Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Statement of AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy Regarding Tiger Incident at the San Francisco Zoo

CONTACT: Steve Feldman, AZA, 301-562-0777, x252

SILVER SPRING, MD, December 26, 2007 – The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) President and CEO Jim Maddy issued the following statement regarding the tiger incident at the San Francisco Zoo:

"The entire zoo and aquarium community joins me in expressing sympathy to the family of the guest that lost his life and our deepest hope that the two injured guests will recover.

The San Francisco Zoo is a great zoo, it's an accredited AZA member in good standing, and it has our support during this difficult time.

AZA mandatory accreditation standards require that the San Francisco Zoo provide a thorough report to its independent Accreditation Commission, which will review it and determine any actions that need to be taken. We will not speculate on what action might be taken until the facts are fully reviewed.

AZA-accredited zoos are safe. Until this incident, there had not been a visitor fatality resulting from an animal escape at an AZA-accredited zoo. AZA mandatory accreditation standards require safety and emergency protocols that go beyond federal, state or local requirements. Regular safety training and annual emergency drills are required by these mandatory accreditation standards."

A full copy of the AZA accreditation standards can be found at www.aza.org/Accreditation/Documents/AccredStandPol.pdf.

About AZA

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA 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. With its more than 200 accredited members, the AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.

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