A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Longneck Manor
If you’ve ever visited a zoo, aquarium or wildlife facility, you’ve probably seen the letters AZA before.
But what does “AZA accredited” actually mean?
At Longneck Manor, we’re proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)—and while the designation may appear on a logo or website, what it represents goes much deeper.
We recently sat down with Elizabeth Johnson, Longneck Manor’s Director of Education and Animal Collections, to talk about what AZA accreditation means, what goes into earning it, and why it matters to our guests and, most importantly, to the animals in our care. You can watch that video here.
What Is AZA?
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the zoo and aquarium profession in the areas of conservation, education, science and recreation, with animal welfare at the heart of its accreditation standards.
AZA has been around for more than a century, having been founded in 1924. But the accreditation program itself grew out of increasing concern about animal care standards in the United States.
As Elizabeth explains:
“In 1971, in response to the nation’s growing concern for animal care in the United States, AZA appointed a committee to establish a set of best practices.”
The first institution was accredited in 1974. In 1985, AZA made accreditation a mandatory requirement for membership—a decision that resulted in a dramatic 75% drop in membership at the time, but ultimately helped push the zoological profession toward higher standards of animal care and husbandry.
Today, AZA accreditation is considered one of the most rigorous benchmarks in the zoo and aquarium profession.
How Rare Is AZA Accreditation?
This is one of the reasons we’re particularly proud of our accreditation.
As of March 2026, AZA represents 254 accredited zoos, aquariums and related facilities across 12 countries, including 229 in the United States.
But the more revealing statistic is this:
Approximately 10% of the nearly 2,150 animal exhibitors licensed by the USDA are AZA accredited.
In other words, AZA accreditation isn’t something every facility that houses or exhibits animals has.
It represents a commitment to meeting a much more comprehensive set of professional standards.
As Elizabeth puts it:
“It’s a pretty big deal to be accredited by the AZA.”
And it is.
What Does AZA Accreditation Mean for a Visitor?
For guests, accreditation provides an important piece of information when deciding where to spend their time and money.
As Elizabeth explains:
“As a visitor, whenever you visit a facility that is accredited by the AZA, you know that you are supporting a facility that is upholding really high standards of animal care and welfare.”
That’s important because what you see during a visit is only a small part of what goes into caring for an animal.
You might see a giraffe enjoying a browse of leaves or a rhino relaxing in its habitat. But behind that moment are trained animal care professionals, veterinary protocols, nutrition programs, facility maintenance, safety procedures, record keeping, emergency plans and much more.
AZA’s accreditation standards examine an institution’s entire operation—not just its animal exhibits.
The review encompasses areas including:
- Animal care and welfare
- Veterinary care
- Staff training
- Conservation
- Education
- Guest services
- Physical facilities
- Safety
- Staffing
- Financial stability
- Governance and operations
AZA describes animal welfare as the foundation of its accreditation standards.
And that’s one of the most important things to understand about accreditation: it’s not simply an inspection of the animals. It’s an evaluation of the organization responsible for caring for them.
So, What Does the AZA Accreditation Process Look Like?
The word “accreditation” can sound fairly simple.
The process is anything but.
Elizabeth describes it as a lengthy, comprehensive process that begins with a detailed application.
“The thick binder of standards with which your facility has to abide to encompasses everything—from not only animal care and husbandry but also vet care, from your finances to your facilities, to your maintenance team, to your supporting organizations.”
In other words, AZA looks at the big picture.
Facilities submit an application that includes policies, procedures and standard operating procedures. Then comes the on-site inspection.
According to Elizabeth:
“Typically it’s three to four inspectors. They come out. They spend a couple of days. They get to know the staff. They tour the facility. They meet the animals. They really are looking at everything.”
And “everything” really does mean everything.
AZA says its inspection team evaluates animal care and wellbeing, veterinary care, staff training, educational programs, conservation efforts, financial stability, risk management, governance and guest services. After the inspection, detailed reports are reviewed by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission, which also interviews senior facility officials during a formal hearing.
It’s a comprehensive examination of how an organization operates.
And Then You Have to Do It Again
Earning accreditation isn’t a “check the box and move on” accomplishment.
AZA-accredited facilities must go through the entire accreditation process every five years.
Why?
Because animal welfare science evolves. Best practices evolve. Conservation needs evolve. And organizations should evolve with them.
Elizabeth explains:
“That’s truly just to make sure that we’re continually learning and expanding upon and improving on the standards that we had five years ago.”
That ongoing process is one of the things that makes AZA accreditation meaningful.
The goal isn’t simply to prove that an institution met a standard five years ago.
It’s to demonstrate that the institution continues to meet—and adapt to—professional standards as they evolve.
How Longneck Manor Earned Its Accreditation
Longneck Manor received AZA accreditation in 2024, just three years after opening.
