Dr. Terry Maple posthumously receives AZA’s highest honor

Silver Spring, Md. (October 17, 2024) At this year's Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) posthumously honored Dr. Terry Maple with the R. Marlin Perkins Award for Professional Excellence. Twenty-six of his former students came together to submit the application in honor of their former mentor and friend.

"Terry had an innate ability to inspire," said Dr. Stephanie Allard, former mentee of Dr. Maple and senior vice president and chief animal welfare officer at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Md. "You could walk out of a meeting with him with a million different ideas, and even if you weren't quite sure how you'd get it all done, he always made you believe that you could. When I look across our profession, the impact he had was undeniable."

The work of Dr. Maple has touched many across the zoo and aquarium community. Throughout his life, he held many distinguished titles: animal behavioral research scientist, wildlife conservationist, professor emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and author and co-author of 12 academic books. He was also the founding editor of the scientific journal Zoo Biology.

However, Dr. Maple is perhaps best known for his 18-year tenure as director and later president and CEO of Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Ga. During his time at the Zoo, Dr. Maple cultivated an organizational culture that prioritized evidence-based practices. His commitment to fostering research and implementing scientifically grounded methods transformed Zoo Atlanta into a pioneering facility for the management and study of endangered species.

Dr. Maple further contributed to the broader zoo and aquarium community as a member of AZA's Board of Directors and as chairman of the Board from 1998 to 1999.

"Dr. Terry Maple left an enduring legacy within our community," said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "Through his visionary leadership, he launched AZA's first diversity initiative, expanded the scientific network of our member institutions, and solidified our reputation as leaders in animal care. His dedication to our mission continues to inspire our work today."

Named for its first recipient, R. Marlin Perkins, the award is the Association's highest honor. Honorees must meet rigorous criteria, including impeccable character, a distinguished record of honorable service, outstanding contributions to the profession, and an unparalleled level of leadership throughout their careers. The award can only be given to one individual each year, and the expectations are so high that it is not awarded annually. Throughout his life, Dr. Terry Maple exemplified these qualities and is a notably deserving recipient of this prestigious honor.

"His passing has marked the end of an era. Yet, his life and legacy will live on through his incredible work and also through the work of the dozens of students he mentored to ensure a bright future for zoos and aquariums," said Dr. Megan Ross, a former student of Dr. Maple and president and CEO of Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Ill.

About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and 13 other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.

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