Meet our Elephants
Sneezy
Sooky
Booper
Connie
Hank
The Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve
The zoo broke ground on The Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve on June 22, 2022. When complete, this reimagined habitat will be among the largest of its kind in North America and designed for elephants at all stages of life — a true visionary project our community deserves.
Our herd is settling in to its new 36,650-suare-foot barn with natural substrate flooring, areas for bathing, as well as dedicated areas for staff and visitors.
The 10-acre preserve will provide an expansive space that depicts a naturalistic environment for the elephants to explore. The preserve is an untouched, forested wetland for elephants to roam. Offering the elephants land and time with minimal human interference is another enriching option that stimulates the elephants mentally and physically, further benefiting their wellbeing.
Extensive renovations are under way at the existing Elephant Interpretive Center to create The Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience. The reimagined space will add amenities for guests such as restrooms to allow for both daytime and afterhours events.
The Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve will allow Tulsa Zoo to accommodate a growing herd for decades to come.
Thank you to the Citizens of Tulsa for Vision Tulsa funding and to the following project partners:
Oxley Family Foundation | Zink Family | William S. Smith Charitable Trust | ONEOK | Betty Pirnat | Founders of Doctor’s Hospitals
FAQ
For 70 years the Tulsa Zoo has been dedicated to providing excellent care for Asian elephants at all stages of life.
The move is part of our zoo’s commitment to collaborating with other AZA facilities in the best interest of individual elephants in our collective care. Our zoo has a 70-year history of caring for Asian elephants at all stages of life.
This move follows a recommendation from the Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan®, managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help keep elephants in North American zoos genetically diverse. Male elephants commonly move between herds in their native ranges; zoos collaborate to replicate this natural behavior. The decision to move Hank is also part of a larger AZA effort to ensure elephants thrive in professional care and are around for future generations, supporting the overall survival of the species. Because Connie is so closely bonded with Hank, the elephant care teams at both zoos agree keeping them together is in their best interest.
Each animal at the Tulsa Zoo must complete a routine quarantine period to ensure they are healthy before introductions with current animals may occur. For smaller mammals, quarantine typically happens behind the scenes in the hospital on grounds. Once they arrive, Hank and Connie will be in quarantine in a portion of the new Elephant Preserve Barn and might be visible at times during quarantine. The zoo will provide updates on social media.
Our animal care team designs individualized care plans for each elephant, which includes the arrangement of social groupings. In time various members of the herd will be introduced based on our observations, ensuring appropriate species-specific behavior. Our elephant complex allows us the flexibility to manage multiple bulls whether they are housed in a bachelor herd or with groups of females. Watch social media for additional updates concerning herd dynamics and introductions.
Columbus Zoo’s care team says Connie prefers to spend time romping in the mud whenever possible and often prefers the company of older elephants. Hank has a calm demeanor and imposing stature as one of the largest elephants in North America. Standing 9 feet and 5 inches tall, and weighing in at 8 tons, Hank is known as a gentle giant.
The 10-acre preserve provides an expansive space that depicts a naturalistic environment for the elephants to explore. The preserve is an untouched, forested wetland for elephants to roam. Offering the elephants land and time with minimal human interference is another enriching option that stimulates the elephants mentally and physically, further benefiting their wellbeing.
The preserve is equipped with cameras throughout the 10 acres, allowing us to monitor the elephants from the offices located in the Elephant Preserve Barn.
Before allowing elephants access to the preserve, we carefully inspected the land for any debris or hazards. We inspect the land and perimeter fencing daily to keep the elephants safe.
The number of elephants in the preserve depends on the type of herd that has access to the preserve at that time and changes often depending on the unique needs of our elephants.
Yes! Once The Mary K. and John T. Oxley Family Elephant Experience opens, we are planning to add cameras for the public to see them interacting in the preserve.
Questions?
If you have questions, email [email protected].
