I saw you post on the Abilene to CS thread,
so I know you check in here periodically. Have you seen, read or heard about our Zoo problems here in Abilene ??

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/apr/01/attorney-cites-retaliation-in-zoo-firings/

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/mar/31/no-headline---zoo_new_curator_baker_in_trou/

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/mar/26/abilene-zoos-accreditation-tabled/

Yes, I have been keeping up on that situation by reading the Reporternews online and from a couple of people who still live in Abilene (so, read and heard). It's quite an "interesting" situation going on, and there of course are opposing views. Having worked there for 6 years, I know some of the "intricacies" of working with the city and the zoo. If you want some inside info - well, lets just say I probably won't type specifics on here if I actually want to get back into the zoo world - it's a small world!

[This message has been edited by ZooGuy (edited 4/14/2009 8:03a).]

From an accreditation standpoint, institutions get tabled to give them time to meet specific requirements required by AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums).

Accreditations are done every 5 years by a team of two or three zoo professionals (usually directors or high level management from other zoos).

Normally, recommendations for improvements are made at each accreditation. If these are not met by the next accredititation, institutions can be tabled (i.e. given 6 months to a year) to make the required changes. If the changes are not made, institutions can lose their accreditation, and with that, all the benefits therein (i.e. animals from other institutions, licenses to house the animals they have, etc.). Up to 50% of the animals a zoo has can be on loan from another zoo (i.e. they don't own the animal) - so this also is affected by accredititation.

I could ramble on and on, but I think you get the picture. I have a good idea of what I think the problems might be, having participated in the previous accreditation in 2004.

[This message has been edited by ZooGuy (edited 4/16/2009 1:56p).]

[This message has been edited by ZooGuy (edited 4/16/2009 1:56p).]