TULSA, Okla. (March 5, 2025) – The Tulsa Zoo broke ground to begin construction on the new William S. Smith African Wilds exhibit on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. The construction project is the zoo’s most ambitious undertaking to date with construction spanning 7 acres of the zoo’s footprint to create new habitats for lions, painted dogs, meerkats and other African species. The project will bring in new species, including pygmy hippos and vultures, and bring back a guest favorite – zebras.
“This is a monumental day in our zoo’s 97-year history,” said Tulsa Zoo President and CEO Lindsay Hutchison. “As we’ve built new habitats, including Lost Kingdom and The Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve, we’ve taken great care to move into the next era of zoo habitats for our animals and guests. We’re proud Tulsa Zoo is continuing to move into the future with the best available spaces for animal wellbeing, guests and staff.”
Once complete, lions may be seen stalking in tall grass or sleeping on rocky outcroppings called kopjes, meerkats will dig subterranean tunnels while a lone sentry keeps watch for danger, and African birds will call in the new immersive walkthrough aviary and vulture exhibit. Experiences will be designed for up-close viewing in the heat of summer and the cold of winter, while providing the animals in our care year-round species-specific habitats. There will also be improved back-of-house staff areas. Guests will have additional restrooms, including family restrooms, and water bottle filling stations. Concession locations and a dedicated classroom for educational programming will be added nearby. Also, a permanent pavilion structure will be constructed allowing for increased seating for dining and special event rentals.
“We work hard every day to keep the promise we made to Tulsa when we started the public-private partnership and said we would build a bigger, better Tulsa Zoo,” said Hutchison. “Upon finishing the William S. Smith African Wilds exhibit we anticipate more than 800,000 guests every year will experience endangered animals they may never have otherwise encountered in their daily lives. Connecting people to wildlife in this way matters, creating a lifetime of care and advocacy for wildlife, people and wild places that will continue for generations to come.”
The William S. Smith African Wilds exhibit is possible due to the help of the following project partners: William S. Smith Charitable Trust, Adelson Family Foundation, Bank of Oklahoma, Grace and Franklin Bernsen Foundation, The Mervin Bovaird Foundation, H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Trust, City of Tulsa, City of Tulsa Taxpayers, Frank and Gayle Eby, Hardesty Family Foundation, The Helmerich Trust, Hille Foundation, Rosemary Jones Charitable Fund, Jim and Suzanne Kneale Family Foundation, Carol and Ken Lackey, Meshri Family, Nadel and Gussman Energy, ONE Gas, ONEOK, Betty Pirnat, Leslie and Bob Pritchard, Hannah and Joe Robson, Whitney and Andrew Ryan, John Stava, Stephenson Family Foundation, Stuart Family Foundation, Kasey and Davilyn Worthington and The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation.
For more information about the William S. Smith African Wilds Exhibit, visit www.buildingbeyond.org.
