Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc.

Tulsa Zoo is again expanding its Asian elephant herd. Billy, a 40-year-old bull, and 59-year-old female Tina, will relocate later this year from Los Angeles Zoo to the new The Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve. The zoo has a long history of caring for elephants, starting with Gunda in 1954. The current herd includes males Sneezy and Hank and females Sooky, Booper and Connie. The zoo’s expertise with elephant introductions, managing multiple bulls and individualized care plans are among the reasons Tulsa Zoo was selected to receive Billy and Tina. “For 70 years the Tulsa Zoo has been dedicated to providing excellent care for Asian elephants at all stages of life,” said Tulsa Zoo Vice President of Animal Conservation and Science Joe Barkowski. “Ultimately, the decision to relocate is based on the unique needs of the individual animals. The decision is a collaborative one that includes our accrediting body, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This move is an example of AZA-accredited zoos working together in the best interest of individual elephants.” Tulsa Zoo has dedicated 17 of its 124 acres to elephants. The zoo in 2024 opened a new, 36,650-square-foot barn and added about 2 acres of dedicated yard space. The zoo recently opened the former elephant exhibit as the Elephant Experience. The changes include an extensive renovation of the elephant interpretive center, barn, and outdoor spaces that originally opened in 1995. The new preserve, which adds another 10 acres, will be ready for exploration this summer. “Meeting Gunda sparked my passion for saving species and set my career path,” said Tulsa Zoo President/CEO Lindsay Hutchison. “I’m proud of our zoo’s commitment to provide the best possible wellbeing for Asian elephants and each of the species we have the privilege to care for. “Our city leadership and the citizens of Tulsa showed their support for our commitment to Asian elephants by approving Vision funding for our recent expansion. Because of this ongoing support, Tulsa Zoo can continue to provide the best in animal wellbeing and teach future generations that real change is possible,” she said. The Tulsa Zoo is proud to be one of the first 11 zoos to earn AZA accreditation in 1976. AZA accreditation occurs every five years and affirms a commitment to the highest standards in animal care and conservation. Earning accreditation requires a meticulous inspection process where independent zoological professionals assess all aspects of operations, from animal welfare and veterinary care to educational programs and conservation efforts. Tulsa Zoo earned its most recent accreditation in 2023.

The final element of Tulsa Zoo’s visionary new habitat for Asian elephants officially opened on Monday, April 7. The Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience reflects an extensive renovation of the existing elephant interpretive center, outdoor spaces and barn, which originally opened in 1995. This renovation coincides with the newly added 10-acre Elephant Preserve and the 36,650-square-foot Preserve Barn that opened Spring 2024. In all, Tulsa Zoo has dedicated 17 of its 124 acres to Asian elephants. “Tulsa voters generously approved an investment in our zoo’s Asian elephant habitat through Vision – an investment to make Tulsa home to one of the largest facilities in North America for this important, endangered species,” said Tulsa Zoo President and CEO Lindsay Hutchison. “Within one month of opening the Preserve Barn last year, we welcomed two elephants from Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, increasing our herd to five members. Completely gutting and rethinking our former elephant barn and viewing areas increases our flexibility to manage multiple herds and care for Asian elephants of all life stages.” The Elephant Experience is the guests’ hub, offering visitors opportunities to engage with staff or docents about the zoo’s Asian elephant program; learn how the various spaces of the facilities work together and where the elephants may be visible at that moment, and even watch live video footage of elephants across the 17 acres. “Guests will have indoor and outdoor viewing opportunities, and an elephant interpretive center to learn more about the world of elephants,” said Hutchison. “We’ve added restrooms, too, which is important to our families, and eventually plan to bring back overnight experiences.” Tulsa Zoo has a successful history of caring for Asian elephants, said Vice President of Animal Conservation & Science Joe Barkowski. “Driven by our commitment to the species and to the individual animals in our care, we developed a plan for expansion and improvements to support a larger, multi-generational Asian elephant herd. Our plans are driven in part by an elephant welfare study and evolving husbandry standards, as well as our desire to care for larger and more varied social groupings. The result of our vision is 17 acres devoted to Asian elephants, including indoor and outdoor spaces with maximum flexibility for herd management and care around the clock. The Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve will allow Tulsa Zoo to accommodate a growing herd for generations to come.

