Audubon Zoo Awarded for Advocacy Impact

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) announced that Audubon Zoo has received the Innovation Award for 2025 Advocacy Impact. Out of the 110 applicants across all award categories, Audubon Zoo was recognized for its exceptional work in Advocacy Impact.  The Honors and Awards ceremony, held on September 17, 2025, at AZA’s Annual Conference in Tampa, Fla., recognized the achievements of AZA-accredited facilities, from conservation efforts and facility design to volunteer engagement and more.

“Congratulations to the team at Audubon Zoo for their hard work and dedication in achieving this remarkable recognition,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “This award recognizes the best of the best in the global aquarium and zoo community. The work being done at Audubon Zoo further strengthens the impact of our entire community and is something New Orleans can be proud of.”

The Advocacy Impact Award recognizes exceptional efforts by AZA-accredited institutions (both U.S. and international) and conservation partner members toward advocacy initiatives that advance legislation for animal wellbeing, habitat preservation, species restoration, support of biodiversity in the wild, as well as the work of AZA-accredited members in confiscation, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts.

The award celebrates excellence and innovation in the execution of strategic, proactive advocacy efforts that provide engagement opportunities for our collective zoo and aquarium community to advance policy and help ‘move the needle’ on priority legislation.

Audubon Zoo partnered with North Carolina Zoo and AZA’s Government Affairs team to lead discussions with the U.S. Department of Energy about recently enacted energy efficiency standards for general service lamps. Many of these lamps provide necessary light wavelengths that are important for animal health and wellbeing, particularly for reptiles and amphibians. The Zoos provided details about the biology, husbandry and specific lighting needs of reptiles and amphibians, shared concerns, and evaluated more than 1,000 lamps for suitability as potential alternatives.

Their work showed that no suitable lighting alternatives for animal care currently exist; after hearing from the Zoo partners, the Department of Energy suspended enforcement of the rule for lamps made and sold for animal care purposes. This ensures these lamps will continue to be available to zoos and aquariums in the U.S. and lays the groundwork for developing the next generation of lighting technologies and performance standards for animal care.

“As an institution, we are proud of the efforts and contributions of our staff to this collaborative advocacy campaign which has led to important actions that have enabled zoos and aquariums to continue to provide optimal care for their animals. Zoo and aquarium-led advocacy programs like this campaign are key to strengthening and safeguarding the future of this field, as well as supporting the important animal care and conservation work carried out by this community”, said Daine C. Appleberry, Audubon Zoo’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director.

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About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is setting the global gold standard, accrediting 254 of the top zoos, aquariums, and related facilities in 13 countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.

About Audubon Nature Institute

Audubon Nature Institute is a family of facilities, events, experiences, sustainability initiatives and conservation programs united in the belief that each of us has the power to impact nature and wildlife for the better. This includes Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and Audubon Wilderness Park. We inspire visitors, members and our community to support nature and wildlife — and leave the world better than we found it. For more information, visit audubonnatureinstitute.org