From a small collection of animals in 1922 to a premiere AZA accredited zoo (only 238 AZA accredited zoos in the world), the Alexandria Zoo has become a major attraction for Central Louisiana. FOTAZ (Friends of the Alexandria Zoo) started as a small group of concerned citizens in 1971, who wanted to improve the quality of the animal care and facilities. Now, FOTAZ is an integral part of the zoo by supplementing the Zoo's budget, providing funding for the Zoo's on-going projects involving animals, construction, staff, education, conservation and public services.