Bring on the cool and chill vibes and watch as select Zoo animals enjoy creative treats made by the Zoo’s expert animal caretakers.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is helping its animal family cool off from the summer heat with a special animal enrichment day on Friday, July 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can enjoy watching a variety of the OKC Zoo’s wildlife interact with summer inspired enrichment prepared for them by their caretakers, encouraging them to use their surroundings to stay cool. Providing edible treats and animal-approved toys, guests will see animals interact with items like frozen ice creations made, mud, bubbles, sprinklers and more.
OKC Zoo caretakers use daily enrichment to enhance the quality of an animal’s habitat, and to offer opportunities for animals to participate in species specific behaviors such as foraging and exploration. Guests may see caretakers add animal-approved toys, feeders, ice treats or scents to encourage animals’ natural abilities, ensuring they have different opportunities throughout the day.
OKC Zoo’s Summer Animal Enrichment Event Schedule
10 a.m.: Goats (Children’s Zoo, Barnyard area)
10:30 a.m.: Galapagos Tortoises (Children’s Zoo)
11 a.m.: Chimpanzees (Great EscApe) *Guests might have an opportunity to see our chimpanzee infant, Kiazi, partaking in the enrichment fun!
11:30 a.m.: Cassowaries (Sanctuary Asia)
NOON / BREAK
1 p.m.: Ostrich (Predator Pass, near the Okapi)
1:30 p.m.: Big Rivers Aquarium (Oklahoma Trails, Big Rivers building)
2 p.m.: Asian Elephants (Sanctuary Asia, elephant habitat)
Guests will have an opportunity to talk with the Zoo’s expert team members to learn more about the Zoo’s enrichment program. This event is free with Zoo admission. The summer enrichment event schedule will be posted in the entry plaza and on the Zoo’s Facebook page.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 4 p.m. Purchase Zoo admission tickets online at okczoo.org/tickets and bypass the entry lines and. 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 $16 for adults and $13 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Enjoy a year of wild fun with a 12-month, ZOOfriends Membership Passport to the OKC Zoo. These membership passports provide 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. Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories.