STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Staten Island Zoo continues to be a beacon of conservation, education, and research, and there’s plenty of recent good news to celebrate:
The Zoo has been granted re-accreditation by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and overseas.
AZA is dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums and represents 254 facilities which draw more than 200 million visitors each year.
The announcement was made at its annual conference in Tampa, Fla.
The Staten Island Zoo has been continuously accredited since 1988.
“Congratulations to the leadership and staff at the Staten Island Zoo for attaining the global ‘gold standard’ in zoological and aquarium accreditation,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
“AZA’s standards continuously evolve to reflect best practices in the zoo and aquarium profession, with a strong emphasis on animal care and wellbeing at their core. The Staten Island Zoo has demonstrated a dedication to this exceptional level of care.”
AZA accreditation includes a detailed application and a meticulous multiple-day on-site inspection by an independent team of zoological professionals.
The inspecting team analyzes all aspects of the facility’s operation, including animal care and wellbeing, veterinary care, staff training, educational programs, conservation efforts, financial stability, governance, and guest services.
Detailed reports from the inspection team and the facility alike are then thoroughly evaluated by the Accreditation Commission.
Finally, the commission interviews top officials from the facility at a formal hearing, after which accreditation is fully granted, provisionally granted for one year, or denied.
As a condition of association membership, AZA facilities must complete an accreditation process every five years.
Kenneth Mitchell, executive director of the Staten Island Zoo, said “We thank the AZA accreditation committee and the inspectors who visited the Staten Island Zoo for their thorough review. On behalf of the Zoo staff, administration and trustees, we are proud and delighted to have once again been re-accredited by AZA. We have been accredited for over 37 years. This accomplishment is a tribute not only to all the hard work done by the entire Zoo staff to prepare for the inspection, but for the consistent work all year long, and year-after-year to make the Staten Island Zoo the special and beloved place that it is for our 175,000 annual visitors.”
There are 240 AZA-accredited institutions and 14 AZA-accredited related facility members throughout the U.S. and 12 other countries.
AZA, founded in 1924, is accrediting 254 of the top zoos, aquariums, and related facilities in 13 countries.
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