Association of Zoos and Aquariums facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | AZA |
|---|---|
| Founded | October 1924 (as American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums) |
| Type | Not-for-profit organization |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) |
| Focus | Accreditation of zoos and aquariums; conservation; advocacy |
| Headquarters | Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. |
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Area served
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International |
| Method | Accreditation |
| Berto Castro | |
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President, Chief Executive Officer
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Dan Ashe |
| Craig Hoover | |
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Revenue (2016)
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$12,786,124 |
| Expenses (2016) | $10,427,633 |
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Employees (2016)
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42 |
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Volunteers (2016)
|
350 |
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a group in the United States that helps zoos and aquariums be the best they can be. It started in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization. This means it uses its money to help animals and educate people, not to make a profit for owners.
The AZA works to improve zoos and aquariums in many ways. This includes focusing on conservation (protecting animals and their homes), education, science, and fun activities for visitors. The AZA's main office is in Silver Spring, Maryland.
One of the most important things the AZA does is accredit zoos and aquariums. This means they check if a zoo or aquarium meets very high standards for animal care. As of 2019, there were 238 places that the AZA had approved. Most of these are in the U.S., but some are in other countries too.
Contents
How the AZA Started and Grew
Early Days of the AZA
The AZA began in October 1924. Back then, it was called the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums. It was part of a larger group that focused on parks.
In 1966, it became a part of the new National Recreation and Park Association. But by 1971, the members decided they wanted to be their own independent group.
Becoming an Independent Group
So, on January 19, 1972, the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums became its own organization. Its first main office was in Wheeling, West Virginia, at the Oglebay Park Good Zoo.
Later, in 1994, the group decided to use a shorter name: the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, or AZA for short.
Fighting Wildlife Crime
In early 2018, the AZA took over a group called the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance. This was done to help more people learn about buying and selling illegal wildlife products in the United States. This is a big problem that hurts many animals.
The AZA is very popular! In 2017, about 195 million people visited the 236 zoos and aquariums that were approved by the AZA.
What Does the AZA Do?
The AZA does many important things. They check if zoos and aquariums are doing a good job, they work on animal care, and they create education and conservation programs. They also help with research and speak up for animals.
Setting High Standards for Animal Care
The AZA is like a special checker for zoos and aquariums. They make sure that approved places take even better care of their animals than the law requires. Every five years, these places are checked again to make sure they are still meeting these high standards.
In 2019, the AZA had approved 238 facilities. These were in the U.S. and 11 other countries. Some of these countries include Canada, Mexico, Spain, and Singapore.
Protecting Many Animal Species
AZA-approved zoos and aquariums care for about 800,000 animals! These animals belong to 6,000 different species. This includes 1,000 species that are threatened or endangered.
The AZA also helps with something called Species Survival Plans. These plans help manage groups of animals in zoos so they stay healthy and have diverse genes. This is important for keeping species from disappearing.
Conferences and Citizen Science
The AZA holds a big meeting every September. This is one of the largest events for people who work at zoos and aquariums in the U.S.
They also run a program called FrogWatch USA. This is a "citizen science" program where everyday people can help scientists by reporting what they see and hear about frogs and toads.
How Zoos Get AZA Approval
What Does "Accreditation" Mean?
In the United States, any public place that shows animals must have licenses and be checked by government groups. These groups make sure the animals are treated well and that the place is safe.
But zoos in North America can also choose to get special approval from the AZA. This AZA approval means they meet even higher standards.
The AZA has a clear definition for what a good zoo or aquarium should be. It's a place that keeps wild animals, has trained staff, cares for its animals properly, and shows them to the public in a nice way. These places also work to protect animals and educate people.
The Approval Process
To get AZA approval, a zoo must apply and then go through a careful check. They have to meet or go beyond the AZA's rules for animal health, how they raise money, how many staff they have, and how they help with worldwide conservation.
Three experts visit the zoo to check everything. These experts are usually a veterinarian (animal doctor), an animal care expert, and someone who knows a lot about running a zoo. After their visit, a group of twelve experts reviews their findings. If everything looks good, the zoo gets approved! This whole process happens every five years.
The AZA believes there are about 2,800 animal exhibits that have a U.S. government license. But less than 10% of these have the special AZA approval. Some places that hold animals but aren't always open to the public can get a "certification" instead of full accreditation.
Helping Animals Not Go Extinct
The SAFE Program
The AZA has a special program called Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE). This program helps zoos and aquariums work together to protect species that are in great danger. SAFE uses existing plans to help save these animals and teach the public about them. In 2017, AZA zoos and aquariums spent over $15 million on species in the SAFE program.
Animals in the SAFE Program
Some of the animals that the SAFE program focuses on include:
- African lions
- Asian elephants
- Black rhinoceros
- Cheetahs
- Gorillas
- Sea turtles
- Orangutans
- Red wolfs
- Many types of sharks and sting rays
As of 2019, there were more than 20 different species or groups of animals included in this important program.
Tracking Conservation Efforts
The AZA keeps a special computer database called the Annual Report on Conservation and Science. This helps them keep track of all the research projects happening around the world that AZA members are involved in.
AZA zoos and aquariums give about $220 million to conservation projects every year. They also help with 115 programs that reintroduce animals back into the wild. More than 40 of these programs are for species that are listed as threatened or endangered by law.
In 2017, AZA members reported working on projects that helped over 860 species in 128 countries. They also spent $25 million on research and published many books and articles about their findings. Most of their research focuses on how to care for animals, keep them healthy, and protect species and their natural homes.
See Also
In Spanish: Asociación de Zoológicos y Acuarios para niños
- List of zoo associations
- World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
