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Rosamond Gifford Zoo achieves AZA Accreditation Zoo Achieves AZA Accreditation

By Meghan O'Brien

Reporter Meghan O’Brien:
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo sees hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of people come in every day. Over the past few weeks, the zoo had some very special visitors. These visitors were a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals who carried out a thorough inspection. Why were they here? So the zoo could be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums or AZA. Communications manager J Gramza said this accreditation is held in very high esteem.

Communications manager J Gramza:

Our community is very aware that we are an AZA accredited zoo and that sets us apart from your run of the mill roadside animal park. It means that we have to meet really tough standards for animal care and we have to be heavily invested in wildlife conservation both locally and globally.

Reporter Meghan O’Brien:

The zoo has been an accredited AZA member since 1987. That’s over 30 years of accreditation and a new, harder application every five years.

Important factors the AZA outlines are animal care, keeper training, and conservation efforts. Gramza said the zoo puts a deep focus on conservation by housing many endangered species. These species include Asian elephants and the red panda.

Communications manager J Gramza:

Having this experience of animals that aren’t from your backyard, in fact they’re endangered where they are from. To form a relationship and care about that, it really leads people to have a real investment in wildlife conservation, not just for local animals, but for animals across the world.

Reporter Meghan O’Brien:

The zoo is open every day from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. In Syracuse, New York, I’m Meghan O’Brien, NCC News.

By Meghan O’Brien SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – The Rosamond Gifford Zoo sees hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of people come in every day.

Over the past few weeks, the zoo had some very special visitors: a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals who carried out a thorough inspection of the grounds, its animals, and employees. This inspection was part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation process.

Zoos across the United States have the opportunity to prove themselves based on high standards in the following categories: animal care and welfare, veterinary programs, conservation, education, safety, financial stability, and more.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo has been an accredited AZA member since 1987. However, zoos must re-apply and meet even higher goals every five years. The zoo will have to go through this process again in 2023.

The zoo prides itself in its wildlife conservation, specifically with endangered species. It is home to a number of endangered animals including the red panda, Asian elephants, and the near threatened American bison.

The zoo is open 362 days per year from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Visit the zoo website here for more information: http://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/contact-us

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