Orlando Science Center Achieves Notable Accreditation for Animal Welfare

The Orlando Science Center has garnered accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), placing it among a select group of institutions recognized for adhering to stringent standards in animal care, welfare, and conservation.

This accreditation follows a comprehensive multi-year evaluation process that involved an independent inspection and a thorough examination of various aspects, such as veterinary care, animal habitats, staff training, education, and financial viability. The accreditation needs to be renewed every five years.

Notably, the accolade is significant for the Science Center’s Life exhibit, which debuted in 2024, showcasing habitats that reflect the rainforest, ocean, and swamp environments to enhance visitor awareness of wildlife and conservation efforts.

The Science Center states it is among only 15 institutions nationally that hold accreditation from both AZA and the American Alliance of Museums. AZA accreditation is voluntary and surpasses basic licensing requirements, with only about 10% of USDA-licensed animal exhibitors in the U.S. obtaining this mark of distinction.

This recognition arises amid heightened scrutiny of local animal attractions, particularly following concerns over Sloth World, which never opened due to animal welfare issues and multiple sloth deaths. While the accreditation does not ensure absolute immunity from welfare problems, it offers independent oversight and established standards for evaluating animal attractions.

For the Orlando Science Center, this accreditation represents an independent endorsement of the substantive efforts undertaken to care for the animals that visitors come to observe.