St. Louis Chapter of American Association of Zoo Keepers
Awarded 2017 Chapter of the Year

Last week the St. Louis Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) was awarded the 2017 Barbara Manspeaker AAZK Chapter of the Year award at the annual AAZK National Conference in Washington, D.C. The chapter was recognized for its leadership in advancing the animal care profession, dedication to the association and for promoting conservation to the general public.

Among the members of the AAZK St. Louis Chapter are animal care professionals, employees, docents and volunteers at Endangered Wolf Center, Grant’s Farm, Saint Louis Zoo and World Bird Sanctuary.

Emma receiving 2017 AAZK Merit Award

Additionally, the Endangered Wolf Center received the 2017 Certificate of Merit for Zoo Keeper Education, recognizing the team’s efforts to promote continuing education through workshops, including an annual Recovery Species Husbandry Workshop in which animal care staff from around the country travel to the EWC to receive hands-on training to learn handling and care protocols for the critically endangered Mexican and red wolf species.

Also at the AAZK annual conference EWC keeper Emma Miller presented a poster describing the EWC’s role in the first Mexican wolf pups born at the Center being fostered into a wild litter in Arizona and New Mexico. The poster, written with lead keeper Tracy Rein and director of animal care and conservation Regina Mossotti, won the Ribbon of Excellence from AAZK.

Emma Miller at AAZK

The Endangered Wolf Center is proud to have such a dedicated animal care team and to partner with the amazing animal care organizations in St. Louis and around the country.

AAZK Awards 2017

About St. Louis Chapter of American Association of Zoo Keepers
St. Louis Chapter of American Association of Zoo Keepers is a group of dedicated animal care professionals and enthusiasts who are striving to make a difference in the animal care and conservation profession. The chapter hosts fundraising events and activities throughout the year to raise money and awareness for animals in need and serve as advocates for wildlife conservation and professional animal care. The chapter is also dedicated to advancing the field of animal care. For more information, visit stlaazk.org.

About the American Association of Zoo Keepers
The American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. began in 1967 in San Diego, California, to promote professionalism in zoo keeping through education of zoological staff members in the most modern and current techniques of captive exotic animal care. AAZK’s mission is to provide a resource and forum for continuing education for animal care professionals and to support zoo and aquarium personnel in their roles as animal care givers, scientific researchers, public educators and conservationists. The organization is also committed to promoting zoos and aquariums as cultural establishments dedicated to the enrichment of human and natural resources and to fostering an exchange of research materials, enrichment options and husbandry information through publications and conferences which will lead to a greater understanding of the needs and requirements of all animals. Membership is at approximately 2,800 and includes individuals at all levels of zoo staff from directors, curators and veterinarians to keepers, animal health technicians, volunteers and students. Members are from 48 of the 50 States, 5 Canadian Provinces and 24 foreign countries, and they represent nearly 250 animal-related facilities. For more information, visit aazk.org.