The link above contains a list of AZA-accredited zoos that are all in need of being inspected and re-accredited this year. In most cases the inspection team will have already finished their work and the zoo will be notified of either a passing or failing grade in September and if a zoo passes then it will be 5 more years until the next inspection. Usually there is still a list of small improvements needed at the facilities that continue to be accredited, as the inspection report is thorough.
I'm very curious as to what will happen to Buffalo Zoo this year as at no point has there been an announcement in regards to the two Asian Elephants at the facility. The AZA recommendation that all accredited zoos contain 3 elephants of the same species has long been a September 2016 deadline and with only a couple of months to go it is a bit surprising that Buffalo has not made any kind of formal decision on its elephant situation. In my personal opinion, I would say that Buffalo has one of the worst climates, smallest barns and smallest "herd" of elephants in the nation and it seems odd that the zoo has not made the sensible decision to phase out the species and concentrate on more cold-weather inhabitants. Then again, its Arctic Edge complex opened last year, the Reptile House refurbishment is next and then an African Grasslands project is going to include warm-weather animals in an outdoor setting...but elephants are not mentioned whatsoever.
The link above contains a list of AZA-accredited zoos that are all in need of being inspected and re-accredited this year. In most cases the inspection team will have already finished their work and the zoo will be notified of either a passing or failing grade in September and if a zoo passes then it will be 5 more years until the next inspection. Usually there is still a list of small improvements needed at the facilities that continue to be accredited, as the inspection report is thorough.
I'm very curious as to what will happen to Buffalo Zoo this year as at no point has there been an announcement in regards to the two Asian Elephants at the facility. The AZA recommendation that all accredited zoos contain 3 elephants of the same species has long been a September 2016 deadline and with only a couple of months to go it is a bit surprising that Buffalo has not made any kind of formal decision on its elephant situation. In my personal opinion, I would say that Buffalo has one of the worst climates, smallest barns and smallest "herd" of elephants in the nation and it seems odd that the zoo has not made the sensible decision to phase out the species and concentrate on more cold-weather inhabitants. Then again, its Arctic Edge complex opened last year, the Reptile House refurbishment is next and then an African Grasslands project is going to include warm-weather animals in an outdoor setting...but elephants are not mentioned whatsoever.
The surprising news is they passed their latest AZA inspection this summer! I would feel they would have to have some type of plan for them in order to pass it. The good news is after a few years of separating the elephants, they apparently stopped getting along, they now like each other and are together. Anytime I go to the zoo now I always visit Arctic Edge first. I will see the elephant exhibit in the near distance, but I hardly visit it as it's an eyesore next to its new neighbor.
