BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — At this year’s Annual Conference, those representing Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, a Bridgeport facility, were thrilled to hear the findings of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission.
At the conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, it was announced that the zoo received accreditation from the AZA. At the same conference, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo also won two AZA Education Awards.
The zoo said that the AZA Commission reviews accreditation applications from top zoos, aquariums and related facilities worldwide twice a year and that 33 facilities earned accreditation at this year’s Annual Conference.
To receive accreditation, a facility must complete a detailed application, multi-day inspection by an independent team and thorough evaluations of animal care, safety, education, conservation and more.
The commission reviews inspection reports before interviewing facility officials. It then grants, provisionally grants or denies accreditation. The zoo said AZA facilities must complete the process every five years as part of their membership requirements.
Dan Ashe, president and CEO at AZA, congratulated Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo for meeting the rigorous standards and achieving accreditation.
“Earning accreditation is a mark of excellence and a testament to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards of animal care and conservation,” Ashe said. “Your dedication not only enhances the lives of the animals you care for but also sets a precedent for excellence in the zoological community.”
For the second year in a row, the zoo also took home an Educational Award. The zoo’s Cool Blue Bridgeport program was recognized with the “Education Award – Significant Achievement.”
The zoo said Cool Blue Bridgeport enables zoo educators to offer free climate change programming to students in the city and welcomes city residents to the zoo for free every Saturday during the school year. The program is a partnership with the city and gives residents and students the opportunity to participate in free climate change programming at the zoo on those Saturdays.
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo also announced that its Research, Internships and Zoo Education program, or RIZE, in partnership with Fairfield University, won top honors at the AZA Poster Competition at this year’s conference in Canada.
First Place/Blue Ribbon Honors in the Conservation Track went to Fairfield University student Ella Haghbin’s poster “Hot and Bothered: Small Changes in Water Temperature, Big Changes in Fish Behavior.”
The completion included over 80 submissions from more than 100 entrants in multiple countries. The zoo said winning the highly competitive contest represents the excellence of the RIZE program and its commitment to progressing zoo-based education and research.
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo CEO Jim Wharton said that the team is incredibly honored to receive AZA accreditation once again and be recognized for its educational programs and community outreach efforts.
“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, who strive every day to provide the highest standard of care for our animals and engage with the community through meaningful conservation and education initiatives,” Wharton said. “Winning the Education Award for the AZA Poster Competition and our Cool Blue Bridgeport program, which directly benefits local students and residents, reinforces our mission to make a lasting impact, locally and globally."
More information regarding the zoo can be found here.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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