Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden Share your❤️for OKC Zoo! Connecting people to wildlife & wild places to inspire conservation action.

This Friday, June 26, is your LAST chance to attend Sip and Stroll at the OKC Zoo! 🍾  This 21+ event features specialty ...
06/24/2026

This Friday, June 26, is your LAST chance to attend Sip and Stroll at the OKC Zoo! 🍾

This 21+ event features specialty cocktails and mocktails, tasty food items, and activities unique to the Zoo. Guests can enjoy a night of connecting with the Zoo's wildlife while exploring the park after hours, kid free! Sip and Stroll will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. The final night will feature live music from Royal Dukes Band; tickets will sell quickly, so don't wait!

Entry to the event includes access to a special Asian elephant presentation, the Primrose Schools Children’s Zoo barnyard, the Endangered Species Carousel, and more. Sip and Stroll is also a conservation event with $2 from every ticket going to support wildlife conservation!

Grab your friends and experience Sip and Stroll before it ends! 🐘 Event tickets plus food and drink packages can be purchased at www.okczoo.org/sipandstroll

Enjoy a wild experience full of family-friendly fun with an Overnight at the OKC Zoo! 🌙 Step into the world of extraordi...
06/23/2026

Enjoy a wild experience full of family-friendly fun with an Overnight at the OKC Zoo! 🌙

Step into the world of extraordinary wildlife! On Friday, July 17th, join us as we uncover some of the rarest animals you'll find at the OKC Zoo — species that are hard to spot in the wild, rarely seen in zoos across the United States, or found only right here in Oklahoma. From elusive animals that have fascinated scientists for decades, to species that once thrived but are now becoming increasingly scarce, this program dives into what makes these animals so special. Along the way, we'll explore why their survival matters and how protecting their habitats help keep these incredible creatures - and our planet - wild for generations to come.

Roll up your sleeping bag and register today for the Zoo's Meet the Extraordinary: Rarities of the World overnight experience at https://www.okczoo.org/private-overnights

We're hoofing it to wish a happy birthday to the tallest 11-year-old at the OKC Zoo, Julu! 🦒 Julu was born here at the O...
06/22/2026

We're hoofing it to wish a happy birthday to the tallest 11-year-old at the OKC Zoo, Julu! 🦒

Julu was born here at the OKC Zoo in 2015 to mom, Ellie, and dad, Bogy. She has become a fan-favorite animal ambassador for our giraffe tower and an amazing mother. Julu and our male giraffe, Demetri, have had three calves over the last five years, with the most recent addition in November 2025 with the birth of Kamili. Caretakers shared Julu is a playful giraffe and an outstanding mom, and she can be seen enjoying her favorite browse alongside Kamili inside Expedition Africa. Caretakers also shared she LOVES pumpkin and that she prefers mulberry and elm trees to snack on.

Celebrate Julu's birthday with a giraffe feeding at the OKC Zoo! Feedings happen daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Come eye-to-eye with the tallest animals in the world when you purchase tickets 🎟️ at www.okczoo.org/tickets

📸 Photo Crew Member Cheryl F. and Caretaker Jessica Q.

We're wishing a Happy Father's Day to all the wildly wonderful dads of the world! 🐒  A big thanks to Mercy for presentin...
06/21/2026

We're wishing a Happy Father's Day to all the wildly wonderful dads of the world! 🐒

A big thanks to Mercy for presenting this special edition of BABY BUZZ! In honor of Father's Day, we picked our favorite papa-razzi shots to celebrate the OKC Zoo's fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and uncles! The Zoo is home to first-time dads, such as Asian elephant, Bowie, and seasoned fathers, like African lion, Huey. We even have multiple generations here at the Zoo, in both our giraffe tower and our Asian elephant herd!

Fathers help make the world go round, and Mercy is showing their love for your family by providing you with their Parent Survival Guide, full of advice from their trusted experts. 💚 Learn more about your growing kiddo and how to help them navigate through various stages of life https://bit.ly/3SyxitW

📸 Photo Crew Members: Andrea J., Tom A., Lisa B. and Shi I.

