- Originally approved by the AZA Board of Directors – 2003
- Updated and approved by the Board – July 2008 & June 2011
- Modified
from "Program Animal" to "Ambassador Animal" to avoid confusion with
"Animal Programs"; approved by the CEC; no change to meaning of these
terms - January 2015
The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) recognizes many
benefits for public education and, ultimately, for conservation in
ambassador animal presentations. AZA’s Conservation Education
Committee’s Ambassador Animal Position Statement summarizes the value of
ambassador animal presentations (see pages 42-44).
For the
purpose of this policy, an Ambassador Animal is defined as “an animal
whose role includes handling and/or training by staff or volunteers for
interaction with the public and in support of institutional education
and conservation goals”. Some animals are designated as Ambassador
Animals on a full-time basis, while others are designated as such only
occasionally. Ambassador Animal-related Accreditation Standards are
applicable to all animals during the times that they are designated as
Ambassador Animals.
There are three main categories of Ambassador Animal interactions:
1. On Grounds with the Ambassador Animal Inside the Exhibit/Enclosure:
- Public access outside the exhibit/enclosure. Public
may interact with animals from outside the exhibit/enclosure (e.g.,
giraffe feeding, touch tanks).
- Public access inside the
exhibit/enclosure. Public may interact with animals from inside the
exhibit/enclosure (e.g., lorikeet feedings, ‘swim with’ programs,
camel/pony rides).
2. On Grounds with the Ambassador Animal Outside the Exhibit/Enclosure:
- Minimal handling and training techniques are used to
present Ambassador Animals to the public. Public has minimal or no
opportunity to directly interact with Ambassador Animals when they are
outside the exhibit/enclosure (e.g., raptors on the glove, reptiles held
“presentation style”).
- Moderate handling and training
techniques are used to present Ambassador Animals to the public. Public
may be in close proximity to, or have direct contact with, Ambassador
Animals when they’re outside the exhibit/enclosure (e.g., media, fund
raising, photo, and/or touch opportunities).
- Significant
handling and training techniques are used to present Ambassador Animals
to the public. Public may have direct contact with Ambassador Animals or
simply observe the in-depth presentations when they’re outside the
exhibit/enclosure (e.g., wildlife education shows).
3. Off Grounds:
- Handling and training techniques are used to present
Ambassador Animals to the public outside of the zoo/aquarium grounds.
Public may have minimal contact or be in close proximity to and have
direct contact with Ambassador Animals (e.g., animals transported to
schools, media, fund raising events).
These categories assist staff and accreditation inspectors in
determining when animals are designated as Ambassador Animals and the
periods during which the Ambassador Animal-related Accreditation
Standards are applicable. In addition, these Ambassador Animal
categories establish a framework for understanding increasing degrees of
an animal’s involvement in Ambassador Animal activities.
Ambassador
animal presentations bring a host of responsibilities, including the
safety and welfare of the animals involved, the safety of the animal
handler and public, and accountability for the take-home, educational
messages received by the audience. Therefore, AZA requires all
accredited institutions that make ambassador animal presentations to
develop an institutional program animal policy that clearly identifies
and justifies those species and individuals approved as program animals
and details their long-term management plan and educational program
objectives.
AZA’s accreditation standards require that education
and conservation messages must be an integral component of all
ambassador animal presentations. In addition, the accreditation
standards require that the conditions and treatment of animals in
education programs must meet standards set for the remainder of the
animal collection, including species-appropriate shelter, exercise,
appropriate environmental enrichment, access to veterinary care,
nutrition, and other related standards. In addition, providing
ambassador animals with options to choose among a variety of conditions
within their environment is essential to ensuring effective care,
welfare, and management. Some of these requirements can be met outside
of the primary exhibit enclosure while the animal is involved in a
program or is being transported. For example, free-flight birds may
receive appropriate exercise during regular programs, reducing the need
for additional exercise. However, the institution must ensure that in
such cases, the animals participate in programs on a basis sufficient to
meet these needs or provide for their needs in their home enclosures;
upon return to the facility the animal should be returned to its
species-appropriate housing as described above.