Daryl Hoffman honored by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums with the Tim O’Sullivan Award for Professional Development

Silver Spring, Md. (December 17, 2025) - During this year's Annual Conference in Tampa, Fla., the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) honored Daryl Hoffman, vice president of animal care at the San Antonio Zoo, with the Tim O' Sullivan Award for Professional Development. He was recognized for his transformative impact on elephant care and leadership in mentoring professionals across the aquarium and zoo community.

The Tim O'Sullivan Award acknowledges long-term achievement and dedicated service to AZA members through the AZA Professional Development Program and AZA Professional Development Committee. Awardees have greatly contributed by volunteering their time and expertise in instruction, course development, program support and promoting ongoing professional development throughout AZA.

"Few people have as broad an impact on the AZA community as Daryl Hoffman," said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "His dedication to exceptional animal care has transformed how professionals across the country approach training, enrichment and wellbeing. His mentorship continues to inspire the next generation of elephant keepers."

Hoffman has shaped professional development in elephant management for over 20 years. He was the first recipient of the International Elephant Foundation scholarship for AZA's Principles of Elephant Management (PEM) I program, which educates elephant care professionals on topics ranging from elephant wellbeing and herd management to training theory to preventive medicine. In 2002, he was invited back to serve as an instructor for the course, and in 2012, he helped develop the hands-on PEM II course, offering participants live training demonstrations and practical experience in elephant care, enrichment and program management. Hoffman also adapted the PEM I program for zoo directors, extending professional development to leadership roles. Beyond the classroom, he has consulted at 30 AZA-accredited facilities, sharing expertise in elephant management, behavioral programs, enrichment, and operational logistics.

Hoffman's contributions to professional development are complemented by a distinguished career in animal care. He began as a keeper at the Buffalo Zoo in 1990, where he trained across multiple animals before focusing on large mammals, specifically elephants.

After more than a decade of honing his expertise and leadership, Hoffman moved to the Houston Zoo, where he served as the curator of large mammals. Tasked with "building something special," he expanded the Asian elephant herd from three individuals in two small yards to 13 elephants across a six-acre campus featuring multiple barns, spacious habitats and an off-exhibit holding area. His leadership and development of the Houston Zoo's elephant program contributed to one of North America's most successful Asian elephant breeding initiatives.

Following the loss of a young elephant in 2009 to Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV), a viral disease that can cause internal hemorrhaging in calves, Hoffman also played a key role in establishing a collaboration between the Houston Zoo and Baylor College of Medicine. This partnership has since helped advance the detection and treatment of EEHV and led to the development of the first-ever vaccine for this often-fatal disease.

Hoffman later became vice president of living collections at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium and International Conservation Center. There, he developed and executed a new Animal Welfare Assessment program and was instrumental in helping the facility regain AZA accreditation in 2024.

Hoffman also serves on multiple AZA advisory committees, including the Elephant Taxon Advisory Group (TAG)/Species Survival Plan (SSP) Steering Committee and the AZA Elephant Sustainability Task Force. He is also the executive director of the Elephant Managers Association and a founding member of the EEHV Advisory Group.

In his current role as vice president of animal care at San Antonio Zoo, Hoffman is responsible for the overall management of the animal care and veterinary services staff, the animal collection and animal wellbeing. He continues to serve as an instructor for PEM I and II, presents at workshops and conferences nationwide, mentors keepers and acts as a consultant for zoos across the country to improve standards of elephant care.

Learn more about the Tim O'Sullivan Award for Professional Development.

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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.