The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) recognized the Houston Zoo's South America's Pantanal exhibit with Top Honors for Exhibit Design during the 2022 AZA Annual Conference in Baltimore. This is the second consecutive year the Houston Zoo has received Top Honors for Exhibit Design, winning last year for the Kathrine G. McGovern Texas Wetlands exhibit, another Tellepsen project. Back to back honors has only happened twice before in the history of the awards.