Tulsa Zoo – Tulsa, OK
Learn about animals from all parts of the world at the Tulsa Zoo, which is located on 85 acres in Mohawk Park in Tulsa. For more than 90 years, the Tulsa Zoo has provided family friendly recreation, natural sciences education and conservation of wildlife.
The Tulsa Zoo is an 85-acre non-profit zoo located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. The Tulsa Zoo is owned by the City of Tulsa, but since 2010 has been privately managed by Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. The zoo is located in Mohawk Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. The zoo is involved in many conservation efforts, such as a push to reduce the use of palm oil, FrogWatch USA, and efforts to encourage ocean conservation. The Tulsa Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Distinctions
In 2005, the Tulsa Zoo was named as "America's Favorite Zoo" by Microsoft Game Studios and was granted $25,000 in a contest designed to promote the Zoo Tycoon 2 computer game. The contest counted votes from zoo visitors across the country for many of America's top zoos, including the San Diego Zoo and the Bronx Zoo.
Future Developments
As part of the zoo's new 20-year Master Plan, released in 2012, the zoo has also announced that work will begin on the second master plan project. The second project is The Lost Kingdom Exhibit highlighting rare animals from Asia. Animals exhibiting include Malayan tigers, snow leopard and Komodo dragon. The Helmerich Foundation made the lead gift to fund the zoo's new tiger exhibit. In honor of the gift, the Tulsa Zoo named the new facility Lost Kingdom: The Helmerich Tiger exhibit, part of the Lost Kingdom complex.
In addition to The Helmerich Foundation's gift, the Hardesty Family Foundation also generously pledged a donation to the Lost Kingdom complex. The Hardesty Family Foundation made a contribution as the lead gift for the new snow leopard facility, Lost Kingdom: The Hardesty Snow Leopard habitat. This new exhibit provides the zoo's snow leopards a state-of-the-art enclosure, while allowing guests to see the highly endangered animals up close.
Conservation program
The Tulsa Zoo attracted national media attention in 2005 when a group complained about the mention of evolutionary theory and the inclusion of religious icons, theories, and beliefs in zoo displays, including a statue of the Hindu elephant-headed god Ganesha as part of the elephant exhibition. The Tulsa Park Board responded by voting to add a display on Creationism. The board subsequently reconsidered and reversed its decision, citing widespread public criticism.
Children's Zoo
The Children's Zoo has a contact yard where kids can get up close and personal with Nigerian dwarf goats, Southdown sheep, Katahdin sheep, earless American Lamancha goats, and Anglo-Nubian goats. There are also dexter cows, miniature horses, and Guinea forest hogs. This exhibit also contains the Australian Outback Area, which has red kangaroos. The Children's Zoo also includes North American river otters.