Phoenix Zoo's Bert Castro Elected To AZA Board

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums announced the election of Bert Castro to its Board of Directors. The AZA Board of Directors is responsible for setting policy for the Association, which accredits and represents 218 of the top zoos and aquariums in North America.

“Bert Castro is a recognized leader in the zoo and aquarium community,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “I congratulate Bert and look forward to working closely with him as he adds his talents to the AZA Board of Directors.”

AZA Board Members are elected to a three-year term by the Association’s voting membership and play a key role in the management and oversight of the organization.

As President and CEO of the Phoenix Zoo, Bert Castro began his professional career in 1985 as a volunteer and then as a keeper at the Tulsa Zoo. He also served as Assistant Curator of the Asian Domain at the Audubon Zoo, Curator of Birds and Mammals at Zoo Atlanta, and Living Collections Manager/General Curator at the San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Aquarium. Prior to moving to Phoenix, he served seven years as the Executive Director/CEO of the Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden. A member of AZA since 1985, Bert has served on the Diversity Committee and Ethics Committee, and currently serves as Chairman on the Wildlife Conservation and Management Committee.

The Phoenix Zoo is one of the nation’s largest private non-profit zoological parks, is one of Arizona’s most popular year-round attractions, and is visited by more than 1.5 million guests annually. The Phoenix Zoo relies on revenue from admissions, special and private events, and its more than 42,000 membership households to support its operating budget.

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, the AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, please visit www.aza.org.

Photo: Bert With his zoo travel map.