Georgia Aquarium Earns American Humane Designation

ATLANTA, GA — The Georgia Aquarium has achieved certification from American Humane, the world's largest certifier of animal welfare, under its global Humane Conservation program. The Georgia Aquarium is among the first five institutions worldwide to earn certification under the animal welfare initiative.

American Humane launched Humane Conservation in June as a certification program focusing on humane treatment of animals living in zoos and aquariums.

Some of the criteria for the certification included health and housing; positive social interactions within the animals, as well as between animals and handlers; safe environments that featured appropriate lighting, sound levels and air quality; and protocols to prevent and manage medical or operational emergencies.

Certification was also contingent on the results of an independent, third-party audit.

• See also: Georgia Aquarium Named 4th-Worst Tank in North America

"The certification of Georgia Aquarium under our Humane Conservation program signals the institution's commitment to voluntarily meeting the highest standards of humane, verifiable, and transparent animal care," said president and CEO of American Humane, Dr. Robin Ganzert.

Earlier this year, an international animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals, named the aquarium as the fourth-worst tank in North America for dolphins and whales in North America. The organization said the list was selected from more than 60 facilities from southern Canada to Mexico where almost 1,000 whales and dolphins are on public display.

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Image: Georgia Aquarium