Celebrating 25 Years of AZA Accreditation
The Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo is celebrating a very special anniversary this year: 25 years of continuous Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accreditation! The AZA presented the zoo with a plaque in honor of the milestone, and Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo Director Dr. Alan Tousignant explained what the accomplishment means to the organization:
“We are very proud of 25 years of continuous accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). AZA sets the gold standard for animal well-being and provides opportunities for us and our students to live and share our mission: ‘Millbrook’s Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo inspires all to live responsibly by educating its students and visitors about conservation, wildlife, and the natural world.’”
One opportunity the AZA provides is the annual AZA Conference. Each year our head student zoo curators travel with the zoo staff to these industry meetings where they network with professionals and further their passion for conservation work. The only high schoolers at the conference, our curators have enjoyed participating in meetings about animal conservation and enrichment, and meeting with the AZA president.
Established in 1936 from the personal menagerie of biology instructor Frank Trevor, the zoo has grown to include more than 170 exotic and indigenous animals, including endangered species like red pandas and American Red Wolves. The zoo also recently changed its name to honor one of Mr. Trevor’s brightest students, renowned ecologist Thomas Lovejoy ’59.
AZA accreditation is essential to the zoo’s future, as major plans for enhancement and expansion are underway. While it will continue to be one of the smaller AZA zoos, the Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo has a massive impact on conservation efforts through giving young people real-world training as stewards of the natural world. We look forward to the next 25 years of working with the AZA to accomplish our mission!
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