WASHINGTON – Visitors heading to the National Zoo may soon need to walk through a metal detector before they can catch a glimpse of Bao Bao on high visitation days.

According to NBC4, the extra security measures will include random bag checks and metal detectors and will take place during events that draw large crowds.

“We’re going to be implementing access control,” Zoo Director Dennis Kelly tells NBC4.

“It’s similar to what you’d see at museums, at sporting events around town. It’s what you’d see on the mall on the Fourth of July.”

Last year at the National Zoo’s annual Easter Monday family event, a shooter fired into a group of people near the zoo.

The incident left two teenagers with injuries.