Silver Spring, MD  – Yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland, at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Conference of the Parties (COP), the delegates adopted a policy that would restrict the movement of elephants out of four African countries. In response to the adoption of this policy, Dan Ashe, President and CEO of AZA, (who led the U.S. delegations to CITES CoP16 and CoP17) issued the following statement: The Association of... Read More

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and Oklahoma City Zoo will receive significant funding for conservation work Silver Spring, Maryland  – The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is proud to announce the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores has been named the first place winner of AZA’s Party for the Planet® video contest. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden placed second in the online public voting contest highlighting inclusive,... Read More

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has issued the following statement in response to the inclusion of SeaWorld San Antonio on World Animal Protection's report regarding animal interactions at zoos and aquariums. • SeaWorld San Antonio, like all AZA accredited members, must meet or exceed AZA’s gold standard accreditation requirements. This puts them among the best performing aquariums and zoos worldwide, assuring that the care and well-being of the animals always comes... Read More

Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Wildlife Conservation Society announce a series of public events that draw attention to the elephant poaching crisis and illegal trade of elephant ivory SILVER SPRING, MD – A coalition of conservation organizations are teaming up with AZA-accredited zoos to organize a series of ivory surrender events that encourage public participation in the fight to save elephants... Read More

In response to BA Holidays' announcement regarding animal attractions, AZA has co-signed and supports the following statement from leading accrediting organizations across the globe.  Dear Claire, I am writing as the CEO of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums and on behalf of my colleagues and members of the zoo accreditation associations from the UK, Europe and across the globe. This community of organisations, where evidence-based animal welfare,... Read More