Almost everyone has a zoo or aquarium story.
For some, it’s a childhood field trip. For others, it’s the first time seeing a dolphin leap from the water or locking eyes with a tiger. These moments stay with us. They spark curiosity, and often, compassion.
For Dan Ashe, President and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), that emotional connection is the foundation for conservation.
That’s why we’re proud to recognize AZA as our 2025 Bring on Better Association of the Year.
Raising the Standard — and the Stakes
AZA accredits 253 aquariums, zoos and nature centers, and represents more than 8,000 professionals across the aquarium and zoo industry. Accreditation serves as a public commitment to excellence — for animals, for visitors, and for the broader conservation community.
AZA’s vision is a world where animals thrive because people respect, value, and conserve wildlife and wild places. That vision is shaped by an urgent reality.
“We’re living amidst, and as humans are driving, an extinction crisis,” Ashe shared. “Time is the precious commodity.”
In response, AZA continues to elevate what excellence looks like. The organization recently adopted new elephant standards centered on optimal care and thriving animals. The standards establish a forward-looking benchmark that evolves as science advances and best practices improve.
More broadly, AZA has advanced a holistic approach to animal wellbeing — one that considers physical health, social dynamics, psychological experience, and lifelong care. The focus is on continuous improvement and measurable outcomes for animals in human care.
From the Brink of Extinction to Flight
Few examples capture AZA’s impact better than the California condor.
In 1987, only 22 condors remained in the world. Through coordinated conservation breeding efforts across AZA-accredited institutions and federal partners, that number has grown to more than 500 birds, with over 300 flying free across the western United States and Mexico.
It remains one of the most remarkable wildlife recovery stories of our time — and the work continues.
Similar efforts are underway for dozens of species. From black-footed ferrets to Guam kingfishers reintroduced into the wild after decades without a natural home, AZA members are delivering science-driven, collaborative conservation outcomes that prevent extinction.
These successes rely on long-term commitment and public engagement. Zoos and aquariums create opportunities for people to encounter wildlife up close, strengthening empathy and awareness in ways that support conservation beyond their gates.
Building the Future of Conservation
While accreditation remains foundational to AZA’s work, innovation is shaping what comes next.
From digital accreditation tools to the use of artificial intelligence in monitoring animal behavior and supporting conservation research, the organization and its members are integrating technology to enhance care and insight. AI-assisted observation systems can identify subtle behavioral patterns in animals. Advanced data platforms strengthen population management programs. Reservation systems and cashless operations have transformed guest experiences in lasting ways.
The goal is clear: use every available tool to advance animal wellbeing, member success, and conservation impact.
Underpinning this progress is a deeply mission-driven professional community.
“AZA is an entire community of professionals giving their time and talent to the proposition of being better,” Ashe said.
That collective spirit — grounded in science, collaboration, and continuous improvement — reflects the essence of Bring on Better.
With the launch of AZA Action, a new advocacy arm designed to strengthen the organization’s voice in conservation policy, AZA is preparing to extend its influence even further.
At a time when biodiversity loss accelerates and the ticking clock sounds louder than ever; the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is demonstrating the power of an association aligned around purpose.
They are helping species recover.
They are advancing standards of care.
They are shaping the future of conservation.
And that is what better looks like.