Lincoln Children’s Zoo Granted Accreditation by AZA Accreditation Commission
Lincoln Children’s Zoo has been fully granted accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Accreditation Commission. Lincoln Children’s Zoo first received AZA accreditation in 1990 and has continuously been granted accreditation since.
“The rigorous standards that AZA sets for its facilities make accreditation a truly remarkable achievement. This would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our incredible zoo team,” said Evan Killeen, Lincoln Children’s Zoo CEO. “From the zookeepers who provide our animals with the best possible care, to the horticulture team that maintains the zoo grounds, to maintenance who makes sure everything is working properly and to the guest services team who create an enjoyable experience, each member of our staff makes the Lincoln Children’s Zoo the community destination that it is. I cannot thank our team enough for the work that they’ve done to ensure that our facility not only meets but surpasses AZA’s standards.”
The AZA accreditation process includes a detailed application and a meticulous on-site, multiple-day inspection by an independent team of expert zoological professionals. The inspecting team analyzes all aspects of the facility’s operation, including animal welfare and wellbeing; veterinary care; keeper 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 are then thoroughly evaluated by the Commission. Finally, the Accreditation Commission interviews top officials at a formal hearing, after which accreditation is fully granted, provisionally granted for one year, or denied.
Lincoln Children’s Zoo was a previously accredited facility and was fully granted accreditation again. During this process, the Lincoln Children’s Zoo underwent a thorough review to make sure it has and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which emphasize animal wellbeing, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires facilities to complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years as a condition of Association membership.
There are currently 238 AZA-accredited facilities and 15 AZA-certified related facility members throughout the U.S. and 12 other countries. For a complete list of accredited AZA facilities, please visit https://www.aza.org/inst-status.
