The Collective Impact of AZA-Accredited Zoos and Aquariums

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Each day millions of visitors enjoy their local zoos and aquariums. Most don't realize that their hometown zoo or aquarium is part of a powerful, caring industry with enormous collective impact.

©Judith Pew

Visitors and Volunteers

AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums draw more than 143 million visitors each year - more attendance than the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball combined.

Many visitors become members of their local zoo or aquarium - 3.6 million households representing 9.4 million Individuals are zoo or aquarium members, their membership dues providing more than $100 million in financial support.

Annually, more than 72,000 volunteers invest over four and a half million hours of their time, supporting virtually every aspect of zoo and aquarium operations.

Educating Students and Teachers

With their incomparable commitment to conservation education in living classrooms, zoos and aquariums reach almost 45 million people each year and dedicate $83 million annually to education programs.

Teachers are educated as well. Annually, 48,000 teachers attend formal training workshops.

Virtually every group imaginable is reached through zoo and aquarium education programs for families, seniors, teens, pre-schoolers and special-needs audiences.

Conservation and Animal Care

Zoos and aquariums are dedicated to the highest standards of animal care. On any given day, more than 700,000 animals are cared for, with many of those being the last representatives of an endangered species.

Many endangered species survive because of zoos and aquariums. The AZA's Species Survival Plan® (SSP) Program - a long-term breeding and conservation plan - provides species with an insurance policy against extinction. There are currently 110 Species Survival Plans, covering different 149 species.

Effective wildlife conservation is rooted in science. Almost 14,000 employees are engaged in conservation and science research in zoos and aquariums, supported by 3,400 volunteers.

Zoos and aquariums take conservation action all over the world. In 2005, 166 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums reported participating in 1,719 conservation, research, and education projects in 97 countries or regions. Collectively, zoos and aquariums spent $237 million on conservation and research.

Economic Engines

Zoos and aquariums are powerful tourism generators for their communities. They enhance their local economies each year by attracting 143 million visitors, employing 33,300 workers, investing over $1.6 billion in operating budgets.

Each year, zoos and aquariums change and improve. In 2005, they invested $143 million on improvements that make better experiences for visitors and wildlife and $561 million on new construction, including exhibits, veterinary care facilities, and classrooms.

Collectively, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums have an enormous social, cultural, educational and economic impact on the American public.

*Based on survey data collected In 2005 and 2006.