Hattiesburg Zoo Achieves ZAA Accreditation, Opening Up New Opportunities and Resources

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – Well done Hattiesburg Zoo!

On Tuesday, popular attraction Hub City announced that it had received accreditation from the Zoological Association of America (ZAA). The accreditation assessment took into account criteria such as:

• Professional Standards for Animal Husbandry and Care Practices
• Accurate animal and medical records
• An appropriate, safe and quality existence for animals kept in captivity
• Safe environment for humans, staff and visitors
• Improving species survival through appropriate methods

Rick Taylor, executive director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, said accreditation represents a lot of hard work and a commitment to excellence.

“At Hattiesburg Zoo, our goal has been to create innovative and impactful experiences that engage our visitors while contributing to vital conservation efforts,” Taylor said. “This accreditation is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire team, their leadership in animal care, their focus on zoological education and outreach, and a zoo-wide commitment to excellence. »

Jeremy Cumton, the zoo’s director of conservation and education, echoed Taylor’s enthusiasm and added that the path to accreditation has been a long, difficult journey.

“We have long known that our community has seen the improvements that the Hattiesburg Zoo has made over the years,” Cumpton said. “From expansions and renovations to cultural changes within our organization, our journey to accreditation has been filled with obstacles and accomplishments.

“This accreditation shows us that not only does our community recognize the hard work we have done, but so do the leaders in our profession.

Now that the Hattiesburg Zoo has achieved ZAA accreditation, it will have access to several ZAA benefits, including access to the ZAA Veterinary Advisory Group.

“The ZAA holds zoos to a higher standard of care,” said Dr. Julia MacGregor, Hattiesburg Zoo veterinarian. “The fact that we are accredited is a testament to the level of care and hard work of the staff deployed at the Hattiesburg Zoo.”

ZAA accreditation also means the zoo will be able to participate in the organization’s conservation efforts.

“I’m also excited that we, as a ZAA facility, are able to further contribute to conservation by participating in their animal management programs,” MacGregor said. “Helping the survival of keystone, threatened and endangered species for future generations. »

You can learn more about the Zoological Association of America on its website: zooassociation.org/

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