Twenty North American Zoos and Aquariums Earn AZA Accreditation
Apr 3, 2009Silver Spring, MD – The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) today announced the results of its March
accreditation hearings. Twenty zoos and aquariums across North America were granted AZA accreditation by its independent Accreditation Commission.
"Only the very best zoos and aquariums can meet and maintain AZA
accreditation standards," said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. "AZA
accreditation is an important assurance to the public that these
institutions will provide a high-quality experience for them when they
visit, and that they have met the highest standard in every aspect of
their operations."
Meeting Ever-Rising Standards
All twenty institutions underwent a thorough investigation to ensure
they have and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which
include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and
safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this
rigorous accreditation process in order to be members of the
Association, and are required to resubmit to this process every five
years.
Institutions Earning Accreditation
- Adventure Aquarium, Camden, NJ
- Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans, LA
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps, San Diego, CA
- Florida Aquarium, Tampa, FL
- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose, TX
- Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville, TX
- John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL
- Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
- Memphis Zoo, Memphis, TN
- Montgomery Zoo, Montgomery, AL
- Museum of Science, Boston, MA
- Nashville Zoo, Nashville, TN
- National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque, IA
- Newport Aquarium, Newport, KY
- Oakland Zoo, Oakland, CA
- Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ
- Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, TN
- The Seas, Orlando, FL
- Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, VA
- Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
New Members to AZA
Included in the list of recently accredited are two institutions
that are receiving AZA-accreditation for the first time - the
Mississippi River Museum and the Virginia Living Museum - bringing the
current number of AZA-accredited institutions to 218.
"Every visit you make to an AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium supports
wildlife conservation." Maddy added. "It's an opportunity for families
to get together and connect with conservation."
AZA's Accreditation Commission
The mission of the AZA Accreditation Commission is to establish,
uphold, and raise the highest zoological and aquarium industry
standards through self-evaluation, on-site inspection, and peer review.
The accreditation process includes a detailed application and a
meticulous on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium
professionals.
The inspecting team observes all aspects of the institution's
operation in areas such as animal care (including living environment
and daily enrichment), keeper training, safety for animals, staff, and
visitors, educational programs, conservation efforts, veterinary
programs, financial stability, risk management, visitor services, and
other areas. The inspection team prepares an extensive written report
for the Accreditation Commission. Finally, top officials are
interviewed at a formal Commission hearing, after which accreditation
is granted, tabled, or denied. Any institution that is denied may
reapply one year after the Commission's decision is made.
About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a
nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos
and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and
recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium
as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to
providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a
better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited
members, the AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your
link to helping animals in their native habitats.
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