Latest news with #OKCZoo
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OKC's Louisa McCune Animal Welfare Center breaks ground
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The name of OKC's new animal shelter is the Oklahoma City Louisa McCune Animal Welfare Center. It broke ground on Thursday. 'This original building was built back in 1996 and it's time for an upgrade,' said Councilman Todd Stone, City of Oklahoma City. LOCAL NEWS: Loving and adoptable pets available this February McCune spent years advocating for humane living conditions for animals in Oklahoma and around the world. She significantly contributed to the new shelter project before passing away last year. 'I know Louisa is here with us in spirit, and she would absolutely be thrilled,' said Kelly Barnes of the Kirkpatrick Foundation. 'She said, where animals fare well, people fare well.' The $42 million project is funded through MAPS 4. 'It's designed to improve the care for the animals, but also improve conditions for our staff and our volunteers,' said Stone. The center will be constructed in two phases. One, building the main shelter and two, rebuilding the 2,800 square foot barn, providing parking and removing the current structure. The new facility will more than double the number of dog kennels to nearly 550 and increase the number of cat condos to more than 300. LOCAL NEWS: OKC Zoo welcomes Eastern collared lizards 'It's not just about being prettier and having newer, nicer things,' said Mayor David Holt. 'Sometimes capacity limitations drive decisions about euthanasia that might have not occurred otherwise.' The new building is scheduled to open in 2026. 'There's a lot that's going to happen at this place, and that's certainly a fulfillment of Louisa's expansive vision for it,' said Holt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
OKC Zoo welcomes Eastern collared lizards
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma City Zoo has welcomed 12 new Eastern collared lizards to its family. According to the OKC Zoo, the Eastern collared lizard is Oklahoma's official state reptile as of 1969. They are named for their black 'collar' marking around their necks. They love the sun and can run super fast, sometimes even on two legs when chasing prey or escaping predators. LOCAL NEWS: Loving and adoptable pets available this February 'Collared lizards are a fascinating species with unique adaptations,' said OKC Zoo's Curator of Herpetology and Aquatics, Seamus Ehrhard. 'We are thrilled to provide them with a space where they can thrive while educating our guests about native wildlife.' The reptiles will be moving into the Zoo's Oklahoma Trails habitat, showcasing the state's wildlife. The Zoo partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation on conservation efforts for Oklahoma's wildlife. Learn more at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Artists wanted: Deadline nears for OKC Zoo license plate design contest
Ready to see your art hit the road? Time is running out. The Oklahoma Zoological Society has launched a design contest for a new specialty license plate in honor of the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Feb. 21. They're asking for talented Oklahoma-based artists to submit their original design for a license plate representing the OKC Zoo. The contest's winning design will become an official Oklahoma license plate that will help raise awareness, funds, and support for the OKC Zoo's mission. More: Oklahoma's top 10 specialty plates, from 'In God We Trust' to 'Don't Tread on Me' 'We're excited about this campaign and engaging our state's talented artists to help inspire action for the OKC Zoo,' said Mandy Heaps, OZS executive director. The OKC Zoo cares for more than 1,000 individual animals and nearly 330 species from around the world. Contest entries should be original illustrations that artistically showcase the OKC Zoo's current animal family, including anticipated additions such as African penguins coming in spring 2027 as part of the Shore to Sea exhibit that will also house California sea lions and harbor seals. Artists are encouraged to highlight Zoo wildlife that aren't currently represented in existing Oklahoma license plates. License plates designed to support other organizations already feature bison (Oklahoma Conservation Commission), monarch butterflies (Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma) and giraffes (Tulsa Zoo). "(Specialty) license plates are extremely popular and we know that people take pride in acknowledging a favorite cause or organization, and soon, they will have the opportunity to support our beloved zoo," Heaps said. "We hope this effort provides ongoing support for the zoo while creating a fun cause that generations of fans can get behind." The Oklahoma Zoological Society will form a selection committee to review all art submissions and select designs ahead of the semi-finalist round. Later this spring, the public will have an opportunity to vote on the final list of selected designs and choose their favorite to become an official Oklahoma license plate for the OKC Zoo. The winning license plate design will be revealed by May 1 and which will be available to the public for purchase at a later date. For contest guidelines and rules and to upload official art submissions, visit Contest entries will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 21. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Zoo license plate design contest deadline is Feb. 21
