Of the 238 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, 54 percent are not-for-profit.
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As it turns out, many of the zoos and wildlife sanctuaries throughout the world are non-profit organizations. Zoos and sanctuaries often work hand in hand in ensuring safety for the wildlife on earth. They cater to endangered species as well as animals at risk of becoming endangered.
Only 10 percent of zoos in the U.S.—238 to be exact—are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which holds its member zoos to the highest standards of physical and mental care for wildlife—standards that are unachievable for the vast majority of other zoos.
The Phoenix Zoo opened in 1962 and is the largest privately owned, non-profit zoo in the United States. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the zoo was founded by Robert Maytag, a member of the Maytag family, and operates on 125 acres (51 ha) of land in the Papago Park area of Phoenix.
Catch up quick: The loss of accreditation was two-pronged. First, a Dispatch investigation that Alissa worked on in 2021 uncovered that former officials had been using zoo assets personally for years, resulting in losses of at least $631,000 that have been mostly recovered via settlements.
Zoos follow a fundamental principle: You can't sell or buy the animals. It's unethical and illegal to put a price tag on an elephant's head. But money is really useful — it lets you know who wants something and how much they want it.
Which States have the highest number of businesses in the Zoos & Aquariums industry in the United States? California (63 businesses), Florida (61 businesses) and Texas (50 businesses) are the States with the most number of Zoos & Aquariums businesses in the US.
The Economic Impact of ZoosThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos drew 183 million visitors to U.S. zoos and aquariums. AZA-member zoos in the States employed 198,000 people. The report estimated the total economic output of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums in 2018 to be $22.5 billion.