AZA Accreditation & the Future of the Trevor Zoo

AZA ACCREDITATION EARNED IN AUGUST 2022

The Trevor Zoo has once again earned accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, affirming its status as a safe and healthy home for over 70 species.

The AZA undertakes an all-encompassing in-person survey every five years—of animal welfare and well-being, facilities and husbandry practices, and physical and behavioral health records, plus evaluation of the guest services and visitor experience—before a group of accreditation experts bestows its seal of approval. AZA accreditation is the gold standard and is very difficult to earn and maintain, and the Trevor Zoo is one of only 239 fully accredited zoos in the nation.

The highly scrutinizing, fastidious inspection resulted in a report that made clear the need for future facility updates but praised the strengths of the zoo’s programs and people. The AZA visiting committee noted that “The Trevor Zoo is exceptional in its commitment to conservation of natural resources. They promote this philosophy and are an outstanding example of conservation in action…The staff is also highly motivated and enthusiastic about the institution and the roles they have in its success." Attaining AZA accreditation is a major accomplishment and a tribute to the dedication of the Trevor Zoo staff and Millbrook School students to keep our animals healthy and safe.

Trevor Zoo Director Dr. Alan Tousignant, Zoo Curator Hannah Coon '23, Animal Care Coordinator Kyleen Depew, Director of Programs Jessica Bennett were joined by AZA President & CEO Dan Ashe.

FUTURE OF THE TREVOR ZOO

No other high school students in the world can say:

• they have hands-on experience at their high school, learning about the challenges that endangered species face in the wild

• while caring for endangered newborns, their parents, and several other endangered species in a zoo accredited by the AZA.

As a non-profit organization, the AZA is dedicated to advancing zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. They manage several conservation initiatives and programs including the Species Survival Program (SSP), which identifies ways to protect the populations of endangered animals at AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums by sustaining a healthy and genetically diverse population in captivity. These animals act as ambassadors to their wild kin and provide important information about the species so we can collectively work to protect them in the wild.

AZA accreditation makes participation in programs like these possible. Without accreditation, the zoo would not have the access to the endangered species we currently have on exhibit, including the red pandas, red wolves, golden lion tamarins, ring-tailed lemurs, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, white-naped cranes, keas, African cichlids, chinchillas, Blanding’s turtles, and the Kaiser’s spotted newts, among other vulnerable and threatened species. Students’ education is exponentially enhanced by caring and providing enrichment for these animals. Additionally, they have opportunities to shadow the veterinarian and study the behavior of these species through two unique courses: Animal Behavior and Independent Science Research.

A Master Plan: Building on Education and Conservation

The incredible educational programming that happens at Millbrook's Trevor Zoo can only continue within modernized facilities, and planning has begun to address the zoo’s aging infrastructure. As we already look ahead to our next accreditation in five years, we have many shortterm plans in addition to a long-term master plan and the next major development of zoo facilities. The school has hired two firms, Slam and Becker & Perry, to help create a vision for a modern facility and continuing excellent educational programming for students.

There is no doubt: the future holds so much promise for species on both sides of School Road.