Lincoln Park Zoo makes global history with International Animal Welfare Award

In a historic milestone for North American wildlife conservation, Chicago’s very own Lincoln Park Zoo has officially been recognized with the prestigious Animal Welfare Award from the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

The monumental achievement marks the first time in history that a North American institution has taken home this specific global accolade, cementing the landmark Chicago institution as a world-wide leader in compassionate, science-backed animal care.

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The WAZA Animal Welfare Award recognizes institutions demonstrating holistic excellence in animal care. For the free-admission Lincoln Park Zoo (founded in 1868), this honors decades of research. Maureen Leahy, Senior Vice President of Animal Care and Science, noted the zoo's pride in setting industry standards. 

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Their success stems from expert care and innovations like ZooMonitor, a native tracking app now utilized by over 1,700 organizations across 79 countries.

This international honor follows the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) awarding Lincoln Park Zoo its Top Honors for its Urban Wildlife Monitoring initiative. Through welfare technology, urban research, and advocacy, the zoo remains a world-class conservation leader.

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