Milwaukee County Zoo Achieves AZA Accreditation

AZA-accredited institutions maintain the world’s most rigorous standards of animal care. Institutions that strive to achieve this distinction undergo a stringent, peer-reviewed process every five years in order to become accredited. The accreditation process includes a comprehensive application and rigorous on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals. The inspecting team analyzes all aspects of the facility’s operation, including animal care and wellbeing; veterinary care; staff training; safety for visitors, staff, and animals; 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-evolving standards. As a condition of Association membership, AZA facilities must complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years. MCZ has been continuously accredited by AZA since 1976. That accomplishment emphasizes the professionalism and dedication of Milwaukee County leadership, MCZ staff, and our nonprofit partner, the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. The accreditation process is the same for all institutions, regardless of whether an institution holds accreditation at the time of application or is applying for the first time.

Once AZA accreditation is achieved, the institution must continuously advance its professional operation, upgrade its facilities, stay abreast of constantly rising standards in all areas, and incorporate modern zoological practices and philosophies as basic tenets, or risk losing its accreditation. In fact, only 13% percent of the nearly 2,000 wildlife exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture are AZA-accredited.

“The Milwaukee County Zoo is a cultural asset that the community can feel confident in supporting, particularly with this latest achievement in AZA accreditation. I commend all the Zoo staff for meeting — and exceeding — best practices in animal care, stewardship, and beyond. Yet, our work doesn’t end here. We will continue to strive and make the Zoo an inclusive, educational, community investment that provides top-tier care and is beneficial to the greater good for many years to come,” emphasizes County Executive David Crowley.

“Congratulations to the Milwaukee County Zoo for meeting our rigorous standards and achieving Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation,” says Dan Ashe, president and chief executive officer at AZA. “Earning accreditation is a mark of excellence and a testament to the Milwaukee County Zoo’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards of animal care and conservation. Your dedication not only enhances the lives of the animals you care for but also sets a precedent for excellence in the zoological community.”

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 the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and 12 other 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.