Celebrating Our 2024 ZAA Award Winners!

We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 awards, recognizing four outstanding achievements across education, exhibit design, and conservation. These awards celebrate excellence and innovation in creating inspiring, impactful experiences that connect people with animals and drive conservation forward.

Excellence in Education Award

Frank Buck Zoo - Teddy Bear Hospital Program

The ZAA Educational Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding achievement and innovation in education program design and implementation. The award goes to the Frank Buck Zoo for their Teddy Bear Hospital program. Launched in November 2023, this program fosters conservation knowledge and STEM career interest among young participants. This innovative event provides an early opportunity for children to engage with animal science, zoology, and veterinary medicine careers.

Comprehensive Immersion Exhibit Award

The Wild Animal Park - Ruins of the Wild: Mayan Jungle

The Wild Animal Park receives the ZAA Comprehensive Immersion Exhibit Award for their Ruins of the Wild: Mayan Jungle exhibit. This award recognizes unique and innovative ideas centering on outstanding design immersion to create a holistic approach to the animal/human connection. Ruins of the Wild: Mayan Jungle was inspired by ancient Mayan civilizations and the abundance of wildlife that now traverse across its ruined architecture. High towering structures with large staircases climb up out of the landscape like the temples of Tikal, all ornately decorated and carved like the ruins of ChichenItza. This ecosystem once controlled by the powerful Mayan culture, now teeming with all walks of wildlife is the image and location that the Wild Animal Park is creating for its visitors. Educational graphics in conjunction with traditional Mayan architecture grab at guests of all ages, engaging them in the theme and education trying to be achieved. This immersive experience increases visitors connection with nature and in turn creates new stewards for wildlife preservation and conservation of both animals and habitats throughout Central and South America, as well as the world.

Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence

African Safari Wildlife Park - Capybara Encounter Habitat

African Safari Wildlife Park has earned the ZAA Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence for their Capybara Encounter Habitat. This award recognizes excellence in the area of new and unique live animal display, exhibit design and construction. The new Capybara Encounter Habitat represents a groundbreaking addition designed to enhance both animal welfare and visitor interaction. This innovative exhibit incorporates advanced techniques and materials to create a naturalistic environment conducive to the capybara's natural behaviors and well-being, while also prioritizing safety, education, and sustainability.

In Situ Conservation Award

Monterey Zoo - A Recipe for “Saving Rhinos”

The ZAA In Situ Conservation Award is presented to Monterey Zoo for their Recipe for “Saving Rhinos”. This award recognizes significant contributions to enhancing the conservation of an animal species in nature. Monterey Zoo won this award upon the completion of the zoo’s new “Insert Rhino” program, coupled with the opening of the new “Conservation Hall”. They’ve embarked upon several new and innovative means of affording people the ability to make contributions to rhino conservation directly and immediately when visiting. The conservation area for their effort embraces all areas that are natural habitats for rhinos. They hosted a very exquisite, choreographed, educational and entertaining dinner/fundraising event that they titled, “an evening of Saving Rhinos”. Thanks to the successful event, Monterey Zoo issued a check to Int. Rhino Foundation for $105,000.00 to be equally distributed towards the conservation efforts in both Sumatra and Africa! $80,000 more than what was to be their initial donation. The recipe worked!

For more details and to explore past award recipients, visit our website.

Congratulations to all our award winners for their inspiring contributions to education, animal welfare, and conservation!