Twenty-four North American Zoos and Aquariums Earn AZA Accreditation

Silver Spring, Maryland (September 26, 2008) - The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) today announced the results of its September accreditation hearings. Twenty-four zoos and aquariums across North America were granted AZA accreditation by its independent Accreditation Commission.

• Blank Park Zoo - Des Moines, IA
• Bronx Zoo - The Bronx, NY
• Brookgreen Gardens - Pawleys Island, SC
• The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House - St.Louis, MO
• Buttonwood Park Zoo - New Bedord, MA
• Calgary Zoo - Calgary, Canada
• Chattanooga Zoo - Chattanooga, TN
• Chehaw Wild Animal Park - Albany, GA
• Clyde Peeling's Reptiland - Allenwood, PA
• Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo - Bridgeport, CT
• Fort Wayne Children's Zoo - Fort Wayne, IN
• Henry Vilas Zoo - Madison, WI
• International Crane Foundation - Barraboo, WI
• Maryland Zoo in Baltimore - Baltimore, MD
• Milwaukee County Zoo - Milwaukee, WI
• Oglebay's Good Zoo - Wheeling, WV
• Oklahoma City Zoo - Oklahoma City, OK
• Peoria Zoo - Peoria, IL
• Queens Zoo - Flushing, NY
• Riverside Zoo - Scottsbluff, NE
• Rosamond Gifford Zoo - Syracuse, NY
• Seneca Park Zoo - Rochester, NY
• Smithsonian National Zoo - Washington, DC
• Virginia Zoo - Norfolk, VA

© Copyright 2008 Association of Zoos and Aquariums. All Rights Reserved.

A word on beginnings

In his book, The Art of the Start, Guy Kawasaki suggests that every new endeavor should "make meaning." Basically, if you think you can change the world then get going about doing it.

SocialAnimal.org was created out of a late night flash of creativity and continued realizations about a unique market set. As a website or marketing endeavor it might not change the world per se, but the hope is to at least exist as the following, for now:

• An online resource/forum for that special species of marketer - the Zoo & Aquarium marketer.

SocialAnimal.org - Respect begins with knowledge.

Rhino Stress = Educational Opportunity?

“Rhinos tend to be shy and elusive, how does ecotourism affect them?” - Rachel Santymire, Lincoln Park Zoo

A great question and really, a question that leads to the bigger understanding of why Zoos and Aquariums do what they do and how that affects their existence as attractions. For example, families come and enjoy the sight of these animals, hopefully learn something about diet or habitat, and then go home. Kudos to the PR/Marketing team at the Lincoln Park Zoo because the fact that they got this release in the paper means that education is continuing outside the Zoo walls. Think about what releases you have in the wings besides event openings or attendance numbers because stories like this will ultimately feed those essentials but also elevate a Zoo above its brand.

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