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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 relief‑veterinarian protocols.
Pinnock described the accreditation process: a lengthy application; a three‑day on‑site inspection; a post‑inspection report of concerns; and a scheduled commission hearing where commission members will ask questions and issue accreditation decisions. He said the zoo has already completed or substantially addressed several items from the inspector list and has prepared formal written responses for the commission.
Berry explained the primate concern in detail: after the staff separated individuals for animal‑welfare reasons, the building temporarily contains three groups in one suite, which requires a longer rotation and means some animals spend more time in holding than under ideal conditions. Staff are pursuing three avenues: (a) working with Species Survival Plan (SSP) partners to transfer species when appropriate, (b) identifying sanctuary or accredited facilities that could take the non‑SSP gray gibbons, and (c) reconfiguring other group assignments when the islands exhibit opens and frees up space. Berry said the zoo is continuing outreach to SSP programs and accredited partners and will present a mitigation plan to the AZA commission.
On veterinary coverage, Berry and Pinnock told the council that current contract arrangements were being strengthened and that a new contract is in preparation to provide more on‑site veterinary days without increasing the zoo's budget. Staff also described incremental fixes for recordkeeping, medication labeling, enrichment planning and maintenance scheduling. The inspectors had requested a clearer maintenance plan and more detailed enrichment documentation; staff said those documents were prepared and included in the zoo's formal response.
Councilors asked several operational questions, including how the new filtration changed penguin pool water‑change frequency (staff said full dump/refill cycles have gone from every two days toward weekly, with a goal of monthly or less as the filtration regimen is optimized) and whether treated water could be reused for irrigation (staff said reuse is being explored and civil engineers are assisting with longer‑term plans). Council members praised zoo staff for the new islands facility and for the quality of animal‑care staff.
Pinnock said the accreditation commission meeting is scheduled for the coming Sunday and the commission will decide on accreditation after a brief hearing. The council expects a follow‑up focus report on the zoo and parks divisions at a future work session that will include attendance and financial metrics and proposed capital needs.
