What is the Zoo’s status as a member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA)?
The National Zoo remains an accredited institution by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). Every five years, all accredited zoos in the United States participate in a review process in order to maintain their AZA accreditation. The National Zoo was due an accreditation inspection in 2003. On March 26, 2003, the AZA decided to ‘table’ the National Zoo’s accreditation, which means that the Zoo remains accredited for the next year while we address the AZA’s recommendations for improvements in several areas, including facility maintenance and development of an animal collection plan. In addition, the Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center (CRC) at Front Royal received from AZA re-certification as a “Related Facility” for a five-year period. CRC is categorized as a Related Facility as a part of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park that holds wildlife and is not regularly open to the public. The AZA Accreditation Commission was very supportive of the changes made at the Zoo o
