Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) |
| Founded | 1990 |
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| Type | National not-for-profit organisation |
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| Focus | Zoo and aquarium accreditation and advocacy |
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| Location | |
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Area served | Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific |
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| Method | Accreditation |
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| Website | zooaquarium.org.au |
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The Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA), formerly known as the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA), was established in 1990 "to link zoos and aquariums in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific in a cooperative regional network for wildlife conservation."[1]
The organisation is based in Sydney, Australia.
Wildlife conservation
Under the ZAA's Australasian Species Management Program[2] member institutions co-operate to plan and manage the populations of wildlife they hold in ways that improve their sustainability and their conservation value.
The ZAA's Wildlife Conservation Fund[3] provides critical funding to projects that aim to protect and conserve threatened species in the wild.
The ZAA holds workshops, meetings and conferences for zoo and aquarium specialists.
Through its specialist advisory groups, ZAA manages networks for over 500 zoo and aquarium specialists in fields such as wildlife research, veterinary science, environmental education and horticulture. These networks develop and share resources and develop Australasia-wide initiatives in wildlife conservation and environmental education.
Capacity building for zoos and aquariums
The ZAA acts as a focal point for unifying the efforts of zoos and aquariums in contributing to wildlife conservation. The ZAA publishes news, guidelines and management plans for zoos and aquariums.
Through ZAA's Accreditation Program,[4] standards for the operation of conservation-focused zoos and aquariums have been developed and a program to assess zoos and aquariums, and assist members to implement these standards has been launched.
Governance and Operations
The ZAA is overseen by a Board[5] elected by the members. ZAA's headquarters are located in Sydney, Australia and are hosted by the Taronga Zoo.[6] The ZAA New Zealand Branch office is hosted by Auckland Zoo in New Zealand.
ZAAQ
The Queensland branch of ZAA is known as ZAAQ, it was formed after the merger of the Queensland Wildlife and Parks Association (QWPA) and the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria in 2003. It also operates its own separate Species Management Program (QSMP).[7]
The current ZAAQ Management Committee is:
Membership
The ZAA offers a number of different membership options.
Institutional membership
The ZAA offers four types of Institutional Membership
- Full – Requires inspection and board approval.
- Associate
- Corporate
- Subscribing
Individual membership
- Full – Must be employed by a Zoo or Aquarium
- Associate
