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ARAZPA zoos and aquariums strive for excellence in all areas of zoo operation, including animal and species management, conservation, education, research, veterinary care and visitor experience. Each institution registers a firm commitment to this on joining the Association, by agreeing to implement the ARAZPA Code of Practice ( 177kb) and Code of Ethics ( 91 kb).
 The ARAZPA Accreditation Program offers a framework for assisting zoos and aquariums to achieve established ARAZPA standards of zoo and aquarium operation, and provides an opportunity for independent review and validation of their efforts and achievements in meeting these standards. In addition, full implementation of the ARAZPA Accreditation Program brings greater clarity, transparency and confidence in ARAZPA to the wider zoo and aquarium community, to external agencies, and to the general public by making accreditation a condition of membership.
Through the ARAZPA Accreditation Program, ARAZPA aims for recognition of member institutions as world class in the standards of zoo and aquarium operation. The ARAZPA Accreditation Program will certify that all animals held in ARAZPA zoos and aquariums are appropriately cared for and contribute to public understanding of, and empathy with, their natural state, and that ARAZPA zoos and aquariums support species conservation through education, research or in situ support, and provide quality visitor experience.
The Accreditation Program’s mission is to establish, maintain and raise standards of operation in the zoo and aquarium community.
The scope of accreditation includes general standards and taxon standards. General standards consist of generic standards of relevance to all aspects of zoo and aquarium operation including:
- General Operations
- Collection Management
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal Health Care
- Education
- Conservation
Taxon standards refer to standards specific to a species, genus or other taxonomic grouping, and currently include:
- Elephant management guidelines
- Guidelines for hand-rearing tigers
- Flight restraint guidelines (draft)
There are two categories of accreditation standards:
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Essential standards are minimum accreditation standards that are a requirement for membership e.g. effective animal records keeping. Desirable standards measure progress towards current industry best practice. They provide a mechanism for indicating to institutions potential areas of improvement within their organisation and also monitor industry-wide practice.
Accreditation runs on a five year cycle. It will involve an initial desktop review, where information and documentation is requested via questionnaire and reviewed, and subsequent periodic site reviews. |
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An independent site review, involving a visiting team of two people, is required every five years to achieve and maintain ARAZPA Accreditation. The visiting team of assessors review all facilities and operational procedures. Two to three years after the last independent review, a detailed internal review of facilities and operational procedures will be sought by the Accreditation Committee as a follow-up. |
The ARAZPA Accreditation program is designed to:
- Be achievable by all member institutions, small or large
- Be realistic
- Link directly to existing legislative requirements and the
ARAZPA Code of Practice ( 177kb) and Code of Ethics ( 91 kb).
 Accreditation news updates
Accreditation Program ( 121 kb)
Accreditation General Standards ( 144 kb)
 Sample institutional policies
Accreditation Officer positions (members only)
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