Happy Hollow receives another 5 years of AZA accreditation

April 27, 2022

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is excited to announce that we have been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for another five-year cycle! Happy Hollow has been continuously accredited by the AZA since 1993 (institutions must reapply every five years) and is proud to add another successful accreditation cycle to our history.

The AZA has been the primary accrediting body for zoos and aquariums for over 40 years, with accreditation standards representing the “gold standard” in animal care. AZA’s standards are rigorous, scientifically founded and performance-based, allowing them to be applied to a variety of situations to ensure the best possible animal care and facility operation.

The accreditation process is no easy feat and encompassed over a year of time. Happy Hollow submitted an extensive written application in 2021, followed by a multi-day site inspection in January and a hearing in front of the Accreditation Commission in April. It truly takes a team to accomplish such a task, and Happy Hollow is thankful to have had the support of Happy Hollow Foundation, San José’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services, the Kelley Park Rangers, and more throughout the process.

“The Happy Hollow team put an incredible amount of time, effort and care into the AZA application process, and we are very proud of the outcome,” said Kiersten McCormick, General Manager. “All of our staff are truly dedicated to the animals in their care, the conservation of those species, the education of the public, and ensuring that Happy Hollow maintains the high standards of AZA Accreditation.”

AZA accreditation is an ever-evolving process, with standards continually changing and being updated as we learn more about the species in our care. Being AZA accredited means not only meeting the standards as they exist during your year of accreditation but being committed to striving for excellence and constantly working to improve the animal care programs and operations at your institution. Happy Hollow continues to take on this challenge gladly, and we are excited to see what we will be able to accomplish in the next five years.

If you’d like to learn more about the AZA Accreditation process, you can visit AZA’s website.