AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums undergo a thorough review that includes a detailed accreditation application as well as a multiple day on-site inspection by a team of experts from around the country. Learn more about how AZA Accredition works.
September 2009 Accreditation Results
AZA is pleased to announce the results of the Accreditation Commission hearings held in September 2009 in Portland, Oregon.
AZA welcomes four new accredited members — Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park in Binghamton, N.Y., Children's Zoo at Celebration Square in Saginaw, Mich., Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco, Calif., and Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Accredited for another cycle were Binder Park Zoo, Battle Creek, Mich.; Bramble Park Zoo, Watertown, S.D.; Central Park Zoo, New York, N.Y.; Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio; Hutchinson Zoo, Hutchinson, Kan.; Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Neb.; Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, Pa.; Potawatomi Zoo, South Bend, Ind.; Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, Mo.; Salisbury Zoo, Salisbury, Md.; SeaWorld San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas; Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, Kan.; Staten Island Zoo, Staten Island, N.Y.; Sunset Zoological Park, Manhattan, Kan.; Tautphaus Park Zoo, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Utah's Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City, Utah; Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Wash.; Zoo de Granby, Granby, Quebec, Canada.
Update: 2010 Accreditation Standards
The 2010 edition of the Accreditation Standards and Related Policies is now available. We are happy to announce that the standards have now been numbered for easy reference, following the model of AZA's Standards for Elephant Management and Care.
Please also note that a new standard has been added to the Animal Care section of this document:
1.5.10. Temporary, seasonal and traveling live animal exhibits must be maintained at the same accreditation standards as the institution's permanent living collection.
For all other 2010 accreditation materials click here!
Animal Care Manuals
Accreditation standard 1.2.1 requires institutions to have copies of all approved AZA Animal Care Manuals (ACMs) for species within their collections, and to ensure that all animal care staff has access to them. For more information and a list of approved ACMs, click here.
Certification Moratorium
Moratorium Placed On New Applicants For Related Facility Certification
The AZA Board of Directors has placed a temporary moratorium on accepting new applicants for the category of Related Facility, effective immediately. The Accreditation Commission is in the process of examining the Related Facility category in terms of definition, focus, and alignment with AZA's mission statement and brand platform. The moratorium will remain in place until any changes to the Related Facility category are approved by the AZA Board of Directors and then by the voting membership.
Currently certified Related Facilities are not affected.
Upcoming Reviews
We welcome your comments regarding the AZA members and prospective members under review for accreditation or certification at the next meeting of the AZA Accreditation Commission.
Accreditation Rack Cards for Visitors
Show your visitors what your AZA accreditation means! Download the Accreditation Rack Card.