LITTLE ROCK (July 1, 2026)— At the Little Rock Zoo, we’re proud to be more than just a place to see animals and connect with nature. For more than 100 years, the Zoo has served Arkansas by inspiring people to value and conserve our natural world through exceptional animal care, education, and conservation.
One of the ways we demonstrate that commitment is through our accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
AZA accreditation is widely recognized as the “gold standard” in the field, reflecting a level of accountability and professional excellence that extends far beyond basic regulatory requirements. It ensures that accredited institutions operate with consistent, independently verified standards across the full scope of their work—from animal welfare to guest experience and organizational integrity.
The Little Rock Zoo is proud to be the only AZA-accredited zoo in Arkansas, placing us among a select group of facilities worldwide that have met the organization’s rigorous expectations for animal care, conservation, education, safety, and operations.
But what does AZA accreditation actually involve—and why should it matter to our guests and community?
AZA Accreditation: The Gold Standard in Animal Care and Conservation
AZA is an independent accrediting organization representing the leading zoos and aquariums in the United States and around the world. AZA accreditation assures that when you visit an accredited facility, you are experiencing an institution that meets the highest standards in the profession.
Fewer than 10% of the approximately 2,800 wildlife exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act meet the more comprehensive standards required for AZA accreditation. This distinction reflects the high level of expectation and accountability required to earn and maintain accreditation.
AZA-accredited institutions are led by highly trained professionals who are recognized experts in animal care and welfare, providing exceptional care for the animals in their charge while advancing conservation, education, and public engagement.
A Zoo-Wide Standard of Excellence
AZA accreditation is not limited to animal care alone—it evaluates the entire operation of the Zoo.
From the moment a guest enters the gates, every part of the experience is part of the standard. That includes guest services, safety protocols, education programs, facilities maintenance, veterinary care, animal nutrition, recordkeeping, conservation efforts, and organizational leadership.
The accreditation process is intentionally rigorous and comprehensive, examining how every department works together to support the Zoo’s mission and uphold the highest standards in the profession. It is not the result of one team or one area of expertise—it reflects the work of the entire organization.
At the Little Rock Zoo, this means everyone plays a role in maintaining AZA standards. From ticket booth attendants and guest services staff, to keepers, veterinarians, educators, maintenance teams, and administrative staff, every position contributes to ensuring that animal care, guest experience, safety, and conservation efforts meet the expectations of an AZA-accredited institution.
The Rigorous Accreditation Process
Earning AZA accreditation is not a simple review —it is an extensive and highly detailed process designed to ensure that only institutions meeting the highest standards in the profession are granted this distinction.
Each institution undergoes a comprehensive evaluation that examines every aspect of its operation, from animal care and veterinary programs to guest services, safety protocols, education initiatives, facilities, and organizational leadership. Nothing is evaluated in isolation; instead, AZA looks at how all parts of the organization work together to support animal welfare, conservation, and the overall guest experience.
The process includes a thorough written application and self-assessment, extensive documentation across all departments, and a multi-day on-site inspection conducted by a team of experienced AZA professionals. This is followed by a formal review and hearing before the independent AZA Accreditation Commission, where every detail is carefully considered.
This level of scrutiny is intentional. AZA accreditation exists to represent the highest standard in the profession, and the process ensures that only institutions demonstrating consistent excellence across all areas are awarded this distinction.
Accreditation is not a permanent status either, it must be renewed every five years through the same thorough evaluation process. As standards in animal care, conservation science, and zoo operations continue to advance, accredited institutions are regularly re-evaluated to ensure they remain aligned with the highest expectations in the field.
What This Means for Our Guests and Community
AZA accreditation is more than a badge of honor or a recognition of excellence—it is a commitment to accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
For guests, it means confidence that the animals at the Little Rock Zoo are receiving the highest standard of care and that every visit supports a mission-driven organization dedicated to conservation and education.
AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums also play an active role in global conservation efforts. Together, they support species and field conservation, habitat preservation, public education, healthy animal populations, and scientific research that benefit threatened and endangered species around the world. Through programs such as the AZA Conservation Grants Fund, accredited institutions help support wildlife conservation projects globally—funding fieldwork, research, and hands-on protection efforts that make a measurable difference.
That conservation work is not limited to faraway places—it also happens right here in Arkansas. The Little Rock Zoo is actively involved in native species conservation efforts, including our work with the Eastern Collared Lizard. Through a breeding program focused on reintroduction, the Zoo helps support the recovery of this native species within its historic range in Arkansas, contributing directly to wildlife restoration efforts in our own backyard.
And that is just one example. The Little Rock Zoo also works alongside conservation organizations around the world to support a wide range of threatened and endangered species, including sloth bears, Asian elephants, tigers, orangutans, African penguins, and many more—helping advance conservation efforts both in human care and in the wild.
For our community, AZA accreditation also reflects a shared investment. As a City of Little Rock-owned institution, the Zoo is sustained through a partnership between public funding and the generosity of our guests, members, donors, and sponsors. Together, this support makes it possible to care for animals, deliver educational programs, and contribute to conservation efforts here in Arkansas and around the world.
More Than a Visit
Every visit to the Little Rock Zoo is more than a day of recreation—it directly supports animal care, education, and conservation initiatives here in Arkansas, while also contributing to a much larger network of accredited zoos and aquariums working together across the country and globally.
One of the most meaningful conservation actions you can take is choosing to visit and support AZA-accredited facilities like the Little Rock Zoo. Whether here in Arkansas or at other accredited zoos and aquariums you may visit while traveling, each experience helps sustain a connected community of animal care professionals, veterinarians, researchers, and field conservationists who collaborate to protect wildlife and prevent extinction.
AZA accreditation is more than a recognition of excellence—it is a commitment. A shared promise among accredited institutions to uphold the highest standards in animal care, conservation, education, safety, and guest experience, while continually striving to improve through science, collaboration, and innovation.
At the Little Rock Zoo, that promise is carried forward every day by our staff, supported by our community, and strengthened by every guest who chooses to visit, learn, and support wildlife conservation in Arkansas and beyond.
