Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums - CAZA is a nonprofit organization established in 1975 as the national voice representative of Canada
's zoo
s and aquarium
s. CAZA grants accreditation to zoos and aquarium
s in Canada are judged to meet specific animal care and program standards. It is a member of IUCN, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(WAZA) and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA).
CAZA's goal is to promote the welfare of animal
s by encouraging the advancement of conservation
, education
, and science
. Through their accredited members they seek to raise awareness and motivate support for animals and threatened environments.
CAZA members have an estimated 11 million visitors annually. CAZA supports programs to preserve threatened species and habitats and works to preserve the genetic diversity of species. CAZA also aims to standardize professional conduct through a Code of Ethics and an accreditation
program.
(AZA).
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
s and aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
s. CAZA grants accreditation to zoos and aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
s in Canada are judged to meet specific animal care and program standards. It is a member of IUCN, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums is the "umbrella" organisation for the world zoo and aquarium community. Its mission is to provide leadership and support for zoos, aquariums, and partner organizations of the world in animal care and welfare, conservation of biodiversity, environmental...
(WAZA) and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA).
CAZA's goal is to promote the welfare of animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s by encouraging the advancement of conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, and science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
. Through their accredited members they seek to raise awareness and motivate support for animals and threatened environments.
CAZA members have an estimated 11 million visitors annually. CAZA supports programs to preserve threatened species and habitats and works to preserve the genetic diversity of species. CAZA also aims to standardize professional conduct through a Code of Ethics and an accreditation
Accreditation
Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies ; hence they are sometimes known as "accredited...
program.
History
Originally named the Canadian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (CAZPA), CAZA was founded in June 1975 in Calgary, Alberta during a regional meeting of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA), which eventually became the Association of Zoos and AquariumsAssociation of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
(AZA).
See also
- List of CAZA member zoos and aquariums
- Association of Zoos and AquariumsAssociation of Zoos and AquariumsThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
- World Association of Zoos and AquariumsWorld Association of Zoos and AquariumsThe World Association of Zoos and Aquariums is the "umbrella" organisation for the world zoo and aquarium community. Its mission is to provide leadership and support for zoos, aquariums, and partner organizations of the world in animal care and welfare, conservation of biodiversity, environmental...