07-03-2025
Tulsa Zoo Breaks Ground on African Wilds Exhibit
TULSA, Okla. — Lions and other African animals will soon roam over a new Tulsa Zoo seven-acre habitat.
On Wednesday, the Tulsa Zoo broke ground to begin construction on the new William S. Smith African Wilds exhibit, touting it as the zoo's most 'ambitious undertaking.'
The Tulsa Zoo is northeast Oklahoma's largest paid daily attraction.
The new habitat will feature tall grass and rocky outcroppings, known as kopjes, for lions to sleep on and meerkats to dig subterranean tunnels. At the same time, a lone sentry keeps watch for danger, and African birds will call in the new immersive walkthrough aviary and vulture exhibit.
In addition to lions and meerkats, the habitat will be home to painted dogs and, later, pygmy hippos, vultures, and zebras.
'This is a monumental day in our zoo's 97-year history,' said Tulsa Zoo President and CEO Lindsay Hutchison in a prepared statement. '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 that Tulsa Zoo continues to move into the future with the best available spaces for animal wellbeing, guests, and staff.'
She said that upon finishing the zoo, officials anticipate that more than 800,000 guests every year will experience endangered animals they may never have encountered in their daily lives.
'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,' Hutchison said.
The habitat will allow zoo visitors to view the animals up close in the heat of summer and the cold of winter while providing the animals with year-round species-specific habitats.
Concession locations and a dedicated classroom for educational programming will be added nearby, as well as a permanent pavilion structure that will allow for increased seating for dining and special event rentals.
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