Oklahoma City Zoo Oklahoma City Zoo News

Eleven young alligator snapping turtles have been added to the Underground in the children’s zoo as part of a head start program. Hatched at the in-state Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery, the turtles will live at the zoo until they are four years old. They will then be returned to TNFH for return to the wild. Here’s the full article about OKC’s alligator snapping turtle conservation efforts: OKC Contributing to the Conservation of Alligator Snapping Turtles in Oklahoma.
 
The zoo has announced that a former herp keeper working at the zoo from 2013-2019 has been arrested and sentenced for stealing Galapagos giant tortoise eggs (species vandenburghi) and illegally hatching and selling the young out of state back in 2016.

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden

Galapagos tortoise at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
A former Oklahoma City Zoo employee has been sentenced after pleading guilty to trafficking of endangered Galapagos tortoises, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He was ordered to pay $32,500 in restitution to the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Joshua Taylor Lucas, of Austin, Texas, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to a single-count felony Information charging him with wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act, according to Robert J. Troester, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Lucas was charged on April 14, 2020, by Information with violating the Lacey Act. Among other offenses, authorities said the Lacey Act prohibits people from importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring, or purchasing any fish, wildlife, or plant that was taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States or in violation of any tribal law.

Lucas pleaded guilty on Wednesday to taking an endangered species of wildlife and then selling and shipping the animals across state lines in violation of the Lacey Act, according to officials. At the hearing, Lucas, a former assistant curator of herpetology at the Oklahoma City Zoo, admitted that he stole several Galapagos tortoise hatchlings during his tenure at the zoo. Lucas also admitted that he sold and shipped 21 Galapagos tortoise hatchlings to a Nevada resident, Kenneth Warren Foose II (deceased), who was previously under Indictment in the Southern District of Texas for the illegal traffic of Galapagos tortoises, according to officials.

At the combined plea and sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Bernard Jones accepted the guilty plea and then sentenced Lucas to serve three years of probation, perform 100 hours of community service, and pay $32,500 in restitution to the Oklahoma City Zoo, officials said.
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Former Oklahoma City Zoo employee pleads guilty to trafficking of endangered Galapagos tortoises

Pathetic sentence imo and I'd love to know what happened to the over 20 tortoises he stole, especially considering the zoo only has four adults and have the only group of all vandenburghi giant tortoises in a public collection outside the Galapagos.

Josh Lucas is also a figure highly involved with the Turtle Conservation Alliance and has worked heavily in Madagascar Tortoise trafficking with the organization...

~Thylo
 
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ThylacineAlive said:
The zoo has announced that a former herp keeper working at the zoo from 2013-2019 has been arrested and sentenced for stealing Galapagos giant tortoise eggs (species vandenburghi) and illegally hatching and selling the young out of state back in 2016.

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden



Former Oklahoma City Zoo employee pleads guilty to trafficking of endangered Galapagos tortoises

Pathetic sentence imo and I'd love to know what happened to the over 20 tortoises he stole, especially considering the zoo only has four adults and have the only group of all vandenburghi giant tortoises in a public collection outside the Galapagos.

Josh Lucas is also a figure highly involved with the Turtle Conservation Alliance and has worked heavily in Madagascar Tortoise trafficking with the organization...

~Thylo
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Are you sure the tortoises are vandenburghi pure-breds? At the time of this event 6-7 years ago (2014-2015), they held 1.1 vandenburghi (longest held in residence), 0.1 microphyes and 1.0 vicina.

BTW: I am surprised the zoo never knew that fertile tortoise eggs were laid in 2014/15! I wonder where the tortoises are now, it seems they do have an idea as it has been alluded to by the zoo they will come back to them, but are unsure now when.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Are you sure the tortoises are vandenburghi pure-breds? At the time of this event 6-7 years ago (2014-2015), they held 1.1 vandenburghi (longest held in residence), 0.1 microphyes and 1.0 vicina.

BTW: I am surprised the zoo never knew that fertile tortoise eggs were laid in 2014/15! I wonder where the tortoises are now, it seems they do have an idea as it has been alluded to by the zoo they will come back to them, but are unsure now when.
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I don't know about 2014-2015 but I know the zoo now claims to have 1.3 vandenburghi.

I, too, and surprised the zoo didn't noticed 20-odd eggs go missing, and that they haven't bred the animals since. Where did you see that the stolen young will be returned?

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
I don't know about 2014-2015 but I know the zoo now claims to have 1.3 vandenburghi.

