SeaWorld Orlando was granted accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) independent Accreditation Commission, according to an announcement on Apr. 2. The decision follows a detailed evaluation process to determine if SeaWorld Orlando meets AZA’s standards for animal wellbeing, care, and management.
The accreditation is significant because it represents what the AZA describes as the global “gold standard” in zoological and aquarium accreditation. The process is designed to ensure that facilities provide high levels of animal care and uphold best practices in all aspects of their operations.
Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said, “Congratulations to the leadership and staff at SeaWorld Orlando for attaining the global ‘gold standard’ in zoological and aquarium accreditation. AZA’s standards continuously evolve to reflect best practices in the zoo and aquarium profession, with a strong emphasis on animal care and wellbeing at their core. SeaWorld Orlando has demonstrated a dedication to this exceptional level of care.”
The AZA accreditation process includes a comprehensive application followed by a multiple-day on-site inspection by an independent team of zoological professionals. This team examines areas such as animal care, veterinary services, staff training, educational programs, conservation efforts, financial stability, risk management, governance, and guest services. Reports from both inspectors and facility representatives are reviewed before top officials are interviewed at a formal hearing where final decisions are made regarding full or provisional accreditation or denial.
As part of its membership requirements with AZA, each facility must undergo this rigorous review every five years to ensure continued compliance with evolving standards.
Jon “JP” Peterson, park president at SeaWorld Orlando said: “SeaWorld Orlando is honored to be granted AZA accreditation for another five years, as we have continued upholding this high standard of animal care since we were first accredited 43 years ago. We are proud to be part of this prestigious group of AZA-accredited institutions and we are particularly proud of our teams for their devotion and commitment to providing the ‘gold standard’ of care to our animals.”
Currently there are 240 AZA-accredited institutions along with 14 related facility members across 12 countries.
