Prior to my arrival in Minot, the Roosevelt Park Zoo went through the accreditation process with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). This wasn’t the zoo’s first time through the process, nor do I expect it will be its last. Because AZA Accreditation is not renewed, each zoo must go through the process every 5 years as if it were their first time to apply.

The accreditation process can be tedious. It begins with a lengthy application covering all of the things you would expect having to do with animals and how they are cared for, but it also dives much deeper into the physical facilities and finances. It looks at the governing organization along with the support organizations. It takes a close look at safety and security along with all the zoo’s procedures and protocols. Each of these sections of the application are based on a set of standards that must be followed, not just during the process, but throughout the term of the accreditation. These standards continue to evolve as additional standards are added or existing standards are changed by the accreditation commission.

The commission is made up of zoo professionals that are elected to a term on the commission. Elections take place annually, with professional members casting the votes to fill vacant seats. Terms for the commissioners are offset, to allow for consistency of reviewing the facilities.

Following the application process, the commission assembles an inspection team that is charged with visiting the facility to verify the information in the application was accurate. The team consists of other zoo professionals who become the eyes and ears for the commissioners. The inspections cover the entire facility, but also interviews with staff at every level. They interview the leaderships of its governing body and the support organization. Good inspectors will visit with locals to see how the community views the zoo. Following the inspection, the team sits down with the director to go over issues identified during the inspection as they complete their report for the AZA Commission.

With the information provided from that final meeting, the director begins correcting issues identified as unsatisfactory. Before the next scheduled conference, the director will submit a report to the commission on what has been addressed from the report since the inspection. At the conference, the director, and occasionally other staff members, attend a hearing in front of the entire commission to answer questions or explain discrepancies. Following the hearing the representatives are led to a waiting room to hear the outcome of the hearing and whether they were approved or not for accreditation.

Why do we put ourselves through this process? AZA Accreditation is kind of a seal of approval that we are operating as a modern zoo and excelling in our field. This is important too because the community of Minot needs a zoo they can be proud of. It allows us to work directly with other accredited zoos for animals and other resources. We have a couple more years before our next accreditation, but it is front of mind every day we walk through those gates.