Association of Zoos and Aquariums

AZA Program Animal Policy
Approved by the AZA Board of Directors in 2003

The AZA acknowledges that there are a host of benefits to the use of program animals. The Conservation Education Committee's Program Animal Position Statement gives a summary of related literature.

Program animal: non-human animals that are used outside their normal exhibit of holding areas and/or are intended to have regular, physical contact with the public within their normal exhibits

However, the use of any program animal comes with a host of responsibilities including the welfare (i.e., physiological and psychological well-being) of the animals used, the safety of the animal handlers and public, and accountability for the take-home messages received by the audience. Therefore, the AZA requires all accredited institutions that use program animals to:

Develop an Institutional Program Animal Policy that clearly identifies and justifies those species and individuals approved as program animals and details their long-term management plan and educational program objectives.

Accreditation standards require that an education and conservation message must be an integral component of all animal demonstrations. In addition, accreditation standards require that animals in education programs must be maintained and cared for by trained staff, and housing conditions must meet standards set for the remainder of the animal collection, recognizing the special needs associated with managing program animals.

See also the Conservation Education Committee's Recommendations for Developing an Institutional Program Animal Policy.
Utilize appropriate handling and training methods (for example, operant conditioning principles). Our practices should emphasize the use of positive reinforcement.

AZA Program Animal Policy Approved by the AZA Board of Directors in 2003

AZA Program Animal Policy
Approved by the AZA Board of Directors in 2003