Two AZA-accredited zoos recognized for 50 years of excellence

Silver Spring, Md. (November 1, 2024) For the first time in its 100-year history, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) recognized two United States zoos celebrating 50 years of AZA accreditation. At this year's Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Ore., and Philadelphia Zoo in Pa., received recognition as the first zoos to consistently maintain a half-century record of AZA accreditation.

"Oregon Zoo and Philadelphia Zoo have essentially walked the path of accreditation alongside AZA since the program's inception in 1974. Our AZA-accredited members represent the global gold standard in animal care and wellbeing. They are also leaders in the conservation of wildlife and wild places," said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "We are incredibly honored to recognize their 50 years of AZA accreditation."

"We are incredibly proud to reach this historic milestone of 50 years of AZA accreditation. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team, as well as our commitment to exceptional animal care and conservation. We look forward to continuing our mission of connecting our community with wildlife and inspiring future generations to protect our planet." Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, President and CEO of Philadelphia Zoo.

"We are deeply honored and so proud to have achieved this distinction," said Heidi Rahn, Oregon Zoo director. "Five decades ago we couldn't have imagined the role modern zoos and aquariums would play, nor our community's expectations of us. And watching the standards evolve, even over the past few years, it's clear that we can't stand still. We'll take this moment to reflect on the past 50 years, but we're also busy preparing for the future. Our commitment to wildlife has never been stronger."

CuriOdyssey in San Mateo, Calif., and Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville, N.C., were also recognized for 25 years of AZA accreditation. In total, 152 zoos and aquariums have now been recognized for consistently maintaining a quarter century of AZA accreditations.

AZA accreditation is a thorough and rigorous process overseen by AZA's independent Accreditation Commission, comprised of sixteen experienced and trained experts in operations, animal welfare and husbandry, and veterinary medicine. These experts are sworn to maintain complete impartiality in their judgments and to thoroughly examine each zoo or aquarium that applies for AZA accreditation to determine if AZA standards are being met. Only those facilities that earn AZA accreditation can become members of AZA. Facilities seeking AZA accreditation within the next five years may also submit an application for AZA's Pathway Toward Membership Program which helps to prepare facilities for the accreditation process.

The history of AZA accreditation:

• 1971 - In response to the nation's growing concern for animal care in the United States, AZA appointed a committee to establish a set of best practices to collectively improve professional operations among the zoological park and aquarium community.
• 1974 - The first institution was accredited by AZA. Accreditation was a voluntary process at this time.
• 1985 - AZA made the bold decision to place the importance of quality ahead of quantity and made accreditation a mandatory requirement for AZA membership. Despite the resulting 75% drop in membership, AZA held firm in its decision. This led to a rise in animal husbandry and care among zoological parks and aquariums across the country as they began striving to reach the standards required for AZA membership and accreditation.
• Today - AZA accreditation is the global gold standard of the zoo and aquarium field, with 251 AZA-accredited facilities in 45 states and 13 countries. AZA-accredited facilities welcome over 200 million visitors annually.

By visiting AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, the public can be assured that they are supporting facilities focused on advancing animal care and wellbeing, supporting engaging experiences with animals and empowering wildlife conservation.

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 13 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.