Association of Zoos and Aquariums

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The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA; previously American Zoo and Aquarium Association, and originally American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA)) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. The vision statement of the organization is:

• The AZA uses its institution accreditation, animal care initiatives, education & conservation programs, collaborative research and political lobbying in order to achieve this goal.
• The AZA serves as an accrediting body for zoos and aquariums and ensures that accredited facilities meet higher standards of animal care than are required by law. There are over 200 AZA accredited institutions. Member institutions are evaluated every five years in order to ensure AZA standards are met and to maintain AZA accreditation.
• The Association also facilitates Species Survival Plans, which are plans for the captive management of genetically diverse populations of various endangered species.

The AZA was founded in 1924 and started as the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums. The organization was formed to provide a professional forum for zoo officials to discuss their animals. In 1971, the AAZPA gained independent status and began to work towards animal conservation.

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association has developed a definition for zoological gardens and aquariums as part of its accreditation standards: "A permanent cultural institution which owns and maintains captive wild animals that represent more than a token collection and, under the direction of a professional staff, provides its collection with appropriate care and exhibits them in an aesthetic manner to the public on a regularly scheduled basis. They shall further be defined as having as their primary business the exhibition, conservation and preservation of the earth's fauna in an educational and scientific manner."

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) has established a computerized database called the Annual Report on Conservation and Science (ARCS). It provides an excellent model for a broader database to help track research projects worldwide. The database can be searched by key word, name of researcher, topic, country or region, name of AZA institution, conservation programme title, name of cooperating institution (including governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, colleges or universities, and non-member zoos and aquariums), type of research, or date.

In 2000-2001, AZA member institutions reported that they participated in over 2,230 conservation projects (1,390 in situ and 610 ex situ, 230 both) in 94 countries. They published 1,450 books, book chapters, journal articles, conference proceeding papers, posters and theses or dissertations. The publications can be searched using keywords, name of author, type of publication, institution name, or date.

See also

• List of AZA member zoos and aquariums
• American Sanctuary Association

External links

• “Association of Zoos and Aquariums” (AZA) home page

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