The Indianapolis Zoo confirmed Monday that it was not approved for continued accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The loss ends the zoo’s accredited status, which had been in place through September 2026.

What AZA accreditation means

The AZA is widely regarded as the gold standard for zoo and aquarium accreditation in the United States. Its “rigorous, scientifically based and publicly available” standards evaluate animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation and education programs, guest services, facility safety, staffing, finance and governance.

Reasons for the loss

The AZA did not disclose specific details of the decision, noting that accreditation hearings are confidential. However, the zoo’s own statement highlighted several long‑standing organizational concerns identified by the AZA, including communication gaps, internal consistency issues, and collaboration across departments.

Zoo’s response and next steps

In a press release, zoo officials said they are partnering with the AZA through its Pathways to Membership program. This initiative allows organizations to work directly with the AZA on targeted improvements. The zoo noted that the AZA also recognized a number of recent achievements and positive steps.

“While this short‑term outcome is certainly not what we wanted or expected, the Zoo respects the accreditation process and is committed to working with AZA to rejoin the organization soon,” the statement read. “What remains unchanged is our commitment to providing exceptional animal care and a world‑class guest experience.”

Impact on programs

Without AZA accreditation, the Indianapolis Zoo may be unable to participate in AZA‑affiliated breeding programs, though the zoo did not clarify how this will affect its existing conservation efforts.

Recent challenges

The accreditation loss follows a series of high‑profile incidents at the zoo over the past year. In October 2025, two endangered tortoises were stolen from zoo property and not reported to state police for 11 days. The animals were later recovered in a Madison County park.

In November 2025, a chimpanzee named Mara escaped its enclosure, prompting an hour‑long shelter‑in‑place for guests before the animal was safely sedated and recaptured.

Earlier this year, longtime president and CEO Dr. Rob Shumaker stepped down after 16 years of service, a transition that came shortly after he was bitten by a chimpanzee during a feeding session.

Looking ahead

Zoo leadership emphasized that the Pathways to Membership program will help address the identified concerns and restore accreditation. The zoo plans to focus on improving organizational culture, communication, and cross‑department collaboration to meet AZA standards.

Community members and visitors are encouraged to continue supporting the zoo’s educational and conservation missions while the institution works toward regaining its accredited status.

Original reporting: 93.1 WIBC (Indianapolis) — read the source article.