31 Institutions Awarded Prestigious AZA Accreditation

Silver Spring, Md. (September 18, 2025) - The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is proud to grant accreditation to 31 world-class institutions at this year's Annual Conference, September 13-18, in Tampa, Florida. The Association's independent Accreditation Commission reviewed 32 facility accreditation applications. Of those, 31 facilities were granted accreditation, and one was denied.

"An accreditation credential is only as valuable as the process and organization behind it," said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "AZA accreditation, the global gold standard for modern aquariums and zoos, reflects decades of progress through science, experience, and a persistent commitment to fostering environments where animals thrive, visitors benefit, and wildlife and wild spaces are conserved. We applaud the dedicated leadership and staff at each of these facilities, as they represent some of the best zoos and aquariums around the globe."

The following facilities earned AZA accreditation:

• Assiniboine Park Zoo
• Binder Park Zoo
• Brookgreen Gardens
• Buttonwood Park Zoo
• Central Park Zoo
• Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
• Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
• Everland Zoo
• Franklin Park Zoo
• High Desert Museum
• Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park
• Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
• Philadelphia Zoo
• Potawatomi Zoo
• Prospect Park Zoo
• Queens Zoo
• Roosevelt Park Zoo
• Saginaw Children's Zoo
• Saint Louis Zoo
• Santa Ana Zoo
• Sedgwick County Zoo
• Seoul Zoo
• Staten Island Zoo
• Sunset Zoological Park
• Tracy Aviary
• Utah's Hogle Zoo
• Virginia Zoo
• Walter D. Stone Memorial Zoo
• Woodland Park Zoo
• ZooMontana

Reflecting the rigor of AZA's standards and the accountability of its accreditation process, the following application for accreditation was denied:

Any existing member denied accreditation has 30 days to appeal its denial to the AZA Board of Directors.

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; risk management; governance; and guest services. Detailed reports from the inspection team and the facility alike are then thoroughly evaluated by the 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.

A thorough review ensures that each facility has met and will continue to meet ever-increasing standards. As a condition of Association membership, AZA facilities are required to complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years.

Of the 32 accreditation applications reviewed during the AZA Annual Conference, four were new applicants, three of which were AZA Pathway Toward Membership program participants.

As a result of these accreditation decisions, there are now 254 AZA-accredited facilities throughout the United States and 12 other countries. Click here for a complete list of accredited AZA facilities.

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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 setting the global gold standard, accrediting 254 of the top zoos, aquariums, and related facilities in 13 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.