ZAA Awards

2024 ZAA Award Winners

There are 4 Awards Awarded:

  • Excellence in Education

  • Comprehensive Immersion Exhibit Award

  • Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence

  • In Situ Conservation

Excellence in Education

The ZAA Educational Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding achievement and innovation in education program design and implementation.

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Frank Buck Zoo

Teddy Bear Hospital

The Frank Buck Zoo launched its Teddy Bear Hospital program in November 2023 to foster conservation knowledge and STEM career interest among young participants. This innovative event provides an early opportunity for children to engage with animal science, zoology, and veterinary medicine careers.

Comprehensive Immersion Exhibit Award

The ZAA Comprehensive Immersion Exhibit Award recognizes unique and innovative ideas centering on outstanding design immersion to create a holistic approach to the animal/human connection.

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The Wild Animal Park

Ruins of the Wild: Mayan Jungle

Ruins of the Wild: Mayan Jungle was inspired by ancient Mayan civilizations and the abundance of wildlife that now traverse across its ruined architecture. High towering structures with large staircases climb up out of the landscape like the temples of Tikal, all ornately decorated and carved like the ruins of ChichenItza. This ecosystem once controlled by the powerful Mayan culture, now teeming with all walks of wildlife is the image and location that the Wild Animal Park is creating for its visitors. Educational graphics in conjunction with traditional Mayan architecture grab at guests of all ages, engaging them in the theme and education trying to be achieved. This immersive experience increases visitors connection with nature and in turn creates new stewards for wildlife preservation and conservation of both animals and habitats throughout Central and South America, as well as the world.

Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence

The ZAA Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence recognizes excellence in the area of new and unique live animal display, exhibit design and construction.

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African Safari Wildlife Park

Capybara Encounter Habitat

The new Capybara Encounter Habitat at African Safari Wildlife Park represents a groundbreaking addition designed to enhance both animal welfare and visitor interaction. This innovative exhibit incorporates advanced techniques and materials to create a naturalistic environment conducive to the capybara's natural behaviors and well-being, while also prioritizing safety, education, and sustainability.

In Situ Conservation

The ZAA In-Situ Conservation Award recognizes significant contributions to enhancing the conservation of an animal species in nature.

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Monterey Zoo

A Recipe for “Saving Rhinos”

The conservation area for their effort embraces all areas that are natural habitats for rhinos. Upon the completion of the zoo’s new “Insert Rhino” program, coupled with the opening of the new “Conservation Hall”, they’ve embarked upon several new and innovative means of affording people the ability to make contributions to rhino conservation directly and immediately when visiting. They hosted a very exquisite, choreographed, educational and entertaining dinner/fundraising event that they titled, “an evening of Saving Rhinos”. Thanks to the successful event, Monterey Zoo issued a check to Int. Rhino Foundation for $105,000.00 to be equally distributed towards the conservation efforts in both Sumatra and Africa! $80,000 more than what was to be their initial donation. The recipe worked!

2023 ZAA Award Winners

There are 4 Awards Awarded:

  • Educational Award of Excellence

  • Significant Propagation and Long Term Commitment to a Single Species

  • Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence

  • In Situ Conservation

Educational Award of Excellence

The ZAA Educational Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding achievement and innovation in education program design and implementation.

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The Zoo in Forest Park

Keeper Internship Program

This program launched more than 20 years ago and continues to be full and often holds a waiting list of hopeful, college-aged participants. The newest version encompasses all that it means to be a zookeeper, including daily husbandry tasks, educational programming opportunities, large-event experiences, and enrichment creation for a variety of taxa utilizing a college course-level syllabus. Interns are required to volunteer for two 8.5-hour shifts per week, for a total of at least 180 hours of service during their time at The Zoo, and complete both assigned and self-guided projects.

Significant Propagation and Long Term Commitment to a Single Species

This award recognizes institutions that have reached significant propagation goals and have dedicated outstanding commitment to a single species.

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The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College

Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly

Initially thought to be extinct, the Paolo Verdes Blue Butterfly was rediscovered in 1994; that last population contained an estimated 69 individuals. To date, a cooperative conservation success story with many partners including The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, The Urban Wildlands Group, The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, U.S. Navy, and more, have produced over 31,000 pupae over 20 seasons and released over 20,000 individuals into the wild spread over 7 different fragments of restored habitat within their historic range.

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Since 1972, Wolf Park has been committed to gray wolf conservation. Wolf Park’s mission drives us to educate the public on the benefits that wolves provide to our environment. In order to achieve that, their founder, Dr. Erich Klinghammer, believed that socializing wolves reduced stress while allowing care to continue over the life course of the animal. Over the past 52 years, utilizing scientific and practical knowledge, Wolf Park's protocols for raising 30 pup litters evolved, allowing them to ensure that they afford the animals with the best care they can provide. Each litter receives thousands of socialization hours prior to being released back into their habitats to ensure that they are ready for their lives in human care.

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Catoctin Wildlife Preserve

Sulawesi Island Macaques

In 1972, the Preserve acquired their first group of Sulawesi Island Macaques and over the last 50 years they have made gradual upgrades to their exhibit which have allowed them to improve husbandry and animal welfare. Their new Ochreata exhibit was constructed 2020-2023 and has allowed them to have space to separate animals if needed but still maintain the group together in the same space. They currently have a very large family group of roughly 30 individuals of Ochreata and 8 Tonkeana. Their Ochreata group ranges from babies to a grandma who is around 23 years old.

Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence

The ZAA Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence recognizes excellence in the area of new and unique live animal display, exhibit design and construction.

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Monterey Zoo

“Insert RHINO” Exhibit/Project

The exhibit was a retrofit of one originally designed for elephants to accommodate new rhinos in collaboration with other facilities. Species-specific enrichment was added, as well as a dedicated medical space, extra safety features, and an extensive array of cameras for monitoring. Most exhibit features were created in-house and the program has been a great success for both the rhinos and the public.

In Situ Conservation

The ZAA In-Situ Conservation Award recognizes significant contributions to enhancing the conservation of an animal species in nature.

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The Feline Conservation Foundation's Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group has several action plans in place for conservation of the endangered Geoffroy's Cat, including educational programs and awareness campaigns with local children to reduce future threats. They are also conducting surveys and monitoring of wildcat populations in different regions of their distribution, aligning and applying government policies, creating partnerships and funding for existing rescue, rehabilitation, and release facilities, and implementing actions to reduce pedestrian accidents.

Past Award Winners

2022

Educational Award of Excellence

  • Wolf Park: Next Generation Wildlife Advocates

SIGNIFICANT PROPAGATION AND LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO A SINGLE SPECIES

  • Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch: Giraffe

  • Zoosiana: Squirrel Monkey

Excellence in Breeding Award

  • San Antonio Zoo: Psychedelic Rock Gecko

ANIMAL EXHIBIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

  • The Wild Animal Park: "Ruins of the Wild: Monkey Temple"

Comprehensive Immersion Exhibits Award

  • Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo: Reptile Conservation Center

  • The Wild Animal Park: African Savanna Passage

In Situ Conservation Award

  • Tiger World: Timbavati Lions, Greater Kruger National Park

EX Situ Conservation Award

  • Columbus Zoo & Aquarium: Eastern Hellbender

2021

Educational Award of Excellence

  • The Zoo in Forest Park: Kids Go Wild Program

SIGNIFICANT PROPAGATION AND LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO A SINGLE SPECIES

  • Metro Richmond Zoo: African Black-Footed Penguin

  • Tanganyika Wildlife Park: Snow Leopard

Excellence in Breeding Award

  • Virginia Safari Park: Ruppells Griffon Vulture

ANIMAL EXHIBIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

  • Safari North Wildlife Park: Leopards of the Himalayas

Comprehensive Immersion Exhibits Award

  • ZooWorld: Wanyama Pori African Airstrip Adventure

In Situ Conservation Award

  • Fossil Rim Wildlife Center: Antelope Conservation in the Ouadi Achim Reserve, Chad, Africa

Lifetime achievement award

  • Mickey Ollson

2020

Educational Award of Excellence

  • Cougar Mountain Zoo: Zoo2U

SIGNIFICANT PROPAGATION AND LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO A SINGLE SPECIES

  • Fossil Rim Wildlife Center: Addax

Excellence in Breeding Award

  • Frank Buck Zoo: Three Banded Armadillo

ANIMAL EXHIBIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

  • Frank Buck Zoo: Prairie Dog

In Situ Conservation Award

  • Dakota Zoo: Black Footed Ferret

EX Situ Conservation Award

  • San Antonio Zoo: Mexican Freshwater Fish Program

2019

Educational Award of Excellence

  • San Antonio Zoo: Will Smith Zoo School

SIGNIFICANT PROPAGATION AND LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO A SINGLE SPECIES

  • Fossil Rim Wildlife Center: Cheetah

Excellence in Breeding Award

  • Downtown Aquarium Houston: Common Shovelnose Ray

ANIMAL EXHIBIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

  • ZooWorld Zoological and Botanical Conservancy: Allapattah Swamp and Alligator Feeding Experience

In Situ Conservation Award

  • Gulf Breeze Zoo: Spirit of Sumatra Program

2018

Educational Award of Excellence

  • Six Flags Great Adventure: Wild Encounters, Silver Safari, and Safari Off Road Adventure

Significant Propagation and Long Term Commitment to a Single Species

  • Tanganyika Wildlife Park: Clouded Leopard

  • Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium: Amur Tiger

Comprehensive Immersion Exhibits Award

  • Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium: Jungle Odyssey

In Situ Conservation Award

  • Myrtle Beach Safari: Soraya Station and the Sumatran Tiger

2017

Excellence in Breeding

  • Metro Richmond Zoo: Cheetah

In situ Conservation

  • Fort Worth Zoo: Anegada Iguana in the British Virgin Islands

  • Myrtle Beach Safari: Mountain Gorilla in Uganda

Educational Award of Excellence

  • Southwick's Zoo: White Rhino Encounter Program

Significant Propagation and Long-term Commitment to a Single Species

  • Fort Worth Zoo: Lesser Flamingo

  • Fossil Rim Wildlife Center: Attwater's Prairie-Chicken

  • San Antonio Zoo: Sunda Gharial

  • Tanganyika Wildlife Park: Reticulated Giraffe

2015

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Joe Maynard

2014

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Pat Quinn

2008

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Ingrid Schmidt-Buchanan

2006

Award for Leadership and Achievement

  • Pat Quinn