Upholding the Standard

"In the past five years, ten facilities have failed AZA's accreditation process. Large and small, zoo and aquarium, internationally famous and locally loved, all AZA members are accountable to our standards.  If they do not uphold them, they will not be accredited."

- Dan Ashe, AZA President and CEO

Last month saw the Annual Conference of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, held virtually for the second year in a row due to COVID.  There were lots of meetings and guest speakers and seminars (or webinars, in this case), but the for many zoos and aquariums, the main focus was on the results of their accreditation hearings.  Every five years, zoos and aquariums must apply for reaccreditation from AZA, resulting in their entire organization being gone over with a fine-toothed comb.

This past go-around, two zoos didn't make the cut - Safari West, in California and, in the biggest news in the zoo community, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

CZA's troubles are well-publicized and are twofold.  Firstly, there was a financial scandal as some now-former executives made some decisions about bids that were of a dubious ethical nature.  Secondly, there was a series of transactions with non-AZA partners to supply big cats, including cubs, for ambassador opportunities.

Columbus and Safari West aren't the first zoos to be removed from AZA.  Mill Mountain Zoo, Salisbury Zoo, and Jackson Zoo are other former members.  Other institutions, such as ZooTampa (then known as Lowry Park Zoo), Topeka Zoo, and Honolulu Zoo have also lost accreditation, but have since been readmitted (I believe the previously mentioned facilities which are currently unaccredited are also working to rejoin AZA).  Perhaps the most dramatic former member is Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, which was not expelled but instead resigned from AZA in protest of what it saw as AZA's attempts to meddle with its elephant program.  Years later, it is now planning on rejoining AZA.

The loss of Columbus, one of the most prominent, respected members of AZA is a blow, as it is when any institution loses membership.  But, as AZA CEO Dan Ashe points out, there's no point in having accredidation standards if you don't stick to them.  The breaches that Columbus has been accused of are far greater than those that pushed Mill Mountain or Salisbury out.  One zoo shouldn't get a pass just because it's big and important.

This will not unduly impact animal care at Columbus, and any rumors that this will cause the zoo to shut down are categorically incorrect.  Still, it is a major loss of prestige, one which the zoo is already working to address with the implementation of new leadership and new protocols.  I'm confident that things will turn around.  I look forward to the near future, when Columbus, Pittsburgh, and other former members - as well as new members queuing up for acceptance - join AZA.  I don't agree with every decision AZA makes, but I still think that it's collaborative efforts on animal management and conservation are the best thing that the zoo community has going for it.