The Ethicality of Zoos and Aquariums

Zoos and other wildlife exhibits have been visiting attractions around for centuries, but are these exhibits ethical?

Animal Welfare

In 1966, Congress passed the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), which laid out general standards for human care and treatment that must be provided when dealing with certain animals. Zoos, aquariums, and other wildlife exhibits fall under this broad animal scope.

A giraffe being fed by children at a zoo. Credit: Getty Images

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is an organization that offers accreditation and certification for wildlife exhibits. As one of the primary accrediting bodies of the Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the last 40 years, zoos, aquariums, and other wildlife exhibits can submit for an evaluation from the AZA.

To apply for accreditation, wildlife exhibits or institutions must fill out a 32 page questionnaire and submit a $3,500 non-refundable deposit. Once completed, the AZA board of experts will evaluate the submission on three main things

1. Operate based on philosophies and practices considered by AZA as being “modern best practices” of the profession

2. Meet or exceed all AZA accreditation standards and adhere to all AZA policies

3. Meet all aspects of the definition of a zoological park or aquarium

According to IBISWorld, there are 436 zoos, aquariums, and other wildlife exhibits registered in the United States in 2022. Additionally, the AZA currently has 238 accredited locations, making just over fifty percent of the all US zoo locations up to these rigorous standards.

AZA accreditation is a constantly evolving standard, so wildlife exhibits must be reevaluated every five years in order to maintain their status.

Local Accredited Examples

One such exhibitor that is local to Southern California that has AZA accreditation is the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro, California. Open 5 days a week from 12pm-5pm, the aquarium offers interactive and educational exhibits of various fish and sea creatures, as well as an Aquatic Nursery where most of their research is done.

Visitors interact with the Tide Pool Touch Tank at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Some of the available exhibits include the tide pool touch tanks where visitors can pet a starfish, creating waves in the artificial wave pool, reading up on the various species using the touch screens scattered throughout the facility, and simply marveling at the various sea creatures swimming in their tanks.

If you are interested to see if your favorite zoos and aquariums are AZA accredited and are operating in the best interests of the animals they host, make sure to check out their website their full list of accredited locations!