I, too, and surprised the zoo didn't noticed 20-odd eggs go missing, and that they haven't bred the animals since. Where did you see that the stolen young will be returned?

~Thylo
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Some facts on the Oklahoma City Zoo Galapagos group:
The current group of 1.3 Galapagos are indeed the Volcan Alcedo Galapagos Giant Tortoise.

Prior to November 2016, the Oklahoma City Zoo owned just 1.1 vandenburghi as well as 0.1 microphyes (Volcan Darwin) and a vicina (Cerro Azul). Both latter 2 tortoises were shipped out to St. Augustine Alligator Farm to set up breeding groups for each. In return, OKCZ received 0.1 from St. Augustine and another 0.1 from Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Any breeding prior to November 2016 was from a mixed group of various island/volcano group species and therefore potentially hatchlings might be hybrid. The previous - known - group of hatchlings have been a pairing vandenburghi male x microphyes female (2012 hatchlings, now at Nashville Zoo in order to free up space for future pure-bred hatchlings at OKCZ.

Your question: where did I read the comment over return of tortoises. In the same Facebook post you put up, comments by the zoo on visitor questions.


NOTE: I personally have a pretty fair idea where the tortoises may have ended up after the felon selling them on interstate. I am not going to reveal this on the forum though. Sent me a PM if you would want to know more.
 
Due to (un-)popular demand. Excerpt from Facebook comments:
LINK: Log into Facebook

QUOTE:"
  • 8iuTX4LlGZO.png
    Auteur
    Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
    It’s uncertain when the recovered Galapagos tortoise hatchlings will arrive at the OKC Zoo, but we are eager to welcome them to home."
UNQOUTE
 
Arizona Docent said:
The offender gets probation and community service? No jail time? This is an outrage. Countries (not just the United States) need to make the penalties for wildlife crime much more serious.
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It's pitiful and embarrassing the blatant lack of serious penalties for such heinous acts in not only countries around the world, but especially in a country like the US who claims to care. I bet someone secretly moving a deer across state lines would see harsher punishment.

~Thylo
 
Some minor notes from my most recent visit:
  • In Raptor Ridge, the white-necked raven has been replaced with Himalayan monal pheasant.
  • Malayan peacock pheasant has been added to the Dan Moran aviary.
  • I’m can’t remember what it replaced, but Chinese alligator is now on display in “The Underground” area of the children’s zoo.
  • The bobcat habitat in the Oklahoma Trail area has become the swift fox habitat. It is not clear what will be going in the former swift fox habitat which currently just has signs indicating “animals off exhibit.” Bobcat can be seen in the rotational habitats for the small cats in the Cat Forest.
  • The herpetarium has added 1.2 eyelash vipers.
 
Okie said:
Some minor notes from my most recent visit:
  • In Raptor Ridge, the white-necked raven has been replaced with Himalayan monal pheasant.
  • Malayan peacock pheasant has been added to the Dan Moran aviary.
  • I’m can’t remember what it replaced, but Chinese alligator is now on display in “The Underground” area of the children’s zoo.
  • The bobcat habitat in the Oklahoma Trail area has become the swift fox habitat. It is not clear what will be going in the former swift fox habitat which currently just has signs indicating “animals off exhibit.” Bobcat can be seen in the rotational habitats for the small cats in the Cat Forest.
  • The herpetarium has added 1.2 eyelash vipers.
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I'm not familiar with Raptor Ridge, where is it in the zoo?

EDIT: A little research has shown me that that is the name of the new Andean Condor exhibit up by the sea lions. What else can be found in that exhibit?
 
It’s a new exhibit across from the sea lion presentation stadium. They built new flight cages over some old grottoes for condors, vultures, and some other charismatic birds. The exhibit also includes muntjac.
 
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Ituri said:
I'm not familiar with Raptor Ridge, where is it in the zoo?

EDIT: A little research has shown me that that is the name of the new Andean Condor exhibit up by the sea lions. What else can be found in that exhibit?
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If I remember correctly, the current lineup is: Andean condor, cinereous vulture, helmeted guineafowl, European white stork, red junglefowl, Himalayan monal phrasant, and Reeves’ muntjac. That’s as of now, but there have been multiple changes already (and the exhibit has been open less than six months.)
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Can you put in a short note on the story (yet one more unreadable for European viewers ....).
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I didn’t post the article, but this is my local zoo. They’ve taken in three hatchlings from Sedgwick County. Oklahoma City’s new role in the SSP is to care for young Chinese alligators until they are old enough to mate. At that point, they will be sent to another AZA institution. They are on display in “The Underground” section