Where to Find AZA's Mission, Member List, and Future Vision on AZA.org

Updated

AZA.org states that it covers the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' mission, its members, and its vision for the future, so the site itself is the intended place to learn about the organization. Look for an about or mission section for purpose and values, a membership or accredited-institution section for the member list, and organizational or strategic-planning content for the vision. The site description does not name specific menu labels or page URLs, so treat the section names below as the content areas to look for rather than exact links.

Mission: What the Organization Says It Does

The site describes AZA as leveraging the wildlife expertise of its members to promote animal welfare, conservation efforts, and scientific education. That sentence is the clearest summary of purpose available in the site description, and it maps to three themes you can expect the mission content to expand on:

  • Animal welfare — how member institutions care for animals
  • Conservation — wildlife and habitat efforts carried out through member expertise
  • Scientific education — learning and public engagement tied to wildlife science

When you reach the mission or about content, check that it connects these three themes to the member network, since the description frames member expertise as the mechanism.

Members: Finding the Member List

The site presents members as the source of the expertise behind its mission, so the member information is the place to confirm which zoos and aquariums belong. The description does not list institutions or give a directory format, so the practical approach is:

  1. Open the membership or accredited-institution area of the site.
  2. Look for a directory, list, or search tool for member facilities.
  3. Use it to check whether a specific zoo or aquarium is an AZA member.

If you are checking a single facility, confirm the name against the list rather than relying on a facility's own claim of membership.

Vision: The Forward-Looking Content

The site description explicitly mentions "our vision for the future," so expect a distinct section or statement covering where the organization is heading. Read it alongside the mission: the mission describes current purpose, while the vision content should describe future direction for animal welfare, conservation, and education.

What the Site Does Not Specify

The available site information does not include menu labels, page addresses, membership fees, or accreditation requirements. For those details, use the site's own navigation and any linked application or accreditation pages rather than assuming terms. For a deeper explanation of what membership or accreditation involves, see the related questions on AZA membership and accreditation and on how AZA promotes animal welfare and conservation.