ARAZPA / ZAA

[MRJ]

As a general reply to some comments, the conference brought something back to me. That is that ZAA is not a for profit business, it is an association directed by a board of volunteers. In the normal course of events decisions about policy can only be made at either quarterly board meetings or annual general meetings. Any organisation might take two or three or even more meetings to amend a policy. So no matter how frustrating it may be to an outsider waiting on a decision, a period of 6 to 9 months to formulate and adopt a new policy may not be seen as unreasonable.

Of course there is a professional staff in place to act on policies once adopted, so it would be reasonable to expect some expediency in implementing policies once adopted.

 

[CGSwans]

Thank you MRJ.

It is very encouraging to see ZAA opening up the process - irrespective of what the motivation was.

For CGSwans I can point out that, if you receive the ZAA Newsletter [and you will if you are an individual member] you will find the list of currently accredited members as well as the one probationary member.

I'm familiar with the list of full members, but am wondering which have gone through accreditation. The ones I know are:
Perth
Dubbo
Healesville
Auckland
Sea World
Altina
NZA
ARP
Symbio
Alice Springs
International Antarctic Centre
Keystone

 

[Steve Robinson]

Are you not an individual member of ZAA? If not, why not?!!!

 

[CGSwans]

Yes... am I looking in the wrong place?

Nowhere in the newsletters can I find a list that differentiates those full members that have completed the accreditation process and those which are still waiting.

 

[Jarkari]

No Animal Welfare League in Queensland.

The RSPCA Inspectors in this State are usually quite practical, animal savvy people and would give us the required tick without any problem. They have an open invitation to drop in here at any time [which they sometimes do] as we have nothing to hide. The problem will be with their bosses - the management team back in Brisbane. As you know, RSPCA policy is against private zoos so they are unlikely to allow the inspectors to give us what the ZAA now requires. You may also know that the RSPCA will never give you a copy of their inspection reports, favourable or otherwise, so we are not likely to get an endorsement from them for ZAA.

As an aside - the production company that films RSPCA Animal Rescue spent some time here a year or so back filming a good news story about the zoo and some of the rescued and rehab animal work that we do here. This included a piece about an Ostrich that the RSPCA had rescued and restored to health and then placed here with us. It was a really good story but it was never allowed to go to air because it was pro zoo and thus against RSPCA policy.

That is a shame. As is not being able to get a copy of the report. A little bit silly in my personal opinion. But hey.

 

[LOU]

Yes... am I looking in the wrong place?

Nowhere in the newsletters can I find a list that differentiates those full members that have completed the accreditation process and those which are still waiting.

See page 15 of the February edition. It lists the members (there were only 22 at the time of printing) who are fully accredited.