Join the OKC Zoo to celebrate Sumatran tiger twins, Bob and Luna’s first birthday this International Tiger Day with family-friendly activities, animal enrichment, caretaker chats and more. Plus, meet Daniel Tiger who will be available for photo opportunities.
Pounce on this day of fun celebrating tigers! Saturday, July 29, is International Tiger Day and to mark this global occasion, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is inviting guests to partake in a variety of activities that highlight these endangered big cats and their habitats.
Presented locally by Bob Moore Subaru, this International Tiger Day celebration will be held throughout the Zoo’s Cat Forest habitat from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees will learn about the Zoo’s Sumatran tigers and watch as they receive special enrichment items prepared by their caretakers, participate in family-friendly activities, caretaker chats, event-themed photo opportunities hosted by Bob Moore Subaru and more. The OKC Zoo and OETA present a very special guest for our celebration, Daniel Tiger! Here’s a grr-ific opportunity for guests to meet and take pictures with Daniel Tiger at the Zoo from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Zoo’s new Love’s Pachyderm. Learn more at http://oeta.tv/danieltiger. All event activities including photos with Daniel Tiger are free with regular Zoo admission. The OKC Zoo will be talking all things tigers during two special Facebook live chats with our expert caretakers in honor of International Tiger Day at 9:30 a.m. and noon. Tune in @okczoo.
The OKC Zoo is home to four Sumatran tigers including adult male, Badar (4), adult female, Lola (12), and her twin tiger cubs, Bob and Luna, who celebrated their first birthday on July 2, 2023. Bob and Luna were born at the Zoo’s Cat Forest habitat and are Lola’s second litter of cubs. In 2017, Lola gave birth to her first litter, three males, and became a foster mom to a female Amur tiger born at the Philadelphia Zoo whose mother did not display maternal instincts. This was the first successful tiger cross-fostering among Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos.
“We are excited to celebrate and connect our guests to our tiger family this International Tiger Day,” said Tyler Boyd, curator of carnivores. “Our tigers are important ambassadors for their wild counterparts and helping people to understand the threats these incredible big cats are facing. By raising awareness through this event and conservation education, we hope to inspire people to take action to help safeguard tiger populations and their habitat.”
Sumatran tigers are listed as critically endangered according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are six subspecies of tigers including the Malayan, Sumatran, South China, Indochinese, Bengal and Amur, or Siberian, tiger – all of which are endangered or critically endangered. Sumatran tigers are found on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia and inhabit both tropical forests and some freshwater swamp forests. They are considered an umbrella species, meaning when tigers are protected the other animals in their habitat are also protected. Sumatran tigers are critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching, with only an estimated 500 individuals living in the forests of Indonesia.
The OKC Zoo is proud to participate in the AZA Species Survival Program® for Sumatran tigers and is committed to the care and conservation of this incredible species as well as ensuring that these amazing animals are around for future generations. The Zoo also encourages animal enthusiasts to be conscious when shopping and consider using the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s and World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) PalmOil Scan app. Downloading this app allows users to scan a product’s barcode to see if the items they buy are sustainably sourced and if the companies that make them are committed to sustainable palm oil practices. Palm oil is a key ingredient in a number of household products including lotion, shampoo and foods. Sustainable practices ensure that companies are re-using areas to plant more palm trees rather than destroying more crucial habitat for wildlife. The PalmOil app is available for download from the App Store, Google Play Store and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s website.
OKC Zoo International Tiger Day Facts
- Each tiger has its own individual set of stripes, similar to a human’s fingerprint.
- The Sumatran tiger is the smallest subspecies of tiger. It’s about half the size of the Amur tiger which is the largest subspecies.
- While the female raises the cubs, the male protects the surrounding territory to keep other adult males away.
- Tigers are solitary and communicate primarily with scent. Scent provides information about the signaler’s sex, age, reproductive status and proximity.
- Tigers communicate with many different calls including roars, moans and prustens (more commonly referred to as chuffs) which serve as a friendly greeting.
- Tigers are endangered because of habitat loss and poaching for their skins, bones and other parts valued in traditional Asian medicine.
- Tigers are an umbrella species for their regions, meaning when tigers are protected, other species in their habitat are also protected.
- The palm oil industry in a major conservation challenge for the Sumatran tiger. Large areas of tiger habitat are being converted into fields for oil palm trees.
- The OKC Zoo helps tigers by partnering with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil to promote certified sustainable palm oil produced without harming wildlife habitat.
- You can help save tigers by using the PalmOil Scan app to choose products made with certified sustainably produced palm oil.
We’re roaring with pride for tigers this International Tiger Day! The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 4 p.m. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, Oklahoma City’s Adventure District and an Adventure Road partner. Regular admission is $16 for adults and $13 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Support your love and passion for wildlife and wild places with a ZOOfriends Membership Passport to the OKC Zoo. These 12-month memberships provide general admission year-round and exclusive offers while supporting the Zoo’s ongoing animal care and conservation efforts. Memberships can be purchased at okczoo.org/membership.