For a young organization, earning accreditation so early was a significant accomplishment.
As Elizabeth explains:
“We were only about three years old when we were accredited by the AZA, which is also another thing that we’re really proud of.”
Longneck Manor doesn’t look like a traditional zoo.
We have a relatively small animal collection focused primarily on giraffes and rhinos. We offer luxury accommodations, including overnight stays, and our guests experience animals in a much more intimate setting than they might at a traditional large zoological facility.
But the size and appearance of the facility don’t change the commitment to professional animal care.
Elizabeth puts it this way:
“Even though we are different in those aspects of overnight guests and also a smaller collection, we’re doing everything that those big facilities are doing and then some.”
That’s an important distinction.
AZA accreditation isn’t about how big a facility is. It’s about how well it cares for the animals and fulfills its professional responsibilities.
What Makes Longneck Manor Different?
Longneck Manor’s model is intentionally different from a traditional zoo.
Our guests aren’t simply walking through an exhibit and observing animals from a distance. Many of our experiences are designed to create deeper, more personal connections between guests and the animals—with animal care professionals helping guide those encounters.
Elizabeth describes these experiences as:
“Really getting these individualistic kind of cultivated experiences, which is a lot different than what you might experience if you go to a zoo or aquarium.”
And that intimacy is part of what makes Longneck Manor special.
Guests can stay overnight in luxury accommodations. They can participate in immersive animal experiences. They can learn directly from the people who care for the animals every day.
But underneath that personalized experience is the same commitment to professional animal care, conservation and education expected of AZA-accredited institutions around the world.
AZA Accreditation Is Also About Conservation
One of the most important misconceptions about zoos and animal facilities is that their role ends with caring for animals in human care.
Modern accredited zoological institutions have a much broader conservation mission.
AZA reports that its accredited facilities collectively care for more than 780,000 animals representing more than 8,600 species. The organization also coordinates nearly 300 Species Survival Plan® programs designed to support the long-term management of animal populations.
And the conservation impact extends beyond facility boundaries.
In 2024, AZA members spent $341.1 million on field conservation, supporting projects around the world.
Longneck Manor is part of that larger conservation community.
Our mission extends beyond the animals living here. Through the Longneck Manor Conservation Foundation, we support conservation organizations working to protect wildlife and wild places in the field.
That connection between animals in human care and conservation in the wild is essential.
The animals guests meet at Longneck Manor can become ambassadors for their wild counterparts—helping people develop an emotional connection to species and conservation challenges they may otherwise never encounter.
How Can You Tell If a Wildlife Facility Is Doing Things Right?
Elizabeth offers a simple suggestion for visitors:
“The first thing you can do is look for an AZA logo.”
It’s a good starting point.
But she also recommends doing a little research.
Look at what conservation projects a facility supports. Look at its educational programs. Learn about the people caring for the animals. Look at their professional backgrounds and experience.
Ask yourself:
Is this organization committed to conservation?
Does it prioritize education?
Who is caring for the animals?
What kind of experience and expertise does the animal care team have?
Is the facility independently accredited?
These questions can help you make more informed decisions about the wildlife experiences you choose to support.
Why AZA Accreditation Matters to Us
For Longneck Manor, AZA accreditation isn’t simply an achievement we put on a website or brochure.
It’s a reflection of the standards we hold ourselves to every day.
We are proud that our guests can enjoy a unique experience—feeding a giraffe, meeting a rhino, staying overnight just steps from our animals—while also knowing that the organization behind those experiences has undergone an extensive independent review of its animal care, veterinary practices, conservation work, education, operations and more.
And we’re proud that we earned that accreditation just three years after opening our doors.
Because ultimately, it’s not about the letters AZA.
It’s about what those letters represent.
A commitment to doing right by the animals.
A commitment to conservation.
A commitment to education.
And a commitment to continually learning and improving.
As Elizabeth says:
“To be able to meet every single one of those standards is quite a feat.”
We couldn’t agree more.
And every time you visit Longneck Manor, you’re supporting that commitment.
Experience Conservation at Longneck Manor
Come meet our giraffes and rhinos, learn from our animal care team, and experience what happens when wildlife conservation and luxury hospitality come together.
Because at Longneck Manor, we believe the most meaningful animal experiences go beyond the encounter.
Rick Barongi is the founder of Longneck Manor, an AZA-accredited wildlife conservation destination in Fredericksburg, Texas. With more than 50 years of leadership in zoos and wildlife conservation—including executive roles at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Houston Zoo, and the San Diego Zoo—he is a recognized leader in animal welfare, conservation, and ethical wildlife tourism.
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Sources: Association of Zoos and Aquariums, including AZA Accreditation, Accreditation FAQs, Zoo and Aquarium Statistics, and About AZA. Statistics and accreditation information updated August 2026.