Tulsa Zoo is thrilled to announce the groundbreaking of the Clayton and Gina Hughes Family Giant Anteater Habitat, marking the first time the zoo will house this remarkable species. Set to open in Fall 2025, this new habitat will be adjacent to the Rainforest and will provide a dynamic and enriching space for giant anteaters. Designed with both animal welfare and guest experience in mind, the exhibit will include the following: • Indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate the anteaters year-round • A wading pool for bathing and cooling off • Natural substrate for digging and foraging, encouraging natural behaviors “As we approach the start of our centennial celebration in 2027, we are more excited than ever to continue building facilities that allow our expert animal care staff to provide the highest standard of care,” said Tulsa Zoo President and CEO Lindsay Hutchison. “This new habitat is designed to meet the complex physical and behavioral needs of giant anteaters while offering guests a unique opportunity to experience giant anteaters in a naturalistic setting.” The Clayton and Gina Hughes Family Giant Anteater Habitat is made possible by the generosity of the Clayton and Gina Hughes Family, as well as by proceeds from the 55th annual Oklahoma Central Credit Union ZooRun presented by CommunityCare. Giant anteaters are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, due to habitat degradation throughout their range in Central and South America. There are close to 100 animals in about 50 of the Association of Zoos and Aquarium accredited facilities. Tulsa Zoo is working closely with the AZA Species Survival Plan® to determine which individuals will join the zoo.

Visitors of The Maryland Zoo get their first sense of the facility’s commitment to the environment in an unexpected place: the new parking lot. 🚙 Whether visitors arrive by car, by foot or by bike, they’ll see signs detailing sustainability features, including a water runoff collection system which monitors the water levels and surrounding conditions, and smart LED lighting to reduce light pollution and power usage. 💡 Other AZA facilities such as Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. and Monterey Bay Aquarium have connected with their communities on conservation efforts through hosting workshops and working with state organizations. 📋 Learn more about how AZA facilities are making a difference in Connect: https://bit.ly/4kCip3z. #Conservation #Partnership #AnimalHealth #Earth #GoGreen #Sustainability #Maryland #Oklahoma #California

The Tulsa Zoo broke ground to begin construction on the new William S. Smith African Wilds exhibit on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. The construction project is the zoo’s most ambitious undertaking to date with construction spanning 7 acres of the zoo’s footprint to create new habitats for lions, painted dogs, meerkats and other African species. The project will bring in new species, including pygmy hippos and vultures, and bring back a guest favorite – zebras. “This is a monumental day in our zoo’s 97-year history,” said Tulsa Zoo President and CEO Lindsay Hutchison. “As we’ve built new habitats, including Lost Kingdom and The Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve, we’ve taken great care to move into the next era of zoo habitats for our animals and guests. We’re proud Tulsa Zoo is continuing to move into the future with the best available spaces for animal wellbeing, guests and staff.” Once complete, lions may be seen stalking in tall grass or sleeping on rocky outcroppings called kopjes, meerkats will dig subterranean tunnels while a lone sentry keeps watch for danger, and African birds will call in the new immersive walkthrough aviary and vulture exhibit. Experiences will be designed for up-close viewing in the heat of summer and the cold of winter, while providing the animals in our care year-round species-specific habitats. There will also be improved back-of-house staff areas. Guests will have additional restrooms, including family restrooms, and water bottle filling stations. Concession locations and a dedicated classroom for educational programming will be added nearby. Also, a permanent pavilion structure will be constructed allowing for increased seating for dining and special event rentals. “We work hard every day to keep the promise we made to Tulsa when we started the public-private partnership and said we would build a bigger, better Tulsa Zoo,” said Hutchison. “Connecting people to wildlife in this way matters, creating a lifetime of care and advocacy for wildlife, people and wild places that will continue for generations to come.” For more information about the William S. Smith African Wilds Exhibit, visit www.buildingbeyond.org.