"maintaining high professional standards''.

Environment Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto last week announced BAMZ had been accredited by the prestigious American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums during its mid-year meeting last month.

The Association's accreditation group is known for its diligence and has turned down some 41 institutions that have applied for accreditation, the Minister said.

She said two experts from the Association visited BAMZ and prepared a lengthy report on it.

BAMZ now joins 160 other zoological parks and aquariums accredited by the Association.

"Accreditation means than an organisation is maintaining high professional standards,'' Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said.