ZooMontana has retained its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) until 2010.
Less than 10% of the nation’s zoos and wild animal parks are certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The list includes the San Diego Zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Los Angeles Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo and Denver Zoological Gardens to name a few.
ZooMontana along with the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery are the only two institutions in Montana recognized by the AZA. “It is a tremendous honor to be recognized and accreditated by the AZA,” zoo director, Jackie Worstell said. “Accreditation by the AZA says your facility is top notch in the areas of keeping/staff excellence, veterinary care, exhibit design, conservation & research actions, community education, general organization practices and policies and financial stability to name a few.”
“Accreditation puts us in a very elite group and we have to work each day to maintain the high level of quality the AZA expects.” Worstell stated. “It is a privilege and loosing accreditation would be devastating to the zoo.”
ZooMontana is host to roughly seventy thousand visitors annually, providing educational programs on site as well as off site to our community and the surrounding community. The zoo’s winter admission hours are Monday – Sunday 10am to 3pm with grounds closing at 4pm.