Today we’re recognizing one of America’s most iconic birds, the Bald Eagle. 🦅 While bald eagles have made an incredible ...
06/20/2026

Today we’re recognizing one of America’s most iconic birds, the Bald Eagle. 🦅 While bald eagles have made an incredible comeback, conservation efforts remain important to help protect wild populations and the habitats they depend on.

Here at the OKC Zoo, we’re proud to care for two Bald Eagles, Maverick and Star. Both birds came to us from rehabilitation after suffering significant injuries that made them unable to survive in the wild. Through their ambassador roles, they help guests learn about the importance of protecting wildlife and wild spaces. Bald Eagles serve as important indicators of healthy ecosystems and play a vital role as predators in nature. You can help protect these incredible birds by respecting nesting areas, properly disposing of fishing line, and choosing non-lead ammunition whenever possible.

All feathers that are naturally shed by our eagles are donated to the National Eagle Repository, where they are distributed to enrolled members of federally recognized Native American tribes for cultural, religious, and ceremonial purposes. Thanks to conservation efforts, Bald Eagle populations have grown to more than 316,000 birds! A great reminder of what’s possible when community comes together to protect wildlife. The OKC Zoo is a proud supporter of the AZA Species Survival Plan for Bald eagles, helping this species continue to thrive for generations to come.

Learn more about Bald Eagle conservation and meet Maverick & Star during your next visit to the Zoo! Every visit helps support our mission to conserve wildlife and wild places. You can purchase tickets 🎟️ today at www.okczoo.org/tickets

📸 Photo Crew Members: Brandon B. and Shi I.

Don't forget, the OKC Zoo's annual Summer Animal Enrichment Event is THIS Saturday, June 20! ☀️ Presented by First Ameri...
06/18/2026

Don't forget, the OKC Zoo's annual Summer Animal Enrichment Event is THIS Saturday, June 20! ☀️

Presented by First American Title, the theme this year is "ways to keep cool" and will take place across Zoo grounds from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The animal event schedule will go as follows:

🪽 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Kids' Eagle Headband Craft presented by First American Title (Oklahoma Trails, Big Rivers Building)
🐒 9 a.m. — Chimpanzees (Great EscApe)
🐾 9:45 a.m. — Jaguar (Cat Forest)
🦓 10:30 a.m. — Zebras/Wildebeest/Okapi (Expedition Africa, Predator Pass)
🦅 11:15 a.m. — Bald Eagles Enrichment and Caretaker Chat (Oklahoma Trails)
🐢 12 p.m. — Galapagos tortoises (Children's Zoo Presented by Primrose)
🐘 2 p.m. — Asian elephants (Sanctuary Asia) *Don't miss the special birthday celebration for little Asian elephant calf, Xerxes!

Come out and celebrate a wild start to the summer! General admission is required. You can purchase tickets 🎟️ to the Zoo today at www.okczoo.org/tickets

📸 Photo Crew: Shi I., Chuck C. and Tom A.

06/18/2026

We're going wild for our expert vet care team for Veterinary Appreciation Day! 🦁

We are incredibly grateful for our expert veterinary team here at the OKC Zoo. Their dedication to keeping our animals healthy and providing expert care inspires us on a daily basis. With a combined experience of over 89 years coming from the staff inside the Joan Kirkpatrick Animal Hospital, we can confidently say our animals are receiving the best care from the best team.

"Zoo veterinary medicine has several professional options, including being a veterinarian, a veterinary technician, and a veterinary assistant," said Dr. Gretchen Cole, Director of Veterinary Services. "All are critically important to the care of animals and require specific skills. For all positions, it is important to get experience working with animals in a variety of veterinary settings, as our work combines the skills of those that work with traditional animals such as dogs, cats, cows, and horses, with so much more."

Zoological medicine encompasses a wide range of animals, working with species as small as a hissing cockroach to as large as an Asian elephant. In a single day, our veterinary team can provide care to fish, Komodo dragons, gorillas, rhinos, and parrots. But that's not all the team does! They also participate in research and conservation projects, assist with pest control policies, provide expertise when designing new habitats, and collaborating with the commissary team to ensure animals maintain a healthy body weight. Our team goes beyond the scope to provide expert care and advice for all walks of wildlife.

"It's truly the most diverse job in veterinary medicine," shared Dr. Cole. "And having the opportunity to do neonatal exams on some of the most adorable animals in the world is a nice job perk!"

Stop by the OKC Zoo and hear from our experienced vet care team in person! Vet Talks happen daily at 11:30 a.m. at the Joan Kirkpatrick Animal Hospital. Learn more about our animal family and purchase tickets 🎟️ today at www.okczoo.org/tickets

Trunks up everyone — Xerxes is turning ONE! 🐘 Xerxes made history last year as the first male Asian elephant calf to be ...
06/17/2026

Trunks up everyone — Xerxes is turning ONE! 🐘

Xerxes made history last year as the first male Asian elephant calf to be born at the OKC Zoo, marking three generations of elephants born at our institution. Son to first-time parents Achara and Bowie, Xerxes was the fifth calf to be born at the Zoo and weighed 275 pounds at birth. Xerxes continues to grow in size and personality, weighing in at over 1,000 pounds with the cutest quirks! Caretakers describe the little one as extremely playful and active, and shared that his favorite snacks include watermelon, cantaloupe, pears, and celery. Caretakers also said Xerxes enjoys playfully sparring with his mom and aunts, Rama and Kairavi, and can be seen swimming with the herd or napping under Asha and Chandra.

Xerxes continues to make history, as he is now the first elephant calf at the OKC Zoo to receive a vaccine for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) — a devastating viral disease in Asian elephants across the world. The vaccine will help keep Xerxes healthy and fight the virus in his system as he continues to grow. The OKC Zoo has invested in an in-house EEHV monitoring program that analyses for any DNA evidence of the virus, and our dedicated elephant team has been training the herd on medical practices such as trunk washes to test for EEHV. Elephant calves such as Xerxes are proof that conservation starts with the next generation, and we're continuing to support efforts to provide the vaccine to elephant calves across the glove. You can watch him receive his first vaccine shot here: https://youtu.be/TP6-J8rhlTk

Make sure to swipe to the end to see pictures of baby Xerxes! 🥹 Celebrate the little one with a trunkful of fun by attending one of our Elephant Presentations! Presentations occur Friday-Sunday in the Inasmuch Elephant Pavilion at 2 p.m., weather permitting. You can purchase tickets 🎟️ today at www.okczoo.org/tickets

📸 Photo Crew Members: Shi I., Kevin N., Chuck C., Andrea J. and Brandon B.

Stop by the OKC Zoo this Friday, June 19, for the most colorful night of Sip and Stroll — PRIDE night! 🌈 Join us as we c...
06/16/2026

Stop by the OKC Zoo this Friday, June 19, for the most colorful night of Sip and Stroll — PRIDE night! 🌈

Join us as we celebrate PRIDE month in style with specialty cocktails and mocktails, delicious food, activities across the Zoo, and a live drag performance with our friends Carmen Deveraux, Krystal Naomi, Yakisoba Zay Michaels Brooks, and Nikita The-Queen, hosted by Shalula Davenport! This event sells out annually, so DON'T wait to purchase your tickets! Shop the Zoo's themed PRIDE merchandise inside the Safari Giftshop and hear from organizations such as Oklahomans for Equality, OKC PRIDE Inc., The Dragonfly, and many more. This exclusive 21+ event will take place from 6 to 10 p.m.

Entry to the event includes access to a special Asian elephant presentation, the Primrose Schools Children’s Zoo barnyard, the Endangered Species Carousel, and more. Sip and Stroll is also a conservation event with $2 from every ticket going to support wildlife conservation.

Stroll down to the Zoo for some wildly colorful fun! 🐘 Event tickets plus food and drink packages can be purchased at www.okczoo.org/sipandstroll

Paws for a moment and let us know — which Luca are you feeling like today? 🐯 Come down to the OKC Zoo and see this purrf...
06/16/2026

Paws for a moment and let us know — which Luca are you feeling like today? 🐯

Come down to the OKC Zoo and see this purrfect face in person inside Cat Forest! Make this week wild and purchase tickets 🎟️ today at www.okczoo.org/tickets

📸 Photo Crew Members: Tom A., Hal C., Heather W. and Dan L.

Address

2000 Re*****on Place
Oklahoma City, OK
73111

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14054243344

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