Mission

ZAA promotes responsible ownership, management, conservation, and propagation of animals in both the private and public domains through professional standards in husbandry, animal care, safety and ethics.

Purpose:

• Adhere to our mission while addressing the needs of our members.
• Protect and defend the right to own exotic and domestic animals, both privately and publically, under proper professional care, husbandry and safety standards which are rigorously observed and maintained.
• Defend our accredited facilities against false allegations, those with political agendas, and mischaracterizations.
• Promote legal and ethical methods for sustainable wildlife management.
• Encourage responsible conservation of genetics through cooperative breeding programs including both the private and public domains.
• Promote high standards and ethics through accreditation programs.
• Educate the media, policy-makers and the public through advocacy and adherence to best practices.

Objectives:

• Establish professional standards for husbandry, animal care, and safety.
• Ensure accurate animal and medical records by our members.
• Enhance the survival of species by the use of professional methods.
• Ensure an appropriate, safe, and quality existence for animals in captive environments.

ZAA Members are ethically bound to support and implement the Mission, Purpose, and Objectives of ZAA and to:

• Promote wildlife conservation to our visitors and society at large.
• Cooperate with colleagues and the broader conservation community to assist in animal propagation, husbandry, care and conservation in both the managed and wild populations.
• Possess and abide by all required federal, state, city, county, local, international and any other related permits.
• Act in accordance with all federal, state, city, county, local and international laws and regulations..
• Conduct all affairs ethically and legally with a high degree of professionalism, honesty, integrity and fairness to all concerned.