Why Did The El Paso Zoo Lose Its Accreditation?

The city of El Paso just announced that, for the first tine since 1980, the El Paso Zoo is not fully accredited by the AZA.

Animal care, health and treatment did NOT have anything to do with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, (AZA), decision not to renew the El Paso Zoo's Accreditation.

The denial stemmed mainly from maintenance and aesthetic issues at the El Paso Zoo like railings along walkways and some fencing near the canal.

The El Paso Zoo has recently renovated, remodeled or rebuilt many of its facilities. The South American Pavilion, for example, is one of the areas recently renovated and work on the exhibit will continue.

The zoo has about #3 million dollars to spend on fixing things up, once they decide what they want to fix. Once they have made more repairs, the El Paso Zoo plans to appeal the decision and reapply for accreditation. Whether it has the AZA accreditation or not does not impact the El Paso Zoo financially.

Are El Paso Zoo Animals Ok?

Animal care was not listed as a concern, and the Zoo’s veterinary program, animal welfare practices and overall operations were actually praised by the AZA, according to the city. - KVIA

The El Paso Zoo is open Wednesday - Sunday from 9am - 5pm. Last admission is at 4pm and the zoo is closed Monday and Tuesday. Ticket prices vary depending on age, military status and whether or not you are a resident. Get yours here.

You can spy on some of the animals here.