Watertown’s Bramble Park Zoo recently was denied accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The zoo’s AZA accreditation was always a feather in the cap for the facility. Just 252 zoos in the world meet the tough AZA standards. Bramble Park Zoo is still accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the federal government department that oversees zoos. The zoo’s facilities continue to meet all USDA standards, ensuring that the animals are housed safely and in compliance with federal regulations.
Zoo Manager Stacy Plocher told the Watertown Current the AZA news was disappointing to hear.
“It’s hard not to take it a little personally because we love this zoo. I love it. I think it’s a great zoo. I moved across the country to come here.”
The zoo will continue to serve the community as it works to address facility improvements needed to regain accreditation, the City of Watertown said in a statement.
Plocher said the condition or care of the animals was not an issue with the AZA.
“All of our animal care is great,” she said. “They loved all of our new policies. They had a lot of really positive things to say. The problem was that some of our buildings are becoming outdated.”
While significant improvements have been made to zoo facilities since the 2019 and 2020 inspections, AZA’s standards have evolved, and the facilities have not kept pace, city officials said.
Specifically, some animal enclosures and holding areas no longer meet the updated expectations for size, complexity, and enrichment required by AZA.
“The main concern is the appearance and how some of the buildings and exhibits present to the public,” Plocher said. “They’re not keeping up with modern standards. There were no issues with the care of our animals; they’re all healthy and doing great. It’s just how the exhibits appear to the public that was at issue.”
According to the official AZA Accreditation Narrative Report, Bramble Park Zoo meets and/or exceeds AZA standards in many key areas, especially animal well-being and care. The zoo’s enrichment and training programs have made significant improvements during this accreditation cycle and are helping to improve the overall well-being of the animals at the zoo.
The AZA accreditation committee specifically highlighted several achievements:
Animal well-being: The zoo has significantly improved its welfare assessments, reporting, and enrichment programs. The animals are healthy, well-cared for, and receive veterinary care that meets or exceeds AZA standards.
Exhibits: Several animal enclosures are well-designed and spacious, particularly the bison, camel and yak areas, which were praised for providing ample space for the animals.
Education programs: Bramble Park Zoo offers a diverse range of educational programs for all ages, including the popular Roots & Shoots program created by Jane Goodall and the Zoo Crew youth volunteer program, which has received positive feedback from participants.
Plocher said the zoo staff is working on a plan to address the facility issues raised by AZA. An improvement plan will be presented to the Park Board for discussion, and a recommendation to the City Council will follow. The city is committed to supporting the zoo and meeting modern standards that enhance visitors’ experience.
The earliest re-accreditation could be sought would be the spring of 2025, Plocher said. “But I don’t know if we’re going to push quite that hard, because we’re really going to promote some of our fundraising activities and see if we can get some newer, more modern buildings.”
She said there are a couple of different zoological accreditation bodies, and discussions are ongoing as to which accreditation the zoo will seek. That could be re-accreditation by the AZA, or from the Zoological Association of America. That ZAA is nonprofit accrediting organization dedicated to responsible wildlife management, conservation, and education that was formed in 2005. The ZAA says it upholds the highest levels of professional standards in animal welfare, safety, and ethics.
Bramble Park Zoo was one of just two facilities in South Dakota to meet AZA standards. The Great Plains Zoo is Sioux Falls is accredited through 2027.
Bramble Park Zoo will continue to serve the community while making the necessary improvements to regain accreditation and continue to provide the best care possible for the animals.
Plocher became the zoo’s director at the beginning of 2024 following the retirement of longtime director Dan Miller.