Assignment task:
Refute this argument? Please site any references use.
I believe accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is worth the associated costs and resources that go along with it. Aza was founded in October of 1924, one of the longest-standing and prestigious accrediting associations in the United States for zoos and aquariums. The standards are high, representing over 234 facilities in the U.S. and overseas and these high standards are what makes them so well known to the public. While obtaining the standards for AZA can be egregious, the facilities with their accreditation are some of the best institutions in the country. Once a facility can gain membership, there are multiple benefits besides the rise in public confidence due to its high standards. Zoos and aquariums with AZA accreditation have an increase in eligibility for funding and grants from foundations they wouldn't have otherwise, as well as improving the ability to attract and maintain high-quality professional staff. The stakes may be high and the road hard to gain AZA accreditation, but with the added benefits, along with the public's confidence in the organization itself, it not only opens more opportunities for the zoo but helps in higher visitor numbers.
About Us | Association of Zoos & Aquariums. (n.d.). AZA.
Accreditation Basics | Association of Zoos & Aquariums. (n.d.).