User:Jeffrey R. Clark/Oklahoma City Zoo

Jeffrey R. Clark/Oklahoma City Zoo
35.5212°N 97.4724°W / 35.5212; -97.4724
Date opened	1902 (Wheeler Park Zoo) 1924 (as Lincoln Park Zoo)
Location	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Land area	119 acres (48 ha)
No. of animals	1,900
No. of species	500+
Memberships	AZA, AAM
Owner	Oklahoma City (governed by the Oklahoma City Zoological Trust)
Website	www.okczoo.com

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is a zoo and botanical garden located in Oklahoma City's Adventure District in northeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The zoo covers 119 acres (48 ha) and is home to more than 1,800 animals. It is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's day. The Oklahoma City Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Alliance of Museums.

History

Wheeler Park Zoo

The zoo got its start with the donation of one White-tailed deer in 1902. At the time the white-tailed deer was nearing extinction, leading to large crowds coming to see the lone deer. Soon after other native animals such as bears, golden eagles, wolves and many more were being donated. On September 7, 1903 the Wheeler Park Zoo was formally dedicated. 1904 is the year the zoo uses to celebrate its first full year of business. Because Wheeler Park Zoo was located next to the North Canadian River (Oklahoma River) and the fact that the river was not yet dammed the zoo was subject to flooding from rising river water. In 1923 following an intense storm the river flooded leaving the zoo under ten feet of water and killing a number of the zoos animals. It was then decided that the Wheeler Park Zoo would close and the zoo would be moved else where. The zoo's remaining animals were transferred temporarily the Oklahoma state fair grounds while city official's located a new location.

Lincoln Park Zoo

The zoo's current location was bought in September 1923 and following a year of construction that was funded in part by donors and local businessmen the Lincoln Park Zoo opened in June 1924. With the new zoo built and opened Oklahoma City's Parks department hired the zoos first official director Leo Blondin in 1930 who's main goal was to make the zoo more child friendly and educational.

Exhibits

• Great EscAPE (6 acres (2.4 ha)): includes two troops of gorillas, one family of orangutans, and a community of chimpanzees, in tropical rainforest plantings.
• Cat Forest/Lion Overlook (4.2 acres (1.7 ha)): see species of big and small cats including lions, tigers, and snow leopards, with more than 4,000 plants replicating native environments.
• Oklahoma Trails: Its total area is 7.7 acres (3.1 ha) featuring animals native to Oklahoma, including black bears, alligators, bison, beavers, over two dozen snakes. It includes a walk-in bird exhibit and a barn, which houses bats, skunks, and owls.
• Elephant Habitat (9.5 acres (3.8 ha)): home to the Zoo's herd of four Asian elephants (Asha, Chandra, Malee, Rex). Part of the larger Expedition Asia exhibit. The elephant habitat is located in the southeast area of the Zoo next to the Great EscApe, the state-of-the-art exhibit includes three spacious outdoor yards, pools, a waterfall, shade structures and barn with amenities including views into the barn from a raised boardwalk.
• The Children's Zoo: a place where children can explore and play, while connecting with nature and animals. Featuring flamingos, goats, monkeys, a play stream, and lorikeets.
• Aquaticus: more than 1,500 aquatic creatures, including California sea lions and coral.
• Butterfly Garden (21,000 square feet (2,000 m²)): this lush outdoor garden area has a range of butterflies, including the monarch butterfly, the painted lady, the giant swallowtail, and the Eastern black swallowtail, within an environment of more than 15,000 plants.
• Island Life: representative species from around the world including Galápagos tortoises, Caribbean flamingos, Abaco Island boas, San Esteban Island chuckwalla lizards, as well as a herpetarium with over 80 exhibits.

Other attractions within the Zoo include Safari Voyage boats, the giraffe feeding platform, the Safari Tram, the Endangered Species Carousel, the Sea Lion Show, the Centennial Choo Choo, the Jungle Gym Playground and swan paddleboats.

• Stingray Bay will open in 2013.

Former Exhibits

• Monkey Island: Located at the entrance, monkeys would play, eat, and even sleep on a specially made island. Opened in 1935 and dismantled in 1998. The decision was made to get rid of it because zoo visitors would either drop, and throw a hazardous material on to the island, and the monkeys would choke. Today, there is a plaza at the entrance, with a gift shop, a restaurant, and the ZooFriends' office surround a floor where monkey island once was. From 1935-1985, there was a ship on the island.

• Primate House: Built in the 1950s. The apes were kept there until 1993. In 1993, the apes were given a more natural habitat. The building was torn down and the Canopy Food Court was built in its place.

Featured Animals

This is a partial list of many of the animals found at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Gallery

• 
  Abaco Island Boa

See also

• List of botanical gardens in the United States

References

• Amy Dee Stephens (2006). Oklahoma City Zoo: 1902-1959. Charleston, S.C: Arcadia. ISBN 0-7385-4049-8. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

External links

• Media related to Oklahoma City Zoo at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
• The Zoo Amphitheater website