Kingdoms of Asia at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo was awarded the Top Honors Exhibit Award by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Fresno Chaffee Zoo photo

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo announced this week that it has been honored for two major achievements in the zoological and conservation fields by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Kingdoms of Asia, opened in 2023, was awarded the Top Honors Exhibit Award, while the Coexist with Wildlife, California campaign was recognized with the Top Honors AZA Advocacy Impact Award. These awards were presented at AZA’s annual conference in September, where more than 2,800 zoo and aquarium professionals convene.

The Top Honors Exhibit Award praised Kingdoms of Asia for its excellence in design, animal care and community-building. The new exhibit transports guests to the lush landscapes of Southeast Asia, featuring expansive habitats for endangered species including Malayan tigers, orangutans, and Komodo dragons.

The Coexist with Wildlife, California program launched in 2024 with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo working with institutions across California to spread awareness about the important and endangered wildlife in our home state. This public awareness campaign is a powerful, statewide initiative aimed at protecting California’s native wildlife and preserving the natural spaces they call home, according to the Zoo.

“To receive even one of these awards is an honor that many institutions strive for but never achieve,” said Jon Forrest Dohlin, Fresno Chaffee Zoo CEO and Zoo Director. “To receive two in the same cycle — for such different and meaningful efforts in the name of conservation — is a rare achievement that reflects the breadth and depth of our mission to inspire people to care for animals, create connections, build community, and save wildlife.”