Oklahoma City Zoo Oklahoma City Zoo News 2025

 
I visited the OKC Zoo briefly yesterday morning (about 10 - 12) to see the Red-crested Turaco chicks! While I was there, I saw the new Plains Zebra foal that Nile Hippo Expert posted (a keeper told me about him, otherwise I wouldn't have walked over there).

The turaco chicks are getting big and mobile, but I didn't get any photos of them because they stayed up high in the acacia tree that's in their exhibit. The parents were being very attentive and I got some good shots of them. I'll try to post some photos this weekend.

In other news, I learned (from one of the keepers) that the bird department reared four lorikeet chicks this year (in addition to two from last year). At least one of the chicks is a Coconut Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) and one is a Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccans), but I don't know the species of the other chicks. The zoo has paired-up their previously single Nicobar Pigeon, Golden-breasted Starling, and Curl-crested Aracari, so maybe there will be some breeding activity among those. They've moved a few pairs of birds around between the Dan Moran Aviary and the Sam Moore Aviary, but I didn't see anything new; however, I learned that they have single pairs of Black-naped Fruit-Doves, White-crested Laughingthrushes, and White-headed Buffalo Weavers off exhibit in their breeding area. It looks like they won't be rearing any flamingo chicks this year. They have NOT lost any flamingos to predators, but they've had a fox on zoo grounds and have been bringing both the Chilean and Caribbean flocks indoors at night, which has prevented them from nest building and egg laying. Maybe things will work out better next year and they have a banner year like they had in 2023.

I saw the young Dwarf Mongoose that was born a few months ago, but the Bat-eared Fox kit and the four baby Lesser Hedgehog Tenrecs were hiding during my visit. The breeding group of Bibron's Agamas (Agama bibronii) is doing very well; I saw at least 21 in the exhibit yesterday (they started with seven in November of 2023) and there were at least three very gravid-looking females in the group! Also in the Expedition Africa building, there were at least a dozen juvenile White-spotted Cichlids (Tropheus duboisi) of several size classes in with the adults in the Dwarf Crocodile exhibit, so that group of fish is breeding well on its own.
 
Piece of July 2025 News Not Mentioned:
King of Komodo Dragons said:
A Bat-Eared Fox was born.

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
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On July 30th, the zoo officially sexed the fox as female (0.1), and named it Kidogo (Swahili for little).

28K views · 992 reactions | Our bat-eared fox kit officially has a name! Say hello to Kidogo (key-doh-goh), the cutest little bat-eared fox on the block! At just over a month old, Kidogo is continuing to explore her habitat, playing, and just being an absolute cutie. The name Kidogo was chosen by our amazing carnivore caretakers and is Swahili for little : Caretaker Jennifer | Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden

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On August 16th, the zoo announced their female (0.1) okapi named Kayin is pregnant, with the calf expected to arrive in autumn.

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
 
Smaggledagle said:
Piece of July 2025 News Not Mentioned:


On July 30th, the zoo officially sexed the fox as female (0.1), and named it Kidogo (Swahili for little).

28K views · 992 reactions | Our bat-eared fox kit officially has a name! Say hello to Kidogo (key-doh-goh), the cutest little bat-eared fox on the block! At just over a month old, Kidogo is continuing to explore her habitat, playing, and just being an absolute cutie. The name Kidogo was chosen by our amazing carnivore caretakers and is Swahili for little : Caretaker Jennifer | Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden

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On August 16th, the zoo announced their female (0.1) okapi named Kayin is pregnant, with the calf expected to arrive in autumn.

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
Click to expand...
Thank you for both of these posts! What great news!
 
 
Aardwolf said:
The aforementioned okapi calf has been born, and is a female
2K views · 202 reactions | It's a girl okapi! The Zoo’s baby bliss continues with the arrival of an endangered female okapi calf. The not-yet-named calf was born during the night on Sunday, August 24, 2025, in the Zoo’s okapi barn at Expedition Africa, presented by Inasmuch Foundation. This is the second calf for parents, Kayin and Bosomi, and a successful birth as part of AZA’s breeding program for this endangered species. Both mom and baby are doing well and spending time together bonding. Read the full story at https://bit.ly/4n53MpD. | Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
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The calf was named Maple.
okczoo on Instagram: "This tongues out Tuesday is courtesy of the Zoo's littlest okapi, Maple. Yes, we are excited to share that the Zoo's hoofstock care team have selected the name Maple for the newest addition to our okapi family. Visit Maple, mom Kayin, and dad Bosomi at the Zoo's Expedition Africa! : Caretaker Ericka G."
 
Female Giraffe calf born September 23:

OKC Zoo debuts new giraffe calf

On Friday, Zoo officials announced the birth of a female giraffe calf from the parents of Julu and Demetri. This is the third child for Mother Julu (10) and father Demetri (8), who was born on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, inside the Giraffe Barn at Expedition Africa.

Julu and her newest baby giraffe are expected to bond inside the Zoo’s giraffe barn/Giraffe House, where guests will have a chance to see them together.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Female Giraffe calf born September 23:

OKC Zoo debuts new giraffe calf

On Friday, Zoo officials announced the birth of a female giraffe calf from the parents of Julu and Demetri. This is the third child for Mother Julu (10) and father Demetri (8), who was born on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, inside the Giraffe Barn at Expedition Africa.

Julu and her newest baby giraffe are expected to bond inside the Zoo’s giraffe barn/Giraffe House, where guests will have a chance to see them together.
Click to expand...
She has been called KAMILI (swahili name for "perfect").
okczoo on Instagram: "The OKC Zoo's newest arrival has a name! Say hello to Kamili, the Zoo's female giraffe calf born September 23 to parents Julu and Demetri. Kamili is Swahili for "Perfect," so she's very aptly named! : Photo Crew member Andrea J."
 
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