The Oklahoma City Zoo is wild for its new season of Animal Awareness Days and hosting a schedule of engaging events that further connect animal and nature lovers of all ages to wildlife conservation and education through fun activities. The Zoo is diving into the year with its first event, World Water Day, set for Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guests can join the OKC Zoo in making a splash for aquatic animals and water conservation by participating in the event festivities happening in the Zoo’s new Love’s Pachyderm Building at Expedition Africa.
Enjoy learning more about the aquatic species that call the Zoo home and how all living things are affected by the health of our water sources with family-friendly activities. Guests are invited to attend a special caretaker chat at 12:30 p.m. at the African lungfish habitat in the Pachyderm Building. Entry into the Zoo’s Stingray Bay exhibit will be free on World Water Day. Regular fees apply for stingray feedings. Adding to the day’s festivities, all guests will receive a free water bottle courtesy of Shape Your Future, a program of TSET, while supplies last. Water bottles will be given away beginning at 10 a.m. as guests enter the park. OKC Zoo fans are encouraged to pack their own snacks to minimize plastic and bring reusable water bottles when visiting. Through a partnership with Shape Your Future, the Zoo recently installed hydration stations across the park for zoo-goers to enjoy. All World Water Day activities are free with regular Zoo admission. Guests who can’t attend World Water Day in person are encouraged to tune in for a Facebook live chat at 9 a.m. with one of our expert caretakers. Learn more here.
The OKC Zoo is home to several aquatic species including a group, or “fever”, of stingrays at the Stingray Bay habitat including cownose, bat, and Atlantic stingrays. Sharing the habitat are bamboo sharks, a small species of reef shark. Of the three species of stingrays that call the OKC Zoo home, the Atlantic and bat rays are considered least concern while the cownose ray is near threatened according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The OKC Zoo proudly supports the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) SAFE: Saving Animal From Extinction program for sharks and rays and is committed to helping sustain these incredible species. AZA: SAFE programs aim to harness the collective expertise, resources, and reach of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums to save species and promote wildlife and habitat protection. Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch is another program the OKC Zoo aligns with, including their mission to promote sustainable seafood purchasing and consumption. Zoo experts will be available during the World Water Day event 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. The OKC Zoo joins them as a Conservation Partner in their effort to protect and advocate for the Ocean’s ecosystem. By choosing sustainable seafood and learning more about the Seafood Watch program, you can have a direct positive impact on 70% of the planet!
OKC Zoo World Water Day Facts
- Fish are incredibly smart. Elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) have some cognitive abilities that are similar to those of 4-year-old humans.
- The ocean covers 70% of the Earth. 80% of the ocean is yet to be explored.
- The average American uses 140-170 gallons of water per day. Additionally, a leaky faucet can waste 100 gallons of water per day.
- More than 70% of all volcanic eruptions occur in the ocean.
- 73% of deep-water fish have been found with microplastics in their system.
- Ocean acidity has increased by 30% over the last 200 years.
- 7.8% of the oceans are designated as Marine Protected Areas. OKC Zoo supports the 30x30 goal to protect 30% of Earth’s land and waters by 2030.
- Wild, sustainable seafood has a lower carbon footprint than beef, mutton, cheese, pork and poultry.
- Less than 2% of the Earth’s water is freshwater.
- The ocean has more than 1500 underwater volcanoes, mostly in the Pacific Ocean.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is making waves for its next expansion project, a new marine mammal habitat, Shore to Sea, that will be home to the Zoo’s California sea lions, harbor seals and potentially other species. This enhanced space will encompass 3.5 acres in the eastern section of the park overlooking Zoo Lake. It will include an outdoor amphitheater for educational presentations and caretaker chats, beach areas for the animals, “nose-to-nose” views of the sea lions and seals, an interactive sand area for kids, a special event space, and memorable guest experiences. The design also features an 8-foot-tall underwater window offering breathtaking views of the sea lions and seals swimming and gliding about. Construction for this this project has not yet begun but the Zoo will share updates on its socials as it progresses.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry no later than 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, 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. Membership has its perks! As a ZOOfriends member of the Oklahoma City Zoo, enjoy free admission all year-long, plus many additional benefits and discounts. You will also be supporting the Zoo’s animal family, education programming and conservation initiatives both locally and globally. Join or renew today at www.okczoo.org/membership.
Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, X, Instagram, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. To learn more about Zoo happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.org.