Columbus Zoo CEO '99.9%' confident accreditation will return in March - The Columbus Dispatch

Eighteen months after losing its accreditation amid concerns regarding its acquisition of animals and inappropriate business practices by its former leaders, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's CEO, Tom Schmid, said he is confident that accreditation will return next month.

What is Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation?

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is the industry's top accrediting body. The AZA's accreditation process helps ensure its member facilities are meeting industry standards that emphasize animal welfare and care, veterinary programs, conservation, education and safety, the AZA's website said. Accredited organizations must go through the accreditation process every five years.

Accreditation impacts eligibility for funding and grants from some foundations, corporations or other funding sources, and exempts institutions from certain government requirements, especially at the state level.

Accredited AZA members also are eligible to participate in animal exchange programs with other member zoos and aquariums and the AZA's animal conservation programs.

Why was accreditation lost?

In October 2021, the AZA announced the accreditation was being revoked, one day after Schmid was announced as the zoo's next CEO.

The AZA expressed concern about "inappropriate financial management issues by former leadership" at the Columbus Zoo, but said the zoo's repeated animal transfers with non-AZA members to supply baby animals for entertainment purposes are "more substantial and concerning."

A documentary film, "The Conservation Game," raised questions about the way celebrity conservationists, including longtime Columbus Zoo director Jack Hanna, acquire exotic animals. The film alleges baby tigers and snow leopards that appeared with Hanna on late-night talk shows often didn't come from or return to accredited zoos, but were instead shuffled among backyard breeders and unaccredited zoos that don't have to adhere to the same strict animal care standards and ethics rules as accredited facilities.

Before that, Tom Stalf, former zoo president and CEO, and Greg Bell, former chief financial officer, resigned after an investigation by The Dispatch detailed their extensive personal use of zoo resources.

The Columbus Zoo appealed the AZA's accreditation decision, but the organization upheld its original determination in December 2021. The zoo had the opportunity to reapply for accreditation in fall of 2022.

In the meantime, the Columbus Zoo was granted accreditation by the Zoological Association of America, a smaller and newer accrediting body.

What did Schmid say?

During a Columbus Chamber of Commerce event on Thursday, Schmid said the zoo has taken numerous steps to address concerns about its financial management and its animal handling. He noted that former executives were essentially stealing from the zoo, so now he must get approval for $10 parking expenses.

"I understand I'm probably going to be the most scrutinized zoo CEO in the country," he said. "That's what we need to do to build that trust back."

He noted that an inspection was done in December that provided great results for the zoo and gave Schmid confidence that accreditation was forthcoming.

"I'm 99.9% confident in March we will get accreditation back," he said.

What's next for the zoo?

Schmid said receiving accreditation this spring will be ideal as the zoo prepares to host the annual conference for the AZA in September.

In addition, the zoo is investing $50 million in its facilities, including $7 million to improve camping areas at the Wilds in Muskingum County to give people more affordable options to spend multiple days at the 10,000 acre safari park.

Other investments include:

• Complete redevelopment of the North American region of the park
• New indoor restaurant in the North American region
• Upgrading the indoor facilities where many animals spend the winter

blanka@dispatch.com