The Columbus Zoo is one of the largest among more than 60 facilities accredited by ZAA.
Is the Columbus Zoo AZA certified?
ZAA proudly welcomes Columbus Zoo and Aquarium as an accredited facility and looks forward to supporting the Columbus Zoo in its animal care and welfare, staff and animal safety, wildlife conservation endeavors, and legislative engagements. Congratulations to Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on its ZAA Accreditation.”
Why is the Columbus Zoo not AZA-accredited?
The zoo originally lost its accreditation due to financial mismanagement and a “long record of intentional and repeated animal transfers with non-AZA members intended to supply baby animals – mainly big cats – for entertainment purposes,” according to an October press release from the association.
Did Columbus Zoo lose AZA accreditation?
The Columbus Zoo lost its accreditation in October because the zoo “failed to uphold its standards,” according to the AZA. In March 2021, four zoo officials misused zoo resources, leading to a loss of more than $630,000, according to an investigation.
Is Columbus Zoo still a zoo?
New Columbus Zoo President and CEO Tom Schmid called the AZA’s decision disappointing, but said the zoo will continue to move forward. Animal care and welfare remains the zoo’s top priority, he said in a prepared statement.
What Zoos are not AZA accredited?
- The Gorilla Foundation.
- Lindsay Wildlife Museum.
- Micke Grove Zoological Society.
- Moonridge Animal Park.
- Orange County Zoo.
- Orangutan Foundation International.
- Project Survival Cat Haven Wild Animal Park.
What happens if you lose AZA accreditation?
Denial of accreditation shall result in loss of AZA membership for institutions that are AZA-accredited at the time. The Commission may rescind accreditation from an AZA-accredited institution at any time if it fails to maintain AZA standards.
Is Columbus Zoo ethical?
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has lost its accreditation with its industry’s top accrediting body amid concerns regarding its acquisition of animals and inappropriate business practices by the zoo’s former leaders.
Will Columbus Zoo close after losing accreditation?
While the zoo will remain open without accreditation, the AZA’s decision could have an impact on customers. The zoo said that it does not expect that other zoos and aquariums will honor reciprocal discounts and memberships.
Why is Columbus Zoo being investigated?
Dan Ashe, the president of the AZA said the two major issues were financial mismanagement and concern for animal welfare in one of the zoo’s programs. The quick transferring of animals with zoos not accredited by the AZA was an especially important factor in their decision, Ashe said.
What is the difference between AZA and ZAA?
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) was founded in 1924. The Zoological Association of America (ZAA) claims to have been founded in 2005, but appears to have just been an idea that never really took off until the Lowry Park Zoo, under leadership of Lex Salisbury, lost its AZA accreditation in 2008.
What does zoo accreditation mean?
The Accreditation Commission evaluates every zoo or aquarium to make sure it meets AZA’s standards for animal welfare, care, and management, including living environments, social groupings, health, and nutrition. Every animal at AZA-accredited institutions undergoes a thorough welfare assessment at least once a year.
Who owns the Columbus Zoo?
The Columbus Zoological Park Association
The Columbus Zoological Park Association is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit corporation. The twenty five member Board of Directors meets bi-monthly to oversee the operations of the Zoo. The tax levy receipts received by the Zoo are administered by a public Appointed Board that consists of eighteen members.
Did Columbus Zoo get shut down?
Although the zoo plans to appeal the AZA’s actions and looks forward to being reinstated by 2023, its loss of accreditation does not mean that it will shut down; guests will still be able to enjoy the Columbus Zoo as if nothing happened and no layoffs will occur.
Is Columbus Zoo the biggest zoo?
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is the largest zoo in the United States. This massive zoo is home to over 7,000 animals of 800 different species, making it the zoo experience of a lifetime!
Who was fired from Columbus Zoo?
The former director of Niabi Zoo is one of two top executives at the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo & Aquarium to resign this week. Tom Stalf and his zookeeper wife, Colleen Stalf, left Niabi for Columbus in 2010.
Is Columbus Zoo accredited back?
The ZAA accreditation comes within one year of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium losing its previous accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums – a nationally recognized “best practices” honor that the zoo held for more than 40 years.
Is AZA accreditation important?
As centers for conservation, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums provide the public with essential connections to the natural world. More than 50 million visitors to AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are children, making accredited zoos and aquariums essential to science and environmental education.
Is Disney’s animal Kingdom AZA-accredited?
Because of this team’s dedication and hard work, Disney is a recognized leader in animal care and conservation. Most recently, that recognition included Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge once again earning accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
How many zoos in the US are not accredited?
Only 10 percent of zoos in the U.S.—238 to be exact—are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which holds its member zoos to the highest standards of physical and mental care for wildlife—standards that are unachievable for the vast majority of other zoos.
How many zoos in the US are accredited by the AZA?
238
The total number of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums is 238. This information was updated in July 2022. You can also search for AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums by location. Find a zoo or aquarium near you.