Make a splash at World Oceans Day as you celebrate aquatic life, ocean conservation. Family-friendly activities, caretaker chats, animal enrichment, photo opportunities and more.  

In celebration of World Oceans Day 2022, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Bob Moore Subaru are coming together to make waves for ocean conservation. This globally recognized day provides a unique opportunity to learn about, raise awareness for and conserve our blue planet. The theme for 2022 is “One Ocean, One Climate, One Future – Together” in support of a global movement to create a healthy ocean with abundant wildlife and ensure our planet’s lands, waters and ocean are protected.

Dive into the World Oceans Day fun on Thursday, June 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and be inspired to help protect our local and global water sources for future generations. World Oceans Day activities will be held near Stingray Bay and the sea lion habitat, and on Grandma’s Porch in the Children’s Zoo. Fans will enjoy Facebook live videos, the opportunity to decorate a reusable shopping bag while supplies last, caretaker chats, kids’ activities with prizes, animal enrichment, photo opportunities sponsored by Bob Moore Subaru and more. World Ocean Day activities are free with paid Zoo admission.

The Zoo also encourages nature enthusiasts to help restore oceans, lakes and rivers with the assistance of technology. Using the interactive app, Litterati, individuals, students, community groups and organizations can stop litter at its source by documenting litter collected in and around waterways and wild places. App users photograph a piece of litter, tag details about it and upload the image along with the location of where it was found to the Litterati data base. Participation is free. Learn more at www.litterati.org. Guests are encouraged to download the Litterati app during the World Oceans Day event to receive free admission to one of the Zoo’s sea lion presentations at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Present your phone with the Litterati app to the Zoo’s sea lion stadium attendant and you and a guest will be admitted at no charge to the presentation. This offer is only valid on Thursday, June 2, 2022, for World Oceans Day. Seating capacity is limited at each presentation. One app download provides access for two people to the presentation. Additional tickets can be purchased at the sea lion stadium or in advance at www.okczoo.org/tickets. Children two and under are always free.

In addition to its overall ocean conservation efforts, including the celebration of World Oceans Day, the Zoo has partnered with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch® program to promote sustainable seafood purchasing and consumption. Zoo experts will be available during the World Oceans Day event and following each sea lion presentation to answer questions about sustainable seafood and how Oklahomans can join and benefit. Seafood Watch, a program started in 1999 by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, helps consumers and businesses make choices for healthy oceans. Seafood Watch raises awareness through consumer guides, website information and outreach efforts. The OKC Zoo joins them as a Conservation Partner institution in their effort to protect and advocate for the Ocean’s ecosystem.

WORLD OCEANS DAY FACTS

  • Half of the oxygen on Earth comes from the Ocean (Oceana.org)
  • Ocean related jobs bring in $282 BILLION in the U.S. alone (Oceana.org)
  • Per acre, sea grasses and mangroves sequester more carbon than forests on land (Oceana.org)
  • Coral reefs protect coasts from storm damage (Oceana.org)
  • Healthy reefs buffer up to 97% of wave energy (Oceana.org)
  • Restoring the Ocean could feed one BILLION people a healthy seafood meal EVERY day (Oceana.org)
  • Studies have revealed marine plastic pollution in 100% of sea turtles, 59% of whales, 36% of seals, 40% of seabirds, and more than 25% of fish examined (Conservation International)
  • Every day 8 MILLION pieces of plastic pollution finds their way into our Oceans (Conservation International)
  • Help our oceans by refusing single use plastics, such as straws and grocery bags.
  • Per the Marine Mammal Protection Act, humans are to maintain a distance of 150 feet from wild seals and sea lions and never interact with them.             

On World Oceans Day, discover some of the Zoo’s aquatic species at Stingray Bay, home to bat, cownose and Atlantic stingrays, and bamboo sharks, as well as the sea lion habitat featuring the Zoo’s seven California sea lions and two harbor seals. Additional entry fees apply to enter Stingray Bay and the sea lion presentation.

The Oklahoma City Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry no later than 4 p.m. Connect to wildlife and tons of fun as you experience the all new BRICKLIVE Animal Paradise at the OKC Zoo. Sponsored by Devon, BRICKLIVE features 45+ life-sized animal statues made with almost two million toy bricks! BRICKLIVE Animal Paradise is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. now through October 30, 2022. Purchase advance tickets for general Zoo admission and BRICKLIVE at www.okczoo.org/tickets. 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 $12 for adults and $9 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free.

Stay connected with the Zoo on FacebookTwitterInstagramLinktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. To learn more about Zoo happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.org.