Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon, lost its Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation after the organization denied the park’s renewal application in late September 2026. The precise reason has not been made public in the local reporting. The denial ends the park’s AZA membership, but it is not a closure order; a report said the park was operating and selling tickets as of October 6, 2026.
What happened to Wildlife Safari?
Wildlife Safari opened in 1972 and had been AZA-accredited since 1986, according to KLCC / Northwest News Network. The late-September 2026 renewal denial ended roughly 40 years of accreditation. AZA’s review-cycle listing placed the park in the September 2026 cohort and showed its prior accreditation through that month; the listing establishes the scheduled end of the previous term, while KLCC reported the denial.
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The park is described as Oregon’s only drive-through animal park, with more than 550 animals. KLCC also reports that it operates a cheetah breeding research center and an international veterinary medicine program. Those animal and program figures are reported descriptions, not independently audited counts.
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The exact grounds for the decision were not public in the local reporting. A KLCC report pointed to photo opportunities involving leashed cheetahs as an apparent conflict with AZA’s position that animals should have the choice to participate in guest interactions. That is a reported possible concern, not a confirmed explanation from AZA’s accreditation commission.
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AZA says its accreditation review involves an application and a multi-day, on-site inspection by experts. Its standards cover animal welfare and care, management, living environments, social groups, health, and nutrition. The reporting does not establish which standards, if any, were cited in Wildlife Safari’s decision.
What does losing AZA accreditation mean?
AZA says denial of an accredited institution’s application results in loss of AZA membership. Under its published guidance, an institution denied accreditation may reapply no sooner than one year after denial, and only if it has sufficiently addressed the concerns identified in the review. The sources cited here do not confirm whether Wildlife Safari has appealed or whether it holds another zoological accreditation.
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AZA accreditation is voluntary. The denial is not, by itself, a government shutdown order, a USDA finding, or proof of a specific legal violation. AZA says it has no jurisdiction over non-accredited facilities and directs people with concerns about U.S. facilities to USDA APHIS.
Is Wildlife Safari still open?
A report dated October 6, 2026, said the park was continuing daily operations and selling tickets. That is a snapshot from that date, not confirmation of current hours, ticket availability, or future operations. Visitors should check the park’s own current information before making plans.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should visitors take from the decision?
AZA President and CEO Dan Ashe told KLCC that “The animal must have choice and control.” He also advised visitors: “If it looks like the animals are working for the place, don’t honor them with your visit.” Those statements express AZA’s perspective; they do not disclose the commission’s specific rationale for this denial or amount to a direct, current assessment of conditions at Wildlife Safari.
For a visitor, the practical distinction is between an accreditation status and a real-time judgment about animal welfare. The status change is clear; the public explanation for the decision and the park’s present operating details are not established by the cited reports.
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