Zoo & Aquarium Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a zoo & aquarium business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for zoos, aquariums, wildlife sanctuaries, and animal encounter attractions. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual animals, exhibits, and programs.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial General Liability (incl. Animal Liability) | Covers visitor injuries, bites, and escapes — confirm animals and encounters are not excluded. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required by law; keepers face bites, crush injuries, and zoonotic disease. | Core | |
| Property (Exhibits, Tanks & Buildings) | Covers enclosures, aquarium tanks, and buildings. | Core | |
| Equipment Breakdown & Life Support | Covers pump, filtration, and climate system failures that can kill animals. | Core | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits for a serious animal attack or escape. | Prevalent | |
| Animal Mortality / Live Animal Coverage | Covers death of valuable animals from accidents, disease, or system failure. | Prevalent | |
| Directors & Officers | Covers board decisions, animal welfare disputes, and donor claims. | Prevalent | |
| Business Income | Replaces admissions income after a closure, outbreak, or disaster. | Prevalent | |
| Liquor Liability | Needed for events and rentals where alcohol is served. | Situational | |
| Abuse & Molestation | Needed for camps, school programs, and youth volunteers. | Situational | |
| Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers animals and staff traveling to outreach programs. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by zoos and aquariums is the animals themselves. Many general liability policies limit or exclude injuries from animal encounters, petting areas, and dangerous species unless they are scheduled, and animal losses from a pump or power failure are not covered without equipment breakdown and live animal coverage. Keeper injuries are a third exposure — OSHA has cited zoos after keepers were hurt. Confirm encounters and dangerous species are covered, and protect life-support systems.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your zoo & aquarium coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Zoo, Aquarium & Wildlife Sanctuary Insurance · Zoo & Aquarium Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a zoo & aquarium business need?
The core coverages for a zoo & aquarium business are Commercial General Liability (incl. Animal Liability), Workers' Compensation, Property (Exhibits, Tanks & Buildings), Equipment Breakdown & Life Support. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my zoo & aquarium coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.