Pittsburgh Zoo begins accreditation process, will be back in line with city lease
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The Pittsburgh Zoo is working toward accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a process that will bring it back in line with the terms of its lease agreement with the city of Pittsburgh, according to a letter sent Friday to Mayor Bill Peduto.
It came to light last year that the zoo has been in violation of its lease for years, as one of the terms requires the zoo to be accredited by the AZA. The zoo ended its accreditation with the association in 2015 over its safety policy that places limits on unprotected contact between elephants and keepers.
In a letter to the mayor, zoo President and Chief Executive Dr. Barbara Baker wrote that the board voted March 11 “to immediately begin to seek accreditation” by the AZA.
She also requested a one-year extension of the lease, which is set to expire Dec. 31, 2022.
“In light of the covid-19 pandemic, we believe that a one-year extension to the original terms of the zoo’s lease will provide us with sufficient time to complete the accreditation process,” Baker wrote, noting the process could take 18 months or more.
She said 23 zoo employees remain on furlough “simply due to budgetary concerns.”
Dan Gilman, chief of staff for Peduto, said he’s “thrilled at the zoo’s decision.”
The revelation regarding the zoo’s violation of the terms of its lease came during discussion of a proposed city ordinance regulating crocodiles and alligators after a number were found roaming city streets in summer 2019.
The proposed legislation would ban the sale and ownership of alligators, crocodiles and a species of turtle known as the red-eared slider. It exempted zoos as long as they maintained accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The zoo would have been in violation of the ordinance – and was in violation of the lease.
The covid-19 pandemic pushed the reptile bill to the backburner, being held in committee over the last 11 meetings. It was held again for another four weeks last month.
Councilman Bruce Kraus said Feb. 25 that progress is being made.
“We continue to work through it,” he said at the time, noting council will take up the bill again March 24.
Jaime Szoszorek, a spokeswoman for the zoo, said the decision came “after much consideration and discussion.”
“As we are always evaluating our partnerships, in recent months the staff of the Pittsburgh Zoo and the board of directors had determined that it is in the best interest to move in this direction,” she said.
The accreditation process, Szoszorek said, will “remain confidential until further notice.”
The zoo reopened this month with reduced hours and enhanced safety precautions.
Through April, the zoo will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with entry gates closing at 3 p.m. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, gates will close at 4 p.m. and the zoo will be open until 5 p.m.