Columbus Zoo loses its accreditation but plans to appeal

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has lost its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a decision that zoo leadership said it plans to appeal.

“It is never a good day when AZA loses a member, especially one as renowned and respected as the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium," the AZA wrote in a statement. "But AZA membership is conditioned on adherence to our accreditation standards – the global “gold standard” for modern aquariums and zoos – and our independent Accreditation Commission has determined that Columbus has failed to uphold those standards."

Columbus Zoo interim CEO and president Jerry Borin said he was disappointed by the news.

“The AZA first accredited the Columbus Zoo in 1980, and as a long-standing AZA organization, we are disappointed that the Commission denied our accreditation after all of the positive changes that were made to meet AZA standards, " Borin said in a statement.

This news comes after a scandal-plagued year in which Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost launched an investigation into the zoo, and top zoo officials resigned.

Also, a new documentary, The Conservation Game, alleges that the traveling zoo program used disreputable animal vendors to acquire big cat cubs, and returned the animals to these vendors after they grew too big to take on the travel shows. The zoo acknowledged the use of vendors after it was made public, and stated that they would no longer work with the vendors mentioned in the documentary.

The Columbus Zoo announced new leadership yesterday.  Tom Schmid will take over as the new president and CEO on Dec. 6. Schmid served as chair of the board of directors for the AZA from 2012 - 2013.

This is a developing story and it will be updated.

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