For months, guests to the Oklahoma Metropolis Zoo have been met with building fences blockading a big portion of the zoo.
Now, all 12 acres of the zoo’s largest habitat growth are open to the general public.
Some animals are nonetheless adjusting to their new habitat, whereas others are ready to be dropped at the zoo.
Here is what to find out about Expedition Africa.
OKC Zoo’s latest habitat Expedition Africa
Completed simply in time for spring break, Expedition Africa is dwelling to greater than 60 species and is the zoo’s largest habitat growth because it opened in 1902.
Situated within the coronary heart of the zoo, Expedition Africa options a big giraffe yard that the tall mammals will share with two species of antelope and ostrich. Giraffe feeding can be accessible quickly utilizing the brand new eye-level platform subsequent to the giraffe barn, which can also be open to the general public. Because of the brand new giraffe barn, visitors can now view and feed the giraffes year-round.
Within the subsequent yard over, zebras will share area with wildebeests, imitating the connection the 2 species share within the wild. Zebras and wildebeests will be discovered touring collectively and sharing the identical grazing floor.
Subsequent to the giraffe’s is the zoo’s historic Pachyderm constructing, the within of which was renovated to show the previous hippopotamus and elephant dwelling into housing for reptiles and small rodents. The previous elephant habitat is now a non-public occasion area.
The constructing was lately added to the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations and its mid-century fashionable structure was preserved, whereas the within was modernized with air-conditioning and not has an animal scent.
The habitat growth price $35 million, and the official ribbon slicing will happen March 26.
All the brand new animals you may see at OKC Zoo Expedition Africa
Together with some outdated favorites, Expedition Africa options a number of new animals.
- Wildebeest are first-timers on the OKC Zoo and will be discovered behind the giraffe barn. They’ll quickly be joined by a brand new zebra herd.
- Lemurs, each ring-tailed and red-ruffed, are making their OKC Zoo debut and will be seen from the doorway to the zoo
- A sequence of tunnels and burrows behind glass options bare mole rats contained in the historic pachyderm constructing.
- You will discover the black-and-white honey badgers simply east of the pachyderm constructing.
- The energetic dwarf mongoose, discovered contained in the pachyderm constructing, are additionally new to the OKC Zoo.
What else is new on the OKC Zoo?
Should you’re on the lookout for a option to keep away from a lot strolling, try the zoo’s brand-new scooter buddies. These new electrical rides function 5 totally different animal choices and will be rented on the zoo’s entrance.
For spring break, the zoo’s hours will prolong to shut at 6 p.m. as a substitute of 5 p.m.
There are additionally a number of child animals to see, together with the child endangered Francois langur Fera, born in January.
A litter of six African-painted canine pups had been born in November, and the elephant Rama was born in January 2022.
Chimpanzee Kiazi was born within the fall of 2022, was hand-reared by zoo caretakers and is now being raised by her surrogate mom Kito.
