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Idaho Falls Zoo readies responses after AZA accreditation inspection; council briefed on fixes
Summary
Zoo leadership briefed the City Council on findings from an Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) inspection and their responses, including completed filtration work for the penguin pool, expanded tortoise housing in the new islands exhibit, plans to address primate rotation and veterinary coverage, and other facility and recordkeeping updates.
Zoo staff told the Idaho Falls City Council that they have responded to a range of concerns raised during a multi‑day Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accreditation inspection and will present their formal responses to the AZA commission at an upcoming hearing.
David Pinnock, the zoo's executive director, and Katie Berry, general curator, summarized inspection findings the AZA inspectors classified as prior concerns, major concerns and lesser concerns. Major items listed by staff included (1) completion of filtration hookups for the penguin and otter pools, (2) expanded indoor space for a large Aldabra tortoise now moved into the new islands exhibit, (3) a staffing/rotation issue in the primate building that temporarily created a three‑group rotation and limits outdoor access for some individuals, and (4) veterinary‑coverage communications and…
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