AZA Honors Two Institutions for Half a Century of Excellence

Silver Spring, Md. (October 7, 2025) - The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is pleased to announce that the San Antonio Zoo in San Antonio, Texas, and the Vancouver Aquarium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, have achieved 50 years of continuous AZA accreditation. Both institutions were honored with the Half Century Award at this year's Annual Conference in Tampa, Fla., for their unwavering commitment to maintaining the global gold standard in animal wellbeing and care, conservation, education and scientific research.

"Achieving continuous accreditation for half a century is an extraordinary accomplishment that very few institutions can claim," said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "Accreditation represents a promise to protect the animals in your care, safeguard species, and inspire people to care for the natural world. The San Antonio Zoo and Vancouver Aquarium have kept that promise for 50 years and their commitment strengthens the entire AZA community."

The Half Century Award was first presented in 2024 to two facilities. Including this year's recipients, only four institutions have received the award to date.

The following facilities have also been recognized for 25 years of continuous accreditation with AZA's Quarter Century Award:

• Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif.
• Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro, Mass.
• Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, Ill.
• Landry's Downtown Aquarium - Denver in Denver, Colo.
• Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Ore.
• Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
• Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina, Kan.
• Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Gainesville, Fla.

AZA accreditation is a thorough and rigorous process overseen by AZA's independent Accreditation Commission, which is comprised of sixteen experienced and trained experts in operations, animal welfare and husbandry, and veterinary medicine. These experts are sworn to maintain complete impartiality in their judgments and to thoroughly examine each zoo or aquarium that applies for AZA accreditation to determine whether AZA standards are being met. Only those facilities that earn AZA accreditation can become members of AZA. Facilities seeking AZA accreditation within the next five years may also submit an application for AZA's Pathway Toward Membership Program, which helps to prepare facilities for the accreditation process.

The history of AZA accreditation:

• 1971 - In response to the nation's growing concern for animal care in the United States, AZA appointed a committee to establish a set of best practices to collectively improve professional operations among the zoological park and aquarium community.
• 1974 - The first institution was accredited by AZA. Accreditation was a voluntary process at this time.
• 1985 - AZA made the bold decision to prioritize quality over quantity and made accreditation a mandatory requirement for AZA membership. Despite the resulting 75% drop in membership, AZA held firm in its decision. This led to a rise in animal husbandry and care among zoological parks and aquariums across the country as they began striving to reach the standards required for AZA membership and accreditation.
• Today - AZA accreditation is the global gold standard of the zoo and aquarium community, with 254 AZA-accredited facilities in 13 countries. AZA-accredited facilities welcome over 209 million visitors annually.

By visiting AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, the public can be assured that they are supporting facilities focused on advancing animal care and wellbeing, supporting engaging experiences with animals, and empowering wildlife conservation.

###

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.