COLUMBUS – The Association of Zoos and Aquarium accreditation the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has enjoyed for more than 40 years was not renewed, a decision zoo officials say they will appeal.
The appeal of the AZA accreditation commission’s decision must be filed by Oct. 30.
While the accreditation team commended the zoo on 17 aspects of zoo operation following a visit in July, the commission said it wondered if leadership changes can be sustained and expressed concern about the misuse of zoo assets by former CEO Tom Stalf and former CFO Greg Bell, who resigned in March after a newspaper investigation found they allowed relatives to live in houses owned or controlled by the zoo and sought tickets for family members to zoo entertainment events.
The issues are still under investigation by the state.
There were also concerns about the acquisition and disposition of some animals after a documentary showed that some animals were acquired from exotic animal vendors and were not taken to the zoo after appearing on television shows and at other events.
“The poor decisions of a handful of people should not negate the good work this team does and how much staff members contribute to the AZA through committee work and leadership roles,” interim president and CEO Jerry Borin said.
“Nobody currently working at the Zoo had anything to do with the position we find ourselves in today. We’ve acknowledged the wrongdoings of the past. We’ve also made changes and updated policies to ensure those cannot happen again,” Borin said.
The commission could have tabled the accreditation for one year, giving the Zoo time for the changes to remain in effect, Borin said.
Other changes included ending relationships with vendors highlighted in The Conservation Game film and a commitment to the long-term welfare of current and retired “ambassador animals.”
The lack of AZA accreditation, which the zoo has held since 1980, will hinder the zoo’s participation in species survival and breeding programs, which will impact the animals that will come to live at the zoo.
If the appeal is unsuccessful, the earliest the zoo can reapply for accreditation is September 2022.