Accreditation Program

Zoo and Aquarium Association member zoos and aquariums strive for excellence in all areas of zoo operation, including husbandry and species management, conservation, education, research, veterinary care  and visitor experience. Each institution registers a firm commitment to this on joining the Association, by agreeing to implement the Association's Code of Practice   and Code of Ethics .

The Zoo and Aquarium Association's Accreditation Program offers a framework for assisting zoos and aquariums to achieve established Association standards of zoo and aquarium operation. The program provides an opportunity for independent review and validation of their efforts and achievements in meeting these standards. In addition, full implementation of the Association's Accreditation Program brings greater clarity, transparency and confidence in the Association to the wider zoo and aquarium community, to external agencies, and to the general public by making accreditation a condition of membership.

Through the Accreditation Program, the Zoo and Aquarium Association  aims for recognition of member institutions as having world class standards of zoo and aquarium operation. The Association's Accreditation Program will certify that all animals held in member zoos and aquariums are appropriately cared for and contribute to public understanding of, and empathy with, their natural state, and that member zoos and aquariums support species conservation through education, research, in-situ support and provide quality visitor experience.

The Accreditation Program’s mission is to establish, maintain and raise standards of operation in the zoo and aquarium community.

The scope of accreditation includes general standards and taxon standards. General standards consist of generic standards of relevance to all aspects of zoo and aquarium operation including:

• General Operations;
• Collection Management;
• Animal Husbandry;
• Animal Health Care;
• Education; and
• Conservation.

Taxon standards refer to standards specific to a species, genus or other taxonomic grouping, and currently include:

• Elephant management guidelines
• Guidelines for hand-rearing tigers
• Flight restraint guidelines (draft)

 There are three primary stages that are required to be completed before a recommendation can be made to the Association Board.

They are as follows:

1. An initial desktop review on institutional policies and procedures is undertaken and provided to the Association via questionnaire submissions;
2. An independent site review, involving a visiting team of at least two people. The visiting assessment team review all facilities and operational procedures and produce a Site Review Report. The institution then writes a Response Report; and,
3. Both reports are provided to the Accreditation and Animal Welfare Committee who then liaise closely with the institution. Once consultation with the institution is complete, the committee is then able make a recommendation to the Association Board. The Board determines if accreditation will be granted.

 The Zoo and Aquarium Association's Accreditation program is designed to:

• Be achievable by all member institutions, small or large
• Be realistic
• Link directly to existing legislative requirements and the Zoo and Aquarium Association's Code of Practice   and Code of Ethics .