Community celebration set for April 6 with free admission after 3 p.m.

ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero and the Charles Paddock Zoo have announced that the Association of Zoo’s& Aquariums has granted the zoo with accreditation for another five years. The public is invited to join them as they celebrate this milestone at the Charles Paddock Zoo for a “Free After 3 p.m.” Open House Celebration on Sunday, April 6, from 3 to 5 p.m. Zoo admission will be complimentary from 3 to 4 p.m. and the celebration will continue in the Zoo Garden Event Center until 5 p.m.

On Wednesday, March 26, the Association of Zoo’s & Aquariums (AZA) announced that the Charles Paddock Zoo has been granted accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission.

“Congratulations to the leadership and staff at the Charles Paddock Zoo for attaining the global’ gold standard’ in zoological and aquarium accreditation,” said Dan Ashe, president, and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “AZA’s standards continuously evolve to reflect best practices in the zoo and aquarium profession, with a strong emphasis on animal care and wellbeing at their core. The Charles Paddock Zoo has demonstrated a dedication to this exceptional level of care.”

To be accredited, the Charles Paddock Zoo underwent a thorough review from a detailed application to a meticulous multiple-day on-site inspection by an independent team of zoological professionals. The inspecting team analyzes all aspects of the facility’s operation, including animal care and wellbeing, veterinary care, staff training, educational programs, conservation efforts, financial stability, risk management, governance, and guest services. Detailed reports from the inspection team and the facility alike are then thoroughly evaluated by the Accreditation Commission. Finally, the Commission interviews top officials from the facility at a formal hearing, after which accreditation is fully granted, provisionally granted for one year, or denied.

A thorough review ensures that each facility has met and will continue to meet ever-rising standards. As a condition of Association membership, AZA facilities must complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years.

“We are incredibly honored to receive AZA accreditation,” said Atascadero Mayor Charles Bourbeau. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team in providing exceptional care for our animals, fostering meaningful connections between guests and wildlife, and contributing to vital conservation efforts.”

“Earning AZA accreditation is a significant achievement for the City of Atascadero and our entire community,” said City Manager Jim Lewis. “This distinction underscores our City’s commitment to world-class animal care, education, and conservation efforts. We are proud to support an organization that plays such a vital role in connecting people with wildlife and fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world.”

“AZA continually increases the standards for accreditation, and I am so proud of the Zoo Team and grateful to our supporters!” said Zoo Director Dr. Cynthia Stringfield. “Only 10% of zoos across the world that meet these standards, and the Charles Paddock Zoo is one of them!”

The Charles Paddock Zoo sits on five acres nestled in the surrounding Atascadero Lake Park area and is dedicated to education and wildlife conservation, all while providing a safe recreational resource for residents and visitors of the Central Coast of California. The zoo specializes in animals present in biodiversity hotspots. Around the world, biodiversity hotspots represent just 2.5% of Earth’s land surface, but they support nearly half of all bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species that are found nowhere else on Earth. The zoo’s hot spot habitats are an opportunity to learn about the different species that inhabit hot spots and why biodiversity is so important to us all. As part an accredited zoo of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Charles Paddock Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species.

Over 300 animals call the Charles Paddock Zoo home, including red pandas, monkeys, fossa, meerkats, parrots, a Malayan Tiger, a variety of reptiles and more. The Charles Paddock Zoo is open daily and located at Atascadero Lake Park on Hwy 41/Morro Road, one mile west of Highway 101. For information, visit to charlespaddockzoo.org or call (805) 461-5080.

Feature Image: A sign greets visitors before they enter the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero. Photo by Rick Evans