Baylor University's Bear Habitat Earns AZA Accreditation

A leader in the healthcare sector, Paul Generale is the executive vice president and chief strategy and network officer with Dallas-based CHRISTUS Health. Paul Generale holds an MBA from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor University, which recently became the first university in the world to receive accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for its on-campus zoo.

Baylor University’s Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat (the Baylor Bear Habitat) reached a major milestone recently by earning AZA accreditation. Only one other institution of higher education, the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Florida, holds AZA accreditation for its on-campus zoo. The president and CEO of AZA, Dan Ashe, praised the Baylor Bear Habitat staff for their strong preparation for the accreditation hearing, stating that they “did their homework and passed with flying colors.”

The Baylor Bear Habitat is home to Judge Joy and Judge Lady, two American black bears and biological sisters. Prior to accreditation, the AZA accreditation visiting committee visited the bears’ home and noted the quality of the facility, veterinary care, and animal welfare. Dedicated to education and conservation, the Baylor Bear Habitat aims to educate the public and participate in conservation programs that have a direct impact on animals in the wild.