May 25, 2021 // Posted In Honors
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) sets the gold standard for zoos and aquariums around the world. The very best those that take the best care of their animals, that offer the best facilities, that have the best long-term plans, etc. are AZA-accredited.
Currently home to Joy and Lady, two American black bears, the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat was dedicated at Homecoming in 2005. The bears’ home is maintained and staffed by a team that includes student caregivers from the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, trained professionals, and a veterinary care team.
During an extensive site visit in January, AZA representatives were impressed by the world-class care Joy and Lady receive, specifically noting the animal welfare, veterinary care, educational efforts, facility quality and overall investment by the university.
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WACO, Texas (May 12, 2021) – The Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat at Baylor University today announced its approval for accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the independent, international accrediting organization for the best zoos and aquariums. Baylor University becomes the first university in the world to receive this designation and joins the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Gainesville, Florida, as the only AZA-accredited zoos on higher education campuses.
The Baylor Bear Habitat – maintained and staffed by a team of student caregivers within the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, trained professionals and a veterinary care team – joins the ranks of more than 240 of the most respected and reputable zoos and aquariums in the world and becomes the 16th AZA-accredited facility in the state of Texas.
Can you believe it? Joy, the elder of our two beloved American black bears, is celebrating her 20th birthday today!
Joy officially Judge Joy Reynolds was born on Jan. 27, 2001; her sister, Judge Sue Sloan (“Lady”), was born a year and four days later (Jan. 31, 2002), and so turns 19 later this week. The bears came to the Baylor campus two decades ago from a private Oregon ranch when they were each about four months old. At that age, taking care of the bears was much like taking care of any baby minus the milk guzzling and 30-pound weight. Their Chamber-member trainers learned what life was like as single parents for the few months the bears needed constant attention. Mornings began at 8 a.m. with the first formula feeding of the day, five hours of exploring and walking around campus, then another feeding.
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WACO, Texas (Jan. 11, 2021) – Baylor University announced today that Judge Lady, one of the University’s two beloved American black bears, is progressing to the next phase of her recovery and rehabilitation from a successful operation to remove a cyst that developed around her spinal column. The surgery occurred in August 2020 at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) in College Station.
Under the close and loving watch of her dedicated caregiver team, Lady, 18, has steadily progressed through the first few phases of her recovery plan primarily in the privacy of her personal living space within the Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat, a Class C Zoo regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture.