On March 24, 2025, the Tennessee Aquarium once again earned accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), reaffirming its commitment to the highest standards of animal care, conservation, education, and operational excellence. Widely recognized as the “Gold Standard” in the zoological community, AZA accreditation reflects a rigorous evaluation process grounded in evolving scientific knowledge and best practices in animal well-being.

As these standards continue to advance, the Aquarium’s veterinary program has evolved too — consistently meeting and exceeding expectations for excellence in aquatic and terrestrial animal care. Through close collaboration among veterinary and husbandry teams, the Aquarium provides highly specialized care tailored to each species’ unique needs. Many animals in our care live well beyond the median life expectancy for their species, reflecting the exceptional quality of their environments, nutrition, enrichment, and medical support.

The Aquarium has recognized the need to modernize and expand its veterinary capabilities to support the growing complexity of animal care, conservation science, research initiatives, and educational programming. A new Tennessee Aquarium Veterinary Medical Hospital represents a critical investment in the future of animal well-being and scientific advancement. This initiative will enhance diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation capabilities while strengthening the Aquarium’s leadership in aquatic veterinary medicine, conservation research, and animal care innovation for decades to come.

For more information on this project, contact Melanie King, Vice President, Chief Philanthropy Officer at [email protected].