[Columbia, SC] - Riverbanks Zoo and Garden was granted reaccreditation last week at the annual meeting of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's 81st Annual Conference in Chicago.

"The AZA is concerned with making sure that zoos meet the highest standards of animal care and welfare, veterinary care, conservation, education and safety. Riverbanks has consistently been meeting and exceeding national benchmarks in those areas since the park's inception in 1974, and while we're firm believers in the quality of the work we do here, it's always reassuring to hear the AZA agree with us," said Satch Krantz, Executive Director of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

Zoos and aquariums are up for accreditation every five years, at which time they undergo a rigorous reapplication process to remain members of the prestigious AZA, the organization that sets the standards in zoological animal care. In July, a team of zoo and aquarium professionals visited Riverbanks to inspect the facility and its operations. For the first time in Riverbanks' accreditation history, the AZA sent a separate aquarium specialist to review the Zoo's Aquarium and Reptile Complex (ARC), a gesture that recognizes the ARC and the magnitude of work it has done since its opening in 1989.

Some of the areas in which the team was particularly impressed included a tremendously supportive community, highly motivated and dedicated staff, the large number of local households with zoo memberships, beautiful horticulture throughout the Zoo's grounds in addition to the Botanical Garden, strong animal training and enrichment programs as well as veterinary care, progressive and stable leadership, a keen focus on educational programming and a very strong volunteer program.

Recognition of Riverbanks' Efforts in Husbandry

Also in Chicago, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden was awarded the Edward H. Bean Award for its work with the Malagasy leaf-tailed geckos, a group of lizards from the island of Madagascar that are currently facing endangerment as their habitat is lost to logging and agriculture. The Bean Award recognizes efforts in the long-term captive management and husbandry of various animal species.

Since 1992, Riverbanks has not only maintained seven species of the leaf-tailed gecko, but has successfully bred five of the seven species, including one species that prior to Riverbanks undertaking this project was unknown to science.

"We're looking at species in which we've traditionally known very little about their life history in the wild. Much of what we do now know about their reproduction, diet, longevity and other natural history has been discovered right here at Riverbanks Zoo," said Scott Pfaff, Director of Herpetology at Riverbanks Zoo.

Leaf-tailed geckos are known for their bizarre body shapes, large bulging eyes and the ability to walk upside down on any surface. One of the species, the giant leaf-tailed gecko, is currently on display in the Aquarium and Reptile Complex.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Receives Education Grant from Knight Foundation

Middle school students from Richland School District 1 will soon be able to call themselves Junior Master Gardeners thanks to a $231,400 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The award is the largest grant of its kind awarded to Riverbanks in the park's 31-year history and will help Riverbanks institute a needed after school program for kids.

"We're thrilled that we'll be able to use this money to create positive change in our community," said Satch Krantz, Riverbanks' executive director. "Working with our other cultural partners like the Columbia Museum of Art and Edventure Children's Museum ensures that we'll be reaching kids all across our community." Both museums and Trustus Theater in addition to Richland School District 1 also received grants.

Riverbanks will unveil its program in stages. Starting this year, the park's education department will begin training 30 sixth graders from Alcorn Middle School to become certified Junior Master Gardeners. At the conclusion of the 30-week program, the students will have designed and planted a community vegetable garden at their school with the produce being distributed to the residents of their Eau Claire community.

In the second year and third years, the program will expand to include seventh graders as well.

Chris Gentile, the Zoo's director of conservation education said, "This is important work for Riverbanks. Not only will we be serving middle school students, an age range that is typically underrepresented in zoo and aquarium programming, but we'll also be engaging a Columbia school district that has experienced below average results on state standardized tests in the past. Connecting kids with the outdoors and plant life is one way that we can help them see a bigger picture."