Prestigious honor reflects Zoo’s dedication to animal well-being, education, and conservation

September 19, 2024

AZA inspectors were particularly impressed by the excellent overall health of the animals – both at the Zoo and its International Conservation Center in Somerset, PA – and our commitment to embrace green initiatives and provide conservation education in an engaging manner. The experts also recognized the Zoo’s conservation plan, commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion efforts, general cleanliness, and well-maintained grounds.

“Accreditation by the AZA reinforces our dedicated staff’s steadfast commitment to our animals, their care and conservation, and nature education,” said Dr. Jeremy Goodman, Pittsburgh Zoo president & CEO. “All aspects of Zoo operation were analyzed, from veterinary procedures to finances to the quality of food and items in the gift shop. We are very proud to add this prestigious honor to our list of certifications and look forward to continuing to partner with the community to make the world better for wildlife.”

AZA accreditation provides the Zoo access to critical AZA programs and services, such as animal exchanges and participation in the Species Survival Plan – the AZA’s original flagship animal conservation program. Accreditation also offers other benefits, including professional recognition from the top zoological parks and aquariums in the United States; access to additional funding and grants; impartial periodic evaluation by professional experts; and learning opportunities for Zoo staff.

AZA standards are constantly evolving, and each institution must adhere to them to remain accredited. The Pittsburgh Zoo voluntarily left the AZA in 2015 following a change to a then-new AZA policy that called for limiting unprotected contact with elephants. At the time, the change was considered a concern for the individual elephant behaviors at the Zoo. In the intervening years, the Zoo has made steady updates to procedures that reflect these standards and maintained constant checks on animal welfare. As the Zoo’s procedures aligned with AZA standards, the Zoo’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to seek AZA accreditation again in 2021, joining the AZA’s Pathway to Membership program and working diligently on the lengthy application process.

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. As the primary accrediting body for zoos and aquariums, U.S. agencies such as OSHA and the USDA refer to AZA standards when evaluating institutions.

Of the approximately 2,800 animal exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) across the country, less than 10% are AZA-accredited. There are currently 252 AZA-accredited facilities throughout the U.S. and 12 other countries – and this now includes the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.

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