Following a rigorous accreditation process, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden has retained its AZA status continuously since 1981.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden has once again been granted accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The accreditation certifies that the Oklahoma City Zoo has met or exceeded the AZA’s standards for animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete its accreditation process every five years in order to remain a member.
“The staff and the leadership team here hold themselves to the highest standards in caring for our animal family and our guests,” said Dr. Dwight Lawson, OKC Zoo’s CEO and Executive Director. “It is gratifying to know our efforts and achievements are recognized by the AZA and it only drives us to continue improving as we make the OKC Zoo a vital hub for conservation action throughout the state and the country.”
AZA accreditation includes a detailed application and a meticulous multiple-day on-site inspection by an independent team of zoological professionals. The inspecting team analyzes all aspects of the facility’s operation, including animal care and wellbeing; veterinary care; staff training; safety for visitors, staff, and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts; financial stability; risk management; governance; and guest services. Detailed reports from the inspection team and the facility alike are then thoroughly evaluated by the Commission. Finally, the Commission interviews top officials from the facility at a formal hearing, after which accreditation is fully granted, provisionally granted for one year, or denied. The OKC Zoo has been an accredited member of the AZA since 1981 and was one of only 33 facilities granted accreditation at this year’s annual conference. As a result of these accreditation decisions, there are now 252 AZA-accredited facilities throughout the United States and 12 other countries.
“Earning AZA accreditation is a mark of excellence and a testament to a zoo or aquarium’s unwavering dedication to the highest standards of animal care and conservation,” said Dan Ashe, President and CEO at AZA. “Accreditation celebrates the passion and dedication of the hardworking individuals who make up our community. By visiting AZA-accredited facilities, visitors ensure they receive a wonderful educational experience in a safe environment where every animal they encounter receives the very best care.”
Since its last accreditation in 2018, the Zoo has added the massive Expedition Africa, a 12-acre reimagining of habitats and facilities, as well as the Zoo’s largest ever expansion. In addition to a new giraffe barn and the collaborative Savanna habitat, the project includes a renovated Love’s Pachyderm Building, home to some of the Zoo’s most captivating smaller species. Since its official opening earlier this year, Expedition Africa has become a major draw for the Zoo’s more than 1 million annual visitors.
But the OKC Zoo is far from finished growing, Lawson said. Plans are already underway for the next expansion project, which will bring sea lions and African penguins into the Zoo’s animal family, as well as future advancements on the horizon that were outlined in the most recent master plan.
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and 12 other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit https://www.aza.org.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry no later than 4 p.m. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Zoo admission is $16 for adults and $13 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Membership has its perks! As a ZOOfriends member of the Oklahoma City Zoo, enjoy free admission all year-long, plus many additional benefits and discounts. You will also be supporting the Zoo’s animal family, education programming and conservation initiatives both locally and globally. Join or renew today at www.okczoo.org/membership.
Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, X, Instagram, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. To learn more about Zoo happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.org.