INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Zoo has lost its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), ending decades of continuous holding of the zoological industry’s gold standard.
AZA accreditation is granted to fewer than 10% of the thousands of animal exhibitors registered in North America. The rigorous credential requires institutions to undergo a comprehensive peer review every five years, evaluating operational standards across animal welfare, veterinary care, staff training, safety, financial stability, and conservation efforts.
While loss of accreditation does not force an institution to close its doors to the public, it carries significant operational and reputational implications:
- Reciprocal Benefits: AZA accreditation grants institutions reciprocal membership discounts and joint ticket programs with participating zoos and aquariums across the country. Losing status generally ends these partnerships.
- Species Survival Programs (SSPs): Accredited institutions participate directly in cooperative breeding programs designed to manage healthy, genetically diverse populations of threatened and endangered species. A loss in status can complicate inter-zoo animal transfers and scientific research initiatives.
- Granting and Funding: Certain federal, state, and private conservation grants require recipient facilities to maintain active AZA accreditation.
Facilities that fail to maintain or earn accreditation are typically eligible to reapply during subsequent review cycles once identified concerns or compliance gaps are resolved. The Indianapolis Zoo has not yet publicly detailed its timeline for seeking re-accreditation.
