The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is pleased to announce a record-setting 1,107,995 guests of all ages visited the OKC Zoo during its fiscal year, July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. This tops the former fiscal year attendance record of 1,091,032 guests who visited the Zoo from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

The increase in attendance can be attributed to a combination of factors including the opening of Expedition Africa, presented by the Inasmuch Foundation, featuring more than 60 species native to the African continent, and many new to the 122-year-old Zoo. Additionally improved food and beverage options throughout the park and the growing popularity of seasonal attractions, including Safari Lights, Sip and Stroll, and Haunt the Zoo, have drawn new visitors.

Sip and Stroll expanded from four Thursday nights in 2023 to six Friday nights in 2024, bringing in 11,363 visitors and raising $21,766 for the Zoo’s Texas horned lizard conservation program. It was also a banner year for Round Up for Conservation, in which guests round up purchases to the next dollar when shopping in the park, with $146,634.71 donated to fund conservation initiatives in Oklahoma and around the world. Learn more about the program at www.okczoo.org/roundup.

The Oklahoma City Zoo continues to be the state’s most visited cultural attraction with guests coming from all 50 U.S. states and more than 20 countries as measured by zip code data. In addition to robust local support, the Zoo consistently attracts visitors from Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Nearly 25 percent of the Zoo’s 2024 spring break attendance, the Zoo’s most visited week of the year, came from visitors living in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.

“This has been a huge year for the Oklahoma City Zoo in many ways and it’s gratifying to know we’ve welcomed a record number of visitors who support our mission to connect Oklahomans with wildlife and wild places,” said Dr. Dwight Lawson, executive director/CEO for the OKC Zoo. “We hope to see even more records set as we continue to implement more upgrades and construct new facilities in the years to come.”

In addition to rising attendance, the Zoo’s international reputation as a leader in wildlife conservation and science is also ascending. Over the last year, researchers at the OKC Zoo published nine scientific papers in a variety of journals and led and supported conservation research projects around the world.

A few of the Zoo’s ongoing conservation projects include:

  • The Sri Lanka Elephant Project—The OKC Zoo is the only AZA-accredited zoo doing research in the country. The project is supported entirely by the Zoo, including not only material support and funding, but expertise and personnel.
  • Monarch butterflies—In addition to providing financial support for collaborative efforts throughout Oklahoma, OKC Zoo provides a grant program for metro-area schools to apply for funds to create pollinator gardens, conducts research, and leads a headstart program for rare milkweed through the state.
  • FUNDESGUA—Founded by Dr. Brad Lock, the Zoo’s adjunct coordinator of Guatemala conservation programs, this holistic conservation project addresses critically endangered species, Guatemalan beaded lizards and Abronia lizards, through education, habitat restoration, and community engagement.
  • Texas horned lizard conservation program—The Zoo partnered with the University of Oklahoma to establish a Lizard Lab at the Zoo to raise and study Texas horned lizards as part of a headstart program to raise the animals in protected environments through their most vulnerable life stages before releasing them into the wild. So far, more than 40 young lizards raised at the Zoo have been released at Tinker Air Force Base.

 

As with all zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), wildlife from around the world continues to be the primary draw for visiting guests. This year dozens of new species arrived at the Zoo, including naked mole rats, a dwarf crocodile, honey badgers and the return of meerkats. It was also a big year for animal births, with the Zoo welcoming Fera, the endangered Francois’ langur, five male African lion cubs, and five Volcan Alcedo Galapagos tortoises.

Go wild and mark your calendar for the return of the Zoo’s most popular fall and winter events including ZOObrew, the Zoo’s 21-and-up beer, wine, spirits, and mocktails-tasting event, presented by Byron’s Liquor Warehouse on September 27; the 41st annual Haunt the Zoo presented by Oklahoma’s Own News9 occurring Saturdays and Sundays, October 5 through 27; and OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS presented by OG&E lights up the holiday season beginning Saturday, November 9. Tickets for many of these events are limited and already on sale at www.okczoo.org.

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.

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 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.