Columbus Zoo regains accreditation nearly 18 months after it was revoked by AZA
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has regained accreditation with the industry's top accrediting body nearly 18 months after it was revoked.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) granted the Columbus Zoo accreditation following an inspection in December, the zoo announced Monday.
“I’m proud of our team, both our staff and our board of directors. We have accomplished so much over the last 18 months," zoo CEO Tom Schmid said in a news release. "From restructuring our animal care program to the development of over 30 new financial policies and procedures, we are a much stronger institution today."
More:Columbus Zoo CEO '99.9%' confident accreditation will return in March
The AZA revoked the zoo's accreditation in October 2021. The organization cited concerns about the zoo's repeated animal transfers with non-AZA members to supply baby animals for entertainment purposes, as well as "inappropriate financial management issues by former leadership."
Zoo leaders have previously said they'd already dealt with the animal acquisition issues and missteps by previous leadership. Schmid said the zoo has a new governance model in place and has made changes to its animal acquisition and deposition policies, which the AZA noted as a point of achievement following its most recent visit. The AZA's December inspection raised no major concerns.
"The outcome of our recent inspection really demonstrates how far we have come,” Schmid said.
What is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums?
The AZA is the industry's top accrediting body for zoos and aquariums in the United States and a dozen other countries. The AZA's accreditation process helps ensure its member facilities are meeting industry standards that emphasize animal welfare and care, veterinary programs, conservation, education and safety, the AZA's website said. Accredited organizations must go through the accreditation process every five years.
Accreditation impacts eligibility for funding and grants from some foundations, corporations or other funding sources, and exempts institutions from certain government requirements, especially at the state level.
Accredited AZA members also are eligible to participate in animal exchange programs with other member zoos and aquariums and the AZA's animal conservation programs.
The Columbus Zoo appealed the AZA's decision to revoke its accreditation, but the organization upheld its original determination in December 2021. The zoo had the opportunity to reapply for accreditation in fall of 2022.
After the zoo lost its accreditation with the AZA, it was granted accreditation by the Zoological Association of America, a smaller and newer accrediting body, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA), an international association and accrediting body specializing in marine mammals.
“We welcome the rigor of all accreditation inspections and continue to identify new opportunities to benchmark our programming," Schmid said in Monday's news release. "Our objective is always to exceed standards, and to demonstrate our commitment to animal wellbeing, education, wildlife conservation, our staff, and our guests."
Why did the zoo lose accreditation?
The zoo lost accreditation following leadership issues and questions around the way it transferred animals for entertainment purposes.
A 2021 documentary film, "The Conservation Game," raised questions about the way celebrity conservationists, including longtime Columbus Zoo director Jack Hanna, acquire exotic animals. The film alleges baby tigers and snow leopards that appeared with Hanna on late-night talk shows often didn't come from or return to accredited zoos, but were instead shuffled among backyard breeders and unaccredited zoos that don't have to adhere to the same strict animal care standards and ethics rules as accredited facilities.
In July 2021, the Columbus Zoo announced it had cut ties with animal vendors who do not meet certain standards of animal care.
Before that, Tom Stalf, former zoo president and CEO; and Greg Bell, former chief financial officer, resigned after an investigation by The Dispatch detailed their extensive personal use of zoo resources. Forensic audits initiated by the zoo's board confirmed improper spending and questionable business practices by the former top two executives, resulting in more than $630,000 in zoo losses. Stalf and other top executives eventually agreed to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars to the zoo.
More:Dispatch investigation finds Columbus Zoo officials using assets for personal use
What's next for the zoo?
The zoo's board of directors is proud of the zoo staff for regaining accreditation, said board chairwoman Katie Wolfe Lloyd in Monday's announcement.
“Columbus has many points of pride, and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is among the top. The Zoo staff’s expertise, passion, and reputation go beyond Central Ohio, making the Columbus Zoo a must-visit destination," she said. "... I am excited with the progress that we have made, and even more excited about our future."
The Columbus Zoo is hosting the AZA's annual conference in September, so the timing of the accreditation is ideal, Schmid said.
The zoo is also investing $50 million in its facilities, including the redevelopment of its North America region, upgrading indoor animal facilities and improving camping areas at The Wilds in Muskingum County.
jsmola@dispatch.com
@jennsmola
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium regains AZA accreditation
