers of monographs. Many popular scientific booklets are published in order to popularize zoology.
Nowadays the Institute of Zoology consists of 7 scientific laboratories and the department of scientific information.
Besides of the main office, in Tbilisi, the Institute has:

• Hydrobiological scientific station on the Tbilisi reservoir;
• Biological stations in Western Georgia (Kutaisi);
• In the Borjomi region (Akhaldaba);
• In the Mtskheta region (Khekordzi).