Silver Spring, MD - The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the primary accrediting body for top zoos and aquariums in the United States since 1974, announced today the recipients of the Association's Quarter Century Award. Established in 2015, this new award acknowledges facilities that have maintained AZA accreditation continuously for 25 years or more, highlighting their commitment to animal care, welfare, conservation, education, and more. The inaugural group of 119 awardees includes many facilities that have successfully achieved AZA accreditation well beyond the 25 year mark.
"AZA is dedicated to ensuring that the highest standards in the zoological profession are met, and this means that the accreditation process is therefore quite rigorous," said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. "The fact that these aquariums and zoos have maintained continuous AZA accreditation for 25 years or more is an extraordinary achievement that deserves to be celebrated," said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy.
To be accredited, AZA-accredited facilities have completed a thorough review to ensure that they meet and will continue to meet rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years in order to be members of the Association.
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, including animal care; keeper training; safety for visitors, staff and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts; veterinary programs; financial stability; risk management; visitor services; and other areas. Finally, top officials are interviewed at a formal hearing of AZA's independent Accreditation Commission, after which accreditation is granted, tabled, or denied. Any institution that is denied may reapply one year after the Commission's decision is made.
Recipients of AZA's Quarter Century Award will receive a plaque honoring their achievement. The list of facilities continuously accredited by AZA for 25 years or more is as follows:
Institution Year of Initial Accreditation
Abilene Zoological Gardens 1985
Akron Zoological Park 1989
Albuquerque Biological Park 1981
Alexandria Zoological Park 1986
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 1983
Audubon Zoo 1981
Bergen County Zoological Park 1986
Binder Park Zoo 1983
Blank Park Zoo 1987
Brandywine Zoo 1986
BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo 1977
Bronx Zoo 1979
Brookfield Zoo/Chicago Zoological Society 1986
Brookgreen Gardens 1983
Buffalo Zoo 1981
Busch Gardens (Tampa) 1985
Caldwell Zoo 1985
Calgary Zoo 1978
.Cape May County Park Zoo 1989
Central Florida Zoo 1986
Central Park Zoo 1989
Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park 1983
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 1978
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 1982
Clyde Peeling's Reptiland 1987
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 1980
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory 1986
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo 1987
Dallas Zoo 1985
David Traylor Zoo of Emporia 1985
Denver Zoological Gardens 1976
Detroit Zoological Society 1985
Dickerson Park Zoo 1986
El Paso Zoo 1980
Ellen Trout Zoo 1983
Erie Zoo 1985
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo 1976
Fort Worth Zoological Park 1977
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center 1986
Fresno Chaffee Zoo 1979
Gladys Porter Zoo 1978
Greenville Zoo 1988
Henry Vilas Zoo 1976
Henson Robinson Zoo 1986
Honolulu Zoo 1986
Houston Zoo, Inc. 1985
Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc. 1981
International Crane Foundation 1987
Jackson Zoological Park 1989
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 1987
John Ball Zoological Gardens 1983
John G. Shedd Aquarium 1978
Kansas City Zoo 1984
Knoxville Zoological Gardens 1984
Lee Richardson Zoo 1986
Lincoln Park Zoo 1976
Living Desert, The 1983
Los Angeles Zoo 1979
Louisville Zoological Garden 1980
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore 1980
Memphis Zoo 1981
Miller Park Zoo 1978
Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens 1976
Minnesota Zoological Garden 1980
Monterey Bay Aquarium 1986
Mystic Aquarium 1984
National Aquarium 1984
National Aviary 1984
New York Aquarium 1984
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher 1990
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores 1990
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island 1990
North Carolina Zoological Park 1984
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park 1985
Oakland Zoo 1988
Oglebay's Good Zoo 1986
Oklahoma City Zoological Park 1981
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium 1983
Oregon Zoo 1974
Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park 1989
Peoria Zoo 1981
Philadelphia Zoo 1974
Phoenix Zoo 1981
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium 1983
Potawatomi Zoo 1987
Potter Park Zoological Gardens 1986
Racine Zoological Gardens 1986
Reid Park Zoo 1983
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden 1979
Roger Williams Park Zoo 1986
Roosevelt Park Zoo 1988
Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park 1987
Sacramento Zoo 1979
Saint Louis Zoo 1977
Salisbury Zoological Park 1976
San Antonio Zoological Society 1975
San Diego Zoo 1977
San Diego Zoo Safari Park 1977
San Francisco Zoological Gardens 1977
Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens 1982
Seattle Aquarium 1979
SeaWorld Orlando 1983
SeaWorld San Antonio 1990
SeaWorld San Diego 1981
Sedgwick County Zoo 1982
Seneca Park Zoo 1979
Smithsonian National Zoological Park 1977
St. Augustine Alligator Farm 1988
Staten Island Zoo 1988
Sunset Zoological Park 1989
Toledo Zoological Gardens 1976
Tulsa Zoo 1976
Utah's Hogle Zoo 1979
Vancouver Aquarium 1975
Virginia Zoological Park 1987
Wildlife Safari 1986
Woodland Park Zoological Gardens 1982
Zoo Atlanta 1987
Zoo Miami 1984
About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and seven other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.