93,491 visitors over 9 days surpasses previous 2015 record
A combination of warm weather and excitement to experience the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s newest expansion, Sanctuary Asia, has resulted in record-setting attendance for spring break. For the nine-day period of Saturday, March 16 to Sunday, March 24, a total of 93,491 guests visited the Zoo. Visitors include all paying guests and ZOOfriends members who entered using an annual pass, purchased from the Oklahoma Zoological Society. The 2019 spring break attendance total surpassed the previous record of 85,566 visitors, set in 2015.
“We’re thrilled so many people were able to come to the Zoo and experience all that we have to offer,” said Dwight Lawson, OKC Zoo executive director/CEO, “We see this new spring break record as a great start to what will be a fantastic year for the Oklahoma City Zoo with both visitor attendance and our wildlife conservation efforts.”
In 2019, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Oklahoma Zoological Society (OZS) are providing $300,000 to supporting wildlife conservation programs locally and around the world. These funds are raised through the Zoo’s Round-Up for Conservation program and by the Oklahoma Zoological Society (OZS/ZOOfriends). Round Up for Conservation is a grassroots effort, funded entirely by OKC Zoo guests who choose to round up their purchases to the next dollar amount. Since its inception in 2011, the program has generated more than $475,000.
Local conservation organizations receiving funding from the Oklahoma City Zoo and ZOOfriends include Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Monarch and Pollinator Collaborative. Global conservation organizations receiving benefit include Turtle Survival Alliance, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Painted Dog Research Trust, Northern Rangelands Trust and Foundation for the Endangered Species of Guatemala.
About ZOOfriends
In 1954, the Oklahoma Zoological Society (OZS/ZOOfriends), a nonprofit organization, was created to help support the Oklahoma City Zoo in its mission to be Oklahoma’s premier destination connecting people and our world’s vanishing wildlife and wild places. OZS has been making an impact alongside the OKC Zoo in advancing the experience members and visitors enjoy and connecting guests to wildlife, nature and the environment. Zoo fans can support the OKC Zoo by becoming Oklahoma Zoological Society members at ZOOfriends.org or in-person at the Zoo!
About the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
Visit the OKC Zoo and witness conservation in action! The 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. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Regular admission is $11 for adults and $8 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Stay up-to-date with the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and by visiting Our Stories. To learn more about these and other happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.org.