Zoo & Aquarium News
The Importance of Accreditation
LINDA CENDES N
o t a l l zoos and aquar i- ums are
the same. Accredited zoos and aquariums have demonstrated their commitment to the highest standards in animal care and management and also to safety, conserva- tion, education and visitor services. Currently, fewer than 10 per cent of the
approximately 2,600 animal exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). By becoming centres of excellence in animal care, conservation and education, accred- ited zoos and aquariums gain the trust of the public, who report in opinion polls that high standards are important.
“The AZA logo assures guests that they’re supporting an institution dedicated to providing the best care for animals”
T e AZA accreditation process includes
a detailed application and a meticulous on- site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals. T e inspecting team observes all aspects of the institution’s operation. Accreditation is then granted or denied at a formal hearing. Zoos and aquariums must go through the
full accreditation process every fi ve years, as AZA-Accreditation Standards are con- tinuously being examined and raised. In addition, as a member, the zoo or
aquarium can participate in cooperative animal exchanges for loan and/or breeding. T is includes participation in AZA’s Species Survival Plan program, which allows for the sharing of a number of threatened and endangered species. By looking for the AZA logo at a zoo or
aquarium, guests are assured that they’re supporting an institution dedicated to pro- viding the best care for animals.
Linda Cendes, program assistant, communications, AZA
16 Georgia Aquarium expands TOM WALKER
Georgia Aquarium’s newest and biggest addition – its sixth permanent gallery – opened to the public on 2 April. A US$110m (€76m, £68m),
three-year project, AT&T Dolphin Tales focuses on cre- ating a greater understanding of dolphins, traditionally the most-requested animal by vis- itors to the aquarium. Incorporating a number
of diff erent spaces, the new PGAV Destinations-designed gallery includes an entrance lobby featuring a 25ſt (7.6m) underwater viewing window. T e lobby leads to the AT&T Dolphin Tales
theatre, an enclosed facility designed and built as a backdrop for a show involving dolphins and live actors, and featuring special theatri- cal eff ects. AT&T worked with the aquarium to develop and support a number of diff erent
T e latest addition to the aquarium is also the largest single gallery
tools aimed at highlighting and promoting dol- phin-, gallery- and show-related content, both in person at the aquarium and online. T e Georgia Aquarium – located in Atlanta,
Georgia – is the world’s largest, with more than ten million gallons of water and the biggest collection of aquatic animals.
BIAZA reveals ‘value’ of zoos/aquariums TOM WALKER
A new study from the British Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) has found that the sector is worth around £645m (US$1.1bn, €725m) to the UK econ- omy each year. John Regan Associates carried out the economic impact assess- ment of the sector on behalf of BIAZA, which showed that animal attractions create more than 11,000 jobs. Visitors to UK zoos and
aquariums spend £246m (€278m, $407m), while off -site expenditure is worth a further £198m (€224m, $328m) to the economy. BIAZA member attractions welcomed 25
million visitors during 2010, more than 1.2 mil- lion of which were on educational trips. More
Zoos and aquariums generate £645m for the UK economy each year
than 600 research projects were carried out, with BIAZA members supporting more than 700 conservation schemes contributing more than £11m (€12.4m, $18.2m) each year.
London Zoo to open £2m penguin pool TOM WALKER
London Zoo in the UK will open the largest penguin pool in England later this year. T e £2m (€2.3m, US$3.3m) Penguin Beach,
the Zoo’s brand new fl agship exhibit for 2011, will be home to nearly 150 Macaroni and
Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital
Humboldt penguins when it opens on 27 May. T e new penguin colony will live in a purpose-designed pool which will hold more than 450,000 litres of water, making it four times bigger and three times deeper than the current penguin enclosure.
AM 2 2011 ©cybertrek 2011
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