Tulsa Zoo
| Date opened | 1927[1] |
|---|---|
| Location | Mohawk Park, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA |
| Coordinates | 36°12′31″N 95°55′47″W / 36.20868°N 95.92978°WCoordinates: 36°12′31″N 95°55′47″W / 36.20868°N 95.92978°W |
| Land area | 78 acres (32 ha)[1] |
| Number of animals | 1,500[1] |
| Number of species | 436[1] |
| Memberships | AZA,[2] AAM[3] |
| Website | www.tulsazoo.org |
The Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum is a 78-acre (32 ha) zoo and living museum located in Tulsa, Oklahoma USA. The Tulsa Zoo is owned by the city of Tulsa and is part of the Tulsa Parks Department. The zoo is located in Mohawk Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. The zoo has nearly 1,500 animals, covering 436 species.[1]
The Tulsa Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Association of Museums.
[edit] America's Favorite Zoo
In 2005, the Tulsa Zoo was named as "America's Favorite Zoo" by Microsoft Game Studios and was granted $25,000 in a contest designed to promote the Zoo Tycoon 2 computer game. The contest counted votes from zoo visitors across the country for many of America's top zoos, including the San Diego Zoo and the Bronx Zoo.
[edit] Attractions
[edit] Robert J. LaFortune North American Living Museum
A four-building complex which has been the recipient of many awards, including best new exhibit when it was constructed in 1978. Each building represents a region of the North American continent, Arctic Tundra, Southwest Desert, Eastern Forest, and Southern Lowlands (which is wetlands). Exhibits include live animals, plants, Native American artifacts, fossils, and minerals. Unique features include a simulated earthquake area, and a naturalistic walk-through cave.
[edit] Elephant Demonstrations
Encompasses a 2.5-acre (1 ha) area designed to provide an educational experience for visitors and a stimulating and safe environment for the elephants. It includes a state-of-the-art museum which highlights of the life and history of the Asian Elephant species through a variety of interactive exhibits. Visitors can view the elephants in a natural habitat from both indoor and outdoor viewing areas. Opening in April 2007 is a new Elephant Demonstration yard, where demonstrations of the zoo's two female elephants will be held for visitors to watch, if the weather permits it.
[edit] Helmerich Discovery Center
A fun interactive experience, exhibits include sunburst diving beetles, a Pueblan milksnake, aquatic caecilians, waxy monkey tree frogs, and a Living Reef Tank.
Also visit Nature's Attic, an interactive area filled with interesting biofacts and other animal-related items. Open Noon-1pm weekdays and 2-pm on weekends. The zoo's dedicated volunteers will show you interesting things like deer antlers, sea shells, and hissing cockroaches. While there, take a peek at the Oklahoma Room, full of native Oklahoma animals, including fishes, snakes, a box turtle, and a tarantula.
[edit] Tropical American Rain Forest
A living, naturalistic re-creation of a Central and South American rain forest environment. The exhibit incorporates translucent panels to illuminate the canopy of the rain forest, and a path guides visitors through the nearly 50-foot (15 m) high building. Exotic species include, black howler monkeys, sloths, a green anaconda, piranhas, dwarf caimans, and jaguars. The native human cultures of this region are also highlighted throughout the exhibit. Many species are not caged, including rainforest birds, to allow for a more realistic jungle feel. If you're lucky you might spot one of the tufted-eared marmosets running above your head.
[edit] Chimpanzee Connection
Visitors can view chimpanzees in a large outdoor enclosure as well as a large indoor play-area, where visitors can get eye-to-eye with the chimps. The exhibit is outfitted with climbing equipment to help keep the chimps mentally and physically active.
In 2007, the Tulsa Zoo was proud to welcome two new additions to the Chimp Connection - Vindi and Bernsen! You can see them on the Chimp Cams at the Zoo website at www.tulsazoo.org
[edit] California Sea Lion Show
Underwater view of sea lion swimming A behavioral conditioning program for California Sea Lions is demonstrated for the public at 11:00 am and 1:30 pm Friday through Sunday, April 1 - October 31.
[edit] Penguin Habitat
African Black-footed Penguin exhibit, opened to the public in 2002 after a four year fund-raising campaign. The penguin enclosure is the foundation of “Oceans and Islands,” a new exhibit area for the zoo that will be expanded with a new California Sea Lion exhibit in 2007. The design for this innovative penguin habitat includes geo-thermal heating and cooling to regulate the water temperature for these warm water inhabitants. A “wave pool” or water action simulator, plus a rocky coastline setting, imitates their natural habitat. Special viewing windows were built into the wall of the exhibit for visitors observe the penguins under water. The exhibit currently holds 20 penguins, and can hold up to 30.
The fund-raising campaign for this exhibit was a local art project that created 6-foot (1.8 m) tall penguin sculptures. Businesses gave donations to the fund-raising campaign and then received the penguin sculpture at their desired location. These penguins are now called, “Tulsa penguins.”[4]
[edit] African Area
Go on an African Safari and observe Meerkats, Giraffes, Zebras, Lions,
[edit] Asian Area
See various big cats, like the Malayan Tiger and the Snow leopard from central Asia. This exhibit also contains the Siamang Overlook which has good view of Siamangs. It also includes the Elephant Encounter which has Asian Elephants.
[edit] Children's Zoo
The Children's zoo has a contact yard where kids can get up close and personal with Nigerian dwarf goats, Southdown sheep Katadin sheep, earless Lamancha goats, and Nubian goats, and rabbits, even give their wooly coats a good brushing. Open March 1 to Oct. 31st. There are also llamas, alpacas, Sicilian donkeys, and Guinea Forest hogs. This exhibit also contains the Australian Outback Area, which has red kangaroos, and emus. Plus American river otters and prairie dogs.
[edit] Dave Zucconi Conservation Center
This building has a large variety of animals including primates, reptiles, birds, and fish Some endangered animals on display are the spiny turtle, Pan's box turtle (Cuora pani), Black-breasted Hill Turtle, radiated tortoise, Flat-backed Spider Tortoise, Fiji iguana, Grand Cayman Island Blue Iguana, Bali Myna birds, Black and White Ruffed Lemurs, and Thick-billed parrots.
[edit] Religious controversy
The Tulsa Zoo attracted national media attention in 2005 when a group complained about the mention of evolutionary theory and the inclusion of religious icons, theories, and beliefs in zoo displays, including a statue of the Hindu elephant-headed god Ganesha as part of the elephant exhibition.[5] The Tulsa Park Board responded by voting to add a display on Creationism.[6][7] The board subsequently reconsidered and reversed its decision, citing widespread public criticism.[8][9]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Zoo History". http://www.tulsazoo.org/general.cfm?id=39.
- ^ "List of Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. http://www.aza.org/current-accreditation-list/. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ "List of Accredited Museums". aam-us.org. American Association of Museums. http://www.aam-us.org/museumresources/accred/list.cfmt/. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ Tulsa Penguins locations/images and facebook group
- ^ Tom Droege,"One man's persistence, zeal gives life to zoo controversy", Tulsa World, June 10, 2005.
- ^ "Biblical account of creation to go on display at Tulsa Zoo", Associated Press report in USA Today, June 9, 2005.
- ^ "Proposed Biblical Exhibit Sparks Debate at Tulsa Zoo", Morning Edition on NPR, July 6, 2005.
- ^ "It's All Happening at the Tulsa Zoo", New York Times, July 10, 2005.
- ^ Tom Droege,"Biblical display at zoo nixed", Tulsa World, July 8, 2005.
[edit] External links
Media related to Tulsa Zoo at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
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