Taronga Institute of Science and Learning
To help us shape a future for wildlife and people, we’ve created the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, a world-class facility right here at Taronga Zoo Sydney.
Accreditation
Taronga is proudly accredited by ZAA
Taronga's two Zoos are proudly accredited by the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) Australasia, the peak body which represents the collective voice of the zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries and wildlife parks across Australasia that operate to the highest standards.
About ZAA accreditation
Taronga's two Zoos are proudly accredited by the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) Australasia, the peak body which represents the collective voice of the zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries and wildlife parks across Australasia that operate to the highest standards.
ZAA grants accreditation to zoos and aquariums that have clearly demonstrated their commitment to positive welfare. Accreditation involves a thorough process where zoos and aquariums must provide compelling evidence on their operations, policies and the actual experiences of their animals. All Australasian zoos and aquariums meet legal government welfare standards, but ZAA-accredited institutions go above and beyond these requirements to focus on good welfare. Under ZAA accreditation, zoos are constantly evolving and improving their operations to deliver even better welfare for animals in their care.
The ZAA Welfare Accreditation program champions welfare from the animal’s perspective, and rather than assessing provisions such as provision of water or food, it examines the animals experience, for instance the likely pleasure experiences by offering a variety of foods, presented in engaging manners, in species relevant times frames.
It is a science-based approach based on the five animal welfare domains – nutrition, health, environment, behavioural interactions and mental state. The framework considers not just the absence of negative welfare but the promotion of positive welfare from the perspective of the animals.
As part of its accreditation, Taronga must provide compelling evidence for set criteria on both their operations and the experiences of their animals. A welfare assessment is also conducted based on the five animal welfare domains for key species from a broad cross-section of species nominated by ZAA from invertebrates through to great apes. The program also considers Taronga’s commitment to positive animal welfare, safety, biosecurity, conservation and sustainability. ZAA-accredited zoos and aquariums are assessed every three years to retain accreditation, and international members are assessed annually.
Taronga's two Zoos are proudly accredited by the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) Australasia, the peak body which represents the collective voice of the zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries and wildlife parks across Australasia that operate to the highest standards.
ZAA grants accreditation to zoos and aquariums that have clearly demonstrated their commitment to positive welfare. Accreditation involves a thorough process where zoos and aquariums must provide compelling evidence on their operations, policies and the actual experiences of their animals. All Australasian zoos and aquariums meet legal government welfare standards, but ZAA-accredited institutions go above and beyond these requirements to focus on good welfare. Under ZAA accreditation, zoos are constantly evolving and improving their operations to deliver even better welfare for animals in their care.
The ZAA Welfare Accreditation program champions welfare from the animal’s perspective, and rather than assessing provisions such as provision of water or food, it examines the animals experience, for instance the likely pleasure experiences by offering a variety of foods, presented in engaging manners, in species relevant times frames.
It is a science-based approach based on the five animal welfare domains – nutrition, health, environment, behavioural interactions and mental state. The framework considers not just the absence of negative welfare but the promotion of positive welfare from the perspective of the animals.
As part of its accreditation, Taronga must provide compelling evidence for set criteria on both their operations and the experiences of their animals. A welfare assessment is also conducted based on the five animal welfare domains for key species from a broad cross-section of species nominated by ZAA from invertebrates through to great apes. The program also considers Taronga’s commitment to positive animal welfare, safety, biosecurity, conservation and sustainability. ZAA-accredited zoos and aquariums are assessed every three years to retain accreditation, and international members are assessed annually.
The Five Domains Model
The Five Domains Model is a science-based structure for assessing animal welfare that recognises that animals can experience feelings, ranging from negative to positive. The first four domains help to inform us about the variety of an animal’s experiences which make up the Mental Domain (the fifth domain).
The accreditation process
About ZAA
More to explore
Conservation and science programs
Explore Taronga’s conservation and science programs, featuring research, wildlife care and initiatives that support healthy ecosystems and native species.
Welfare science
Explore animal welfare science at Taronga, featuring research, behavioural studies and evidence-based approaches that inform care for wildlife in all settings.
