Enterprise Services Director Guy Kaulukukui said Friday he doesn’t believe the departure of Honolulu Zoo Director Dr. Baird Fleming will have a negative impact on plans to regain accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in the coming years.

Fleming’s resignation, effective Dec. 15, means Honolulu will need to hunt for its sixth director in seven years.

“I think Baird and his staff have put us on track toward reaccreditation,” said Kaulukukui, whose department oversees the zoo. “That, plus the passage of the recent (City) Charter amendment dedicating one-half of 1 percent of real property taxes to the zoo, really provides the foundation that we need.”

The Caldwell administration has been aiming at applying for reaccreditation in 2018 or 2019, Kaulukukui told reporters Friday. “I believe we can still stay on track — the foundation is there.”

AZA stripped the 42-acre Waikiki facility of its seal of approval in March. Loss of accreditation tarnishes a zoo’s reputation, possibly making it more difficult to be eligible for federal grants and endangering trade or loan deals the facility has with AZA-accredited zoos. But Fleming said as recently as last week that none of Honolulu’s estimated 90 exotic animals on loan through AZA-affiliated animal exchange programs were in danger of being lost.

AZA cited the zoo’s inability to retain a director as one reason Honolulu lost its accreditation, although the lack of a steady and consistent funding source appeared to be the major contributing factor.

Kaulukukui acknowledged the turnover of zoo directors has been “a historical issue” but said he could not point to why.

“I suppose they all had different reasons,” he said.

The job pays about $164,000 annually, on par with the national average at AZA-accredited zoos.

Fleming announced his resignation, effective Dec. 15, to staff Friday morning, Kaulukukui said. In a news release issued by the city, Fleming said he had accepted a job on the mainland.

A veterinarian, Fleming arrived in early 2012 to be assistant director to Manuel Mollinedo. Fleming subsequently became assistant director to Jeffrey Mahon and Jeffrey Wilkinson, with the latter leaving in January 2015 after less than a year on the job. After each of the three resignations, Fleming was called upon to be acting director until being named to the position himself in February 2015.

Mollinedo had publicly criticized Honolulu officials for not giving the job to Fleming, saying he had recommended him as his replacement. He also warned that the zoo might lose accreditation, about a year before it happened.

Fleming’s hire was apparently a popular one. City officials said they received a petition with the signatures of more than 20 zoo employees urging the administration to hire him.

Fleming was not available Friday for comment, but he was quoted in the news release as saying, “I’ll always treasure my time at the Honolulu Zoo and the aloha shown by my staff and the people in this community. I leave with a heavy heart.”

Bill Balfour, city parks director when the zoo was under the Department of Parks and Recreation, has been named temporary zoo administrator. Balfour, onetime manager of Oahu Sugar Co., has been under contract with the city, assisting zoo personnel on steps needed to regain accreditation, Kaulukukui said.

Assistant Zoo Director Linda Santos, who has more than 30 years of experience in animal care and welfare at the zoo, will continue in that post, city officials said.

David Earles, executive director of the nonprofit Honolulu Zoo Society, said he was worried by Fleming’s leaving. He credited Fleming with helping heal what has been strained relations his organization has had with the zoo administration. “It’s always disappointing when there’s a change in leadership, but there’s also opportunity,” he said.