Tulsa Zoo

Tulsa Zoo, a non-profit zoo covering 85 acres (34 ha), is located in Tulsa Oklahoma, United States. Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. has managed the Tulsa Zoo since 2010. The zoo can be found in Mohawk Park which is one of the largest parks in the United States.

Many conservation efforts are being undertaken by the zoo, including FrogWatch USA (a push to reduce palm oil use) and ocean conservation.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has accredited the Tulsa Zoo. 

Exhibits and animals

Lost Kingdom Exhibit Complex

Lost Kingdom offers guests the opportunity to explore lush gardens and settings that are inspired by ancient Asian cultures such as the city of Angkor-Wat. Ambassadors of rare and elusive species from Asia, such as snow leopards, Malayan tigers and Chinese alligators and siamangs and binturongs are now able to call Lost Kingdom home.

Robert J. LaFortune Wild Life Trek

The Robert J. LaFortune Wild Life Trek, a complex of four buildings, was formerly known as the North American Living Museum. It has been the recipient many awards, including the best new exhibit award in 1978. Each building is devoted to animals from all over the globe and their adaptations for life in the desert, forest, or cold. This complex houses Siberian cranes as well as emerald doves and chinchillas.

Lost Kingdom: Valley of the Elephant

Gunda, who arrived in Tulsa Zoo on March 4, 1954, has outperformed all other staff and animals to the age of 67. In 2018, she passed away.

It includes a 2.5-acre (1 ha area) for the three elephants. There is also an Elephant Interpretive Center that highlights the lives of the Asian elephant species. It also includes a climbing elephant sculpture. The elephants can be viewed from indoor and outdoor viewing areas. There is also an elephant demonstration yard.

The Rainforest

This is a living, naturalistic recreation of the environment of a Central or South American rain forest. The rainforest experience is recreated in this walk-through exhibit. It maintains humidity levels of 85% and temperatures of 80 degrees. Exotic species can be found in 13,000 square feet indoor exhibit space. They include jaguars and dwarf caimans, black howler monkeys, and piranhas. To give the jungle an authentic feel, many species aren’t caged. This includes rainforest birds, two-toed slotshs and Jamaican fruit bats. This exhibit contains evidence of native cultures. The exhibit’s entrance is marked by the Olmec Head, a massive stone sculpture. There are also murals and structures that have been incorporated into the exhibits. The roof is made of transparent panels that illuminate the rain forest canopy. A path leads visitors through the 52-foot high building.

Chimpanzee Connection

The large, open-air island habitat offers chimpanzees easy access to a climbing structure, cargo nets and ropes, as well as caves, termite mounds, and plenty of vegetation. This cage-free, open-air habitat gives guests a clear view of this amazing social species. The “Chimpanzee connection” building was built in 1991. The indoor viewing area is open year round through an inch and a quarter of glass. The indoor experience allows you to see inside the lives of the chimpanzees. You can climb the log structure, sit on top of their rockwork, and make their nests of hay while enjoying natural light. Dr. Goodall declared the indoor habitat to be the best she had ever seen.

Helmerich Sea Lion Cove’s underwater viewing allows for a spectacular view of the 100,000 gallon saltwater pool.

Helmerich Sea Lion Cove

In 2012, a naturalistic habitat was opened for California sea lions. It features a large covered seating area, a large saltwater pool, a large underwater viewing window wall and waterfall. Midday on weekends, a behavioral conditioning program is displayed to give information about the sea lions, Cisco and Reyes.

Penguin Habitat

African Penguin Exhibit

After a four year fund-raising campaign, the exhibit was opened to the public in 2002. The penguin enclosure forms the foundation for “Oceans and Islands”, an area that houses a naturalistic California sea-lion exhibit, flamingo colony, and black and white ruffed Lemurs. Geo-thermal heating and cooling are used to regulate water temperature for penguins. Their natural habitat is imitated by a “wave pool”, or water action simulator, and a rock coastline setting. The exhibit has special viewing windows that allow visitors to see the penguins underwater. The current exhibit can house 20 penguins and can accommodate up to 30.

African Plains

The African Plains section of the zoo houses a wide range of animals, including meerkats and lions as well as aldabra tortoises and white rhinos. The Mary K. Chapman Rhinoceros Reserve was recently opened by the zoos. It replaces an older facility. This reserve houses the zoo’s two white rhinoceroses. It includes a 3-acre outdoor yard and an 8,925-square foot barn. [12]

Children’s Zoo

Children can visit the Children’s Zoo’s contact yard to get close and personal with Nigerian dwarfs, Southdown sheep and Katahdin sheep. You will also find miniature horses, dexter cows and Guinea forest-hogs. The Australian Outback Area is also included in this exhibit. It has red kangaroos. The Children’s Zoo also features North American river otters.

Dave Zucconi Conservation Center

The Conservation Center was built in 1957 and houses a wide range of animals, including reptiles, primates, birds, and fish. American flamingos are among the exhibits. They also include snakehead fish, snakehead fish and snakehead fish.

This midcentury structure, originally called the Primate and Aviary Building (or simply the Primate and Aviary Building), is an excellent example of 1950s architecture.

Tulsa Penguins On Parade

The African black-footed penguin exhibition was funded by a citywide campaign. These sculptures measuring 6 feet (1.8m) in height, depicting penguins with specific visual characteristics, were donated by businesses and organizations to the exhibit. There are currently 29 [13] of these sculptures in the city. They are commonly known as “Tulsa Penguins”.