CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The Cape May County Park and Zoo has once again been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
President and CEO of AZA, Dan Ashe, will present the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and Directors and Staff of the Cape May County Park and Zoo with the 2017 AZA Accreditation plaque as part of an event at the zoo on Friday, Oct. 27 at 11 a.m.
Certified by AZA in 1989, this year marks the fifth time that the Zoo successfully passed the rigorous inspection and interview process required to be named an official AZA accredited Zoo.
An AZA “accreditation” means official recognition and approval of a zoo or aquarium by a group of experts. These experts, called the AZA Accreditation Commission, carefully examine each zoo or aquarium that applies for AZA membership.
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton and Freeholder E. Marie Hayes, who oversees the park and zoo, participated in the year-long AZA review process along with the Veterinarians, animal care team and park and zoo staff.
“AZA accreditation is important because it means the Cape May County Zoo’s veterinary staff and animal care team are considered the best at what they do,” Thornton explained.
“It is no wonder that the Cape May County Park and Zoo attracts more than 500,000 visitors a year and is considered one of the top attractions in the state,” Hayes added.
Cape May County Park and Zoo is one of only 230 zoos in the nation that is certified by AZA, which is less than 10 percent of the total number of eligible licensed animal exhibitors that meets the organization’s high standards to become a member and be permitted to use the AZA logo. Other world class zoos in this category include the Bronx Zoo, San Diego Zoo and Columbus Zoo.
“AZA accreditation ensures the visiting public that the animals in our care benefit from the best possible standards of healthy living,” said Cape May County Zoo Director Hubert Paluch.
“Beyond the animals’ care and healthy living environment, it recognizes the quality of the education and conservation programs implemented at the Zoo such as the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan,” Paluch added.
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. The AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. www.aza.org.
Over the years, the Cape May County Park and Zoo has received many honors including Trip Advisor’s award as the fifth best reviewed zoo in the United States and number 13 in the world coming in ahead of places like London, Beijing and Moscow. In 2017, the zoo has once again received Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence Award thanks in part to the favorable reviews from many visitors.
The Cape May County Park and Zoo is home to 550 animals, representing rare and endangered species. The zoo opened in 1978, and the county park dates to the late 1940s. www.cmczoo.com
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