We believe in a better future for all living things.

We envision a world where all people respect, value, and conserve wildlife and wild places.

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Registration is now open for AZA’s fall 2016 and February 2017 Professional Training Courses. Sign up now and take the next step in advancing your career!

John Ireland of the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, N.C., wins the 2016 AZA Photo Contest with his evocative portrait of an Arctic fox.

Congratulations to the 2016 AZA Conservation Grants Fund (CGF) Award Winners! The CGF supports the cooperative conservation and education initiatives of AZA and its members and partners.

About the Association of Zoos & Aquariums

Leaders in Animal Care, Conservation, and Family Fun

AZA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. AZA represents more than 200 institutions which meet the highest standards in animal care, provide a fun and educational family experience, and dedicate millions of dollars to scientific research, conservation, and education programs.

About AZA

We're changing lives

Our Collective Impact

232 Accredited Zoos & Aquariums

Use our Find a Zoo or Aquarium feature to find an accredited facility near you.

47 States

215 accredited facilities in 47 US states, plus 15 in 8 other countries

100 Years

Population planning for 500 species for the next 100 years.

750,000Animals

Approximately 750,000 animals in the care of AZA-accredited zoo and aquarium professionals.

6,000Species

Approx 6,000 different species in AZA-accredited facilities.

1,000 Endangered

1,000 threatened or endangered species in AZA-accredited zoos & aquariums

450+SSPs

More than 450 Species Survival Plan® Programs under 46 Taxon Advisory Groups

12m Students

12 million student learners per year on field trips

176,000Jobs

AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums provide around 176,000 jobs in the US.

186,000,000Visits a Year

AZA-accredited facilities serve more than 183 million visitors each year.

Our Mission

The Association of Zoos & Aquariums provides its members with the services, high standards, best practices, and program coordination to be leaders in animal welfare, public engagement, and the conservation of species.

$160m Conservation Dollars

AZA-accredited facilities spend $160 million a year in support of conservation projects.

Membership makes a difference.

“In any business, you want to be the best at what you do in your field. Being an AZA member places me and the institution I work for in the top category for zoos & aquariums.”

About Membership

The mission of SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction is to combine the power of zoo and aquarium visitors with the resources and collective expertise of AZA members and partners to save animals from extinction.

Learn more

African penguin

Asian Elephant

Black Rhinoceros

Cheetah

Gorilla

Sea Turtle

Sharks

Vaquita

Western Pond Turtle

Whooping Crane

DECEMBER 2016

2016 AZA Photo Contest Winner is John Ireland of the North Carolina Zoo

John Ireland has been working in zoos for the past 22 years. Since 1998, he has been employed at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, N.C., as a horticulture technician. When not caring for the plant-life of the Zoo, John is an avid photographer. His winning portrait of an Arctic fox evokes both the holiday season and the beauty of the natural world.

A self-taught photographer, John’s love of photography developed after high-school when he received a Minolta camera as a graduation gift. Even early on he had a good eye for what makes an excellent photograph. John likes to think outside of the box, looking for new angles and interesting light for each shot. A bare-bones photographer, almost all of the photographs he takes utilizes only natural light and no props. Using only a 75-300mm and an 18-55mm lens, John relies on his patience and the subjects to present the perfect shot.