The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is delighted to welcome a new Institution Member to the global zoo and aquarium community – Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. 

Located in Gatlinburg, United States, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies was founded in 2000 and is a part of Ripley Entertainment Inc. Its facilities are located across an area of 98,000 sq ft.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies takes care of almost over 11,190 fishes across 321 species and 810 invertebrates from 51 species. 

“We are honoured to have been selected for membership with WAZA. We appreciate the opportunity to work alongside so many well respected industry leaders and we look forward to building relationships with other professionals who share our passion for animal care and welfare, environmental education, conservation, and research,” said Amanda Caton, General Manager of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. 

It has been accredited by and is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and was voted America’s best aquarium by TripAdvisor. 

“It is an immense pleasure to welcome Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies as our Institution Member. With their dedication towards educating their visitors and sensitising them towards wildlife conservation, we look forward to them being a valuable member of our global community,” said WAZA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Martín Zordan.

The institution pursues an educational approach with public and private classroom programmes, camps, and virtual classes to educate visitors. Also, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies prioritises relevant research regarding conservation and collaborates among other institutions to contribute to conservation. 

To learn more about Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, please visit their website.