As we approach the holidays and wrap up another year at the Los Angeles Zoo, I find myself reflecting on the many blessings we’ve experienced over the past year and the feeling of accomplishment and hope that comes with the new year on the horizon. This year has me feeling particularly grateful for family, friends, and colleagues and an inspiring sense of renewal as we approach 2025. I am excited for new opportunities and continued

Zoo Director and CEO Denise M. Verret has been sworn in as the one hundredth Chair of the Board of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the accrediting body of the Los Angeles Zoo and the global standard of excellence for zoos and aquariums worldwide. “Being the 100th chair and the first black woman to serve in this role is not lost on me,” Verret says. “It’s an incredible milestone and opportunity.”