Roger Williams Park Zoo Earns Prestigious Accreditation For 37th Straight Year

PROVIDENCE, RI — Roger Williams Park Zoo has earned reaccreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a nonprofit dedicated to animal welfare at zoos and aquariums around the world, local zoo officials said Thursday.

The zoo was the first in New England to earn accreditation in 1986 and has been reaccredited continuously for 37 years.

“We are proud that our zoo is helping to safeguard animals regionally and worldwide through wildlife conservation programs,"Stacey Johnson, Roger Williams Park Zoo’s executive director said. "Additionally, AZA accreditation assures that we meet the highest standards in animal welfare and public education. This accreditation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers who believe in our mission to conserve wildlife and wild places."

Zoo officials said AZA accreditation is a rigorous and comprehensive process that evaluates all aspects of a zoo or aquarium's operation, including animal welfare, veterinary care, keeper training, safety, education, conservation, finance, risk management, governance, and guest services. The process begins with a detailed application, followed by a multi-day on-site inspection by an independent team of zoological professionals.

The inspection team then assesses the facility's operations and prepares a detailed report. The commission then reviews the report and interviews top officials from the zoo or aquarium at a formal hearing. Based on this evaluation, the commission decides whether to grant full accreditation, provisional accreditation for one year, or deny accreditation.

"We are proud that our Zoo is helping to safeguard animals regionally and worldwide through wildlife conservation programs," said Stacey Johnson, executive director. "Additionally, AZA accreditation assures that we meet the highest standards in animal welfare and public education. This accreditation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers who believe in our mission to conserve wildlife and wild places."

There are currently 237 AZA-accredited facilities and 15 AZA-accredited related facility members throughout the U.S. and 12 other countries.

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