There are some things about Grand Rapids that feel so familiar we can forget how unusual they are. John Ball Zoo is one of them.
For generations of Grand Rapidians, since 1891 the zoo has been part of growing up in West Michigan — a place for school field trips, family outings and summer afternoons spent wandering the hills. But beyond its place in the community, John Ball Zoo has earned a reputation that extends well beyond Grand Rapids.
The zoo has once again earned accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, reaffirming its commitment to animal care and welfare, conservation, education, guest experience and operational excellence. John Ball Zoo was the first zoo in Michigan to receive AZA accreditation and has retained it for 43 years.
For a hometown institution, that’s a point of civic pride.
AZA accreditation is considered one of the highest professional distinctions in the zoo and aquarium field. Only approximately 10% of the nearly 2,150 animal exhibitors licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are accredited by AZA.
Accredited institutions undergo a comprehensive accreditation process every five years, with standards that continue to evolve. The latest review included a thorough, multiday inspection by an independent team of zoological experts.
The process examines every aspect of critical zoo operations, including animal welfare and management, veterinary care, conservation and research, education, staff training, safety and security, physical facilities, financial stability, governance, guest services and overall operations.
For visitors, much of that work happens behind the scenes. Walking around the zoo, it’s reassuring to know that the animals are being cared for in an institution that is subject to this level of professional review.
The AZA accreditation inspection team recognized the considerable progress John Ball Zoo has made over the past decade, describing it as one of the finest medium-sized facilities in AZA.
The team also highlighted the zoo’s new pygmy hippo and otter habitats, which opened as part of the zoo’s continued investment in the guest experience and animal habitats. The inspectors called the new exhibits excellent and noted that they create an impressive first impression at the front of the zoo.
The review also recognized the zoo’s continued improvement, describing the progress made over the past decade as exceptional.
That recognition comes as John Ball Zoo continues to expand its role as a conservation organization. The zoo’s is guided by five core values: conservation, education, community, celebration and compassion. And its mission is to inspire the community to be actively engaged in the conservation of wildlife and wild places. Its work focuses on protecting wildlife and wild places, starting in the Great Lakes region, while supporting conservation efforts locally, nationally and around the world.
“I am immensely proud of the incredible team at John Ball Zoo and their tireless commitment to excellence in animal care, guest experience, education, operational excellence and saving wildlife,” said Rob VerHeulen, interim CEO of John Ball Zoo. “This accreditation reflects the dedication of our entire organization and the high standards our team brings to its work every day. It is also a tremendous recognition of the Zoo’s growing impact on conservation here in West Michigan and around the world.”
Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said the accreditation represents the “global gold standard” in zoological and aquarium accreditation.
“AZA’s standards continuously evolve to reflect best practices in the zoo and aquarium profession, with a strong emphasis on animal care and wellbeing at their core,” Ashe said. “John Ball Zoo has demonstrated a dedication to this exceptional level of care.”
The accreditation process includes a detailed application, a multiday on-site inspection by an independent team of zoological professionals and a review by the AZA Accreditation Commission. The commission also interviews top officials from the facility at a formal hearing before accreditation is fully granted, provisionally granted for one year or denied.
AZA facilities must complete the accreditation process every five years.
For John Ball Zoo, this latest accreditation continues a 43-year record that began when it became the first zoo in Michigan to receive the designation. There are 241 AZA-accredited institutions and 14 AZA-accredited related facility members in 12 countries.
For a zoo that has been part of Grand Rapids for more than a century, remaining among that group is a notable distinction — and one that gives visitors another reason to feel confident about the institution they’re supporting when they walk through its gates.
