Here are up-to-date numbers for some of the most widely used AZA statistics.
Last updated December 12, 2012.
Annual Survey Results
AZA members (Professional Affiliate, Professional Fellow, and Primary Contacts of Conservation Partner, Commercial, Related Facility and Institution Members) may log in and download the results of the most recent AZA Annual Survey of Members.
AZA members (Professional Affiliate, Professional Fellow, and Primary Contacts of Conservation Partner, Commercial, Related Facility and Institution Members) may log in and download the results of the "Listening to Our Friends" Membership Survey.
Accreditation
-- 222 accredited zoos and aquariums in 7 countries
- USA: 212 in 47 states
- Canada: 4
- Mexico: 2
- Argentina: 1
- Bahamas: 1
- Bermuda: 1
- Hong Kong: 1
-- 13 certified related facilities
-- Accreditation occurs every 5 years
-- Approximately 25 institutions undergo the accreditation process every 6 months
Types of Accredited Institutions
-- 139 zoos
-- 38 aquariums
-- 9 both zoo and aquariums
-- 18 safari and theme parks
-- 15 science and nature centers
-- 2 aviaries
-- 1 butterfly house
-- 54% non-profit
-- 35% public
-- 11% for-profit
Animals in AZA-Accredited Institutions
-- 751,931 animals
-- 6,000 species
-- 1,000 threatened or endangered species
Conservation
$160 million spent in support of conservation projects every year
Species Survival Plan® (SSP) Program
-- 319 Species Survival Plans®
-- 272 additional Studbooks
43 endangered species reintroduction programs
AZA’s Conservation Endowment Fund
-- $5.7 million supporting 320 conservation projects since 1991
Wildlife Contraception Center
-- Supports SSP® programs by monitoring the safety and efficacy of contraceptives used for all mammalian species and helping bring new contraceptive methods to the zoo, aquarium and wildlife community
AZA Population Management Center
-- Population planning for 500 species for the next 100 years
Economy
-- Accredited zoos and aquarium contribute $16 billion to U.S. economy annually
-- Support 142,000 jobs
-- Serve 175 million annual visitors
Informal Science Education
-- 50 million children visitors with families (annually)
-- 12 million student learners on field trips (annually)
-- 400,000 teachers trained in informal science education methods over the last decade
AZA Professional Development
-- Approximately 3,000 zoo and aquarium professionals educated in last five years
-- 16 in-person courses, including six offered for credit through George Mason University’s Zoo and Aquarium Leadership Program