SAAMBR receives internationally recognised accreditation
This certificate of operational accreditation is only valid for a period of three years after which will they need to reapply for accreditation.
IN a first on the continent, the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) was recently achieved the new African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZA) Operational Accreditation Standard.
Saambr is the first WAZA-affiliated (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums) African organisation to achieve the new accreditation as it aligns with their welfare assessment, known as the WAZA Welfare Goal 2023.
“The accreditation is the highest possible recognition that an animal institution can achieve in Africa and SAAMBR remains the only fully PAAZA accredited aquarium on the continent,” said the spokesperson for Saambr, Ann Kunz.
uShaka Marine World’s CEO, Ndabezitha Khoza, who was extremely proud of this achievement, said, “Well done to Saambr for flying the uShaka flag so high. This accreditation is a true testament to the high level of skills and expertise of the SAAMBR team.”
Dr Larry Oellermann, the chief executive officer of Saambr, commended the PAAZA team for their meticulous work.
“Saambr welcomes and appreciates the exacting standards set by PAAZA and the accreditation process, because they provide us with a benchmark against which to measure ourselves every three years, and constantly improve our operations and animal welfare at uShaka Sea World,” he said.
