Zoo and Aquarium Association

collaborates with governments, NGOs, and animal welfare organizations like World Animal Protection and RSPCA to promote its accreditation framework and positive animal welfare practices. Community research is vital in gauging public understanding and support for the ZAA’s initiatives. The feedback informs the association’s strategies and helps educate the community about conservation and sustainability. Bensted highlights the global impact of ZAA’s conservation programs: “Just recently, we had the first ever born Mabayimi wren, a tiny little bird extinct in South Australia now, and there’s a small group left in Victoria. They’ve never been held in captivity until last year.” Such achievements highlight the association’s commitment to reversing the decline of endangered species. THE FUTURE OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS Looking ahead, the ZAA aims to continue its critical conservation work and further enhance animal welfare standards. Craddock states, “Any species recovery or conservation work takes years. It’s a multi-decade project meant to make a real impact.” The association’s membership reaches around 22 million people annually, providing a powerful platform to educate the public about conservation and sustainable practices. Bensted envisions an ongoing role for zoos and aquariums in promoting environmental stewardship: “While they’re here, they can learn so much, whether about the threatened species or environmental things like single-use plastics or sustainable palm oil. We can provide input to the community in an educational sense.” 4 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 06, ISSUE 06