AZA, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, recently organised a meeting for its independent Accreditation Commission (the Commission) to review AZA accreditation applications.
The process for applicants requires a detailed application and a thorough, multiple-day on-site inspection undertaken by an independent group of trained zoological professionals. The inspection looks at all aspects of facility operations such as animal welfare and wellbeing, veterinary care, keeper training, animal, staff and visitor safety, educational programs, conservation actions, finances, risk management, governance, and visitor services.
Reports provided by the facility and inspection team are then carefully evaluated by the Commission. At the conclusion of the process, attraction executives are interviewed at a formal hearing by the Accreditation Commission, after which the decision is made to grant, extend or deny the accreditation.
Cycle applicants
During this cycle, 22 of the accreditation applications were previously accredited facilities, with one being a new applicant. Two applicants for certification were received from previously certified facilities.
The approved list of AZA accreditation applicants features:
- Africam Safari Park, Puebla, Mexico
- Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, California
- Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton, Ohio
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida
- Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro, California
- California Science Center, Los Angeles, California
- Cameron Park Zoo, Waco, Texas
- Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Sanford, Florida
- CuriOdyssey, San Mateo, California
- Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Fresno, California
- Happy Hollow Zoo, San Jose, California
- Lion Country Safari, Loxahatchee, Florida
- Marineland, St. Augustine, Florida (New Member)
- Museum of Life and Science, Durham, North Carolina
- Naples Zoo, Naples, Florida
- Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport, Oregon
- Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco, California
- SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, Tempe, Arizona
- Texas State Aquarium, Corpus Christi, Texas
- Zoológico de Cali, Cali, Colombia
The approved applicants for certification include Lemur Conservation Foundation, Myakka City, Florida and the Turtle Conservancy, Ojai, California.
Denied applicant
The Commission also denied accreditation to Parque Zoológico de Leon, Mexico. As an existing member, the zoo has thirty days to appeal the Commission’s decision to the AZA board of directors’ Executive Committee. Should an appeal be received, the Executive Committee will have forty-five days to decide if the full AZA board of directors should consider the appeal at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
The AZA board has the power to overturn or revise Commission decisions, although the AZA states this is a rarity. Should the denial be upheld, the Mexican zoo will be eligible to apply for AZA accreditation again next March, with the earliest date to regain accreditation being September 2023.
AZA president and CEO Dan Ashe says: “Getting AZA accreditation is rigorous, and the standards continue to evolve, ensuring animal welfare remains at the forefront of our process.
“Our standards are comprehensive, and our process is thorough, objective, and independent, with membership measured against a commitment to meeting the “gold standard” for a modern zoological facility. We are proud to welcome these exceptional zoos, aquariums, and related facilities as AZA members.”
Last month, the AZA held its Association 2022 Mid-Year Meeting, during which Gateway Ticketing Systems was present to discuss how its Galaxy Ticketing and Guest Experience solution can be utilised in the aquarium and zoo sector.
