It will be a nature-inspired day with animal enrichment, caretaker chats, education activities, and a free conservation lecture–all focusing on primates. Plus, “Nature Cat” mascot appearance from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden welcomes lemur lovers, ape appreciators, gorilla gurus, and monkey maniacs for its next animal awareness event, World Primate Day from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, September 7.
“The Zoo is home to primates from around the world who captivate and connect with our guests every day,” said Shannon Charles-Ray, OKC Zoo’s primate curator. “From the small Francois’ langurs in Sanctuary Asia to the impressive lowland gorillas in the Great EscApe, primates are some of the most popular members of our animal family and we’re excited to celebrate them with you.”
World Primate Day is a Zoo-wide event for visitors with activities happening across the park from 9 a.m. to noon. Guests can take part in Tic-Tac-Toe Trivia, learn about primate tool use, enjoy a TSET water bottle giveaway, and much more.
It’s also an engaging day for the Zoo’s primate families, with animal enrichment events taking place every hour starting with lemurs at 9 a.m., Expedition Africa, squirrel and spider monkeys at 10 a.m., Children’s Zoo, gorillas at 11 a.m., Great EscApe, and langurs at noon, Sanctuary Asia. The Oklahoma Zoological Society will be on-hand at each enrichment event collecting donations to benefit the Sri Lanka-based Kaludiyapokuna Primate Conservation and Research Center (KPCRC), one of the Zoo’s conservation partners. For each donation of $25 or more, guests will get a voucher for a plush primate of their choice in Safari Gifts in the Zoo’s entry plaza.
The day’s activities also include a special meet-and-greet with the Nature Cat mascot! The OKC Zoo and Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) are excited to host PBS KIDS’ character Nature Cat from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Zoo’s Love’s Pachyderm Building at Expedition Africa. Photo opportunities will be available. Regular Zoo admission is required, while the OETA-sponsored activities are free and open to all ages. Find additional information and registration details on OETA's Facebook Event Page.
World Primate Day wraps up with OKC Zoo’s: Meet the Conservationists at 1:30 p.m. in the Rosser Conservation Education Center’s auditorium. Dr. Rajnish Vandercone, project director of the KPCRC, and Dr. Chase LaDue, OKC Zoo Conservation Scientist and project director for the Sri Lanka Elephant Project, will discuss their efforts to study and protect endangered purple-faced langurs and endangered Asian elephants. Auditorium doors open at 1:15 p.m. Guests should park by and enter through the Zoo’s Education Center located at the east end of the Zoo’s parking lot. Seating is limited. The lecture is free to attend and does not require paid Zoo admission.
Help conservation efforts while getting rid of your electronic clutter with Gorillas on the Line. Now through December 31, guests who donate an old cell phone or other handheld electronic device to Gorillas on the Line inside the Guest Services office get a free admission ticket to the Zoo. Recycling small electronic devices raises money for gorilla conservation and helps reduce the demand for conflict minerals like coltan, keeping potentially harmful materials out of our landfills. To learn more, visit gorillassp.org.
The Zoo also provides financial support to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGF) which is dedicated to the conservation and protection of gorillas and their habitats in Africa. DFGF continues Fossey’s mission to study and protect mountain gorillas, whose population has doubled thanks to daily patrols performed by DFGF staff. This is the only population of wild gorillas that is increasing. DFGF also provides assistance to local communities through education, health, training and development initiatives. Learn more at gorillafund.org.
Wrap your summer up right at the OKC Zoo! The Oklahoma City Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry no later than 4 p.m. Through Labor Day, Monday, September 2, the Zoo is open daily at 8:30 a.m. for ZOOfriends with current memberships. 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, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Zoo 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, X, Instagram, Threads, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Looking for a year of Zoo adventures? Consider a 12-month, ZOOfriends Membership Passport to the OKC Zoo providing general admission year-round and exclusive offers while supporting the Zoo’s ongoing animal care and conservation programs. Memberships can be purchased at okczoo.org/membership.