Online fundraiser invites donors to vote for Team Dog or Team Cat to receive enrichment videos, a behind-the-scenes experience in Predator Pass, and more!
Forget fighting like cats and dogs; let’s fight for cats and dogs? Zoo Lovers Day is Tuesday, April 8, 2025 and the Oklahoma Zoological Society is asking donors to celebrate by supporting for Team Cat (cheetahs) or Team Dog (African painted dogs), to raise funds for animal care, conservation, and other priority initiatives at the Zoo.
“Predator Pass, home to the Zoo’s coalitions of cheetahs and packs of African painted dogs, has become a must-see for many of our guests,” said Oklahoma Zoological Society executive director Mandy Heaps. “We want to turn that love for our animal family into conservation action on Zoo Lovers Day with support for critical Zoo projects and programs.”
This online fundraiser includes a $10,000 matching gift, doubling the impact of donor’s generosity, courtesy of the Hong Family and Elizabeth Rasche. Gifts at the $25-and-more level come with exclusive benefits, including commemorative Zoo Lovers Day stickers, exclusive enrichment videos, a special Predator Pass opportunity, and more! Those who give before April 8 will be entered into a raffle for a Predator Pass behind-the-scenes experience for two to see the expert care and enrichment designed for African painted dogs and cheetahs.
“Cheetah and African painted dog populations are facing problems including habitat loss and fragmentation, which separates animals from necessary resources, and human encroachment and conflict,” said Tyler Boyd, OKC Zoo Curator of Carnivores. “The populations of both species continue to decline and without the conservation efforts of dedicated scientists around the globe, we run the risk of losing them to extinction, which would also have a devastating impact on the ecosystem. Support for carnivores at the Oklahoma City Zoo by our guests and donors has been tremendous over the past several years. We couldn’t do what we do without them and we hope to continue helping our guests connect with our animal family and their counterparts in the wild”
Predator Pass opened to great fanfare in 2021 and continues to be one of the most popular destinations at the Zoo.
“Both of these species share similar habitats in the wild, which means they face a lot of the same challenges. Being able to see them side by side at the Zoo allows you to see two excellent hunters and predators who face those challenges in very different ways,” Boyd added. “African painted dogs are some of the most skilled hunters with an incredibly high success rate—nearly 90 percent—and cheetahs use astounding speed and agility to catch their prey. It’s remarkable to see these animals in person and get a glimpse of what they are capable of.”
Cast your vote for Team Dog or Team Cat and donate by visiting the OKC Zoo Lovers Day fundraising page now through April 9, 2025 at ozsgiving.org.
The Oklahoma City Zoo’s Regular daytime hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 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.
Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Make every day a Zoo day with a ZOOfriends membership! As a ZOOfriends member of the Oklahoma City Zoo, enjoy free general admission for 12 months, plus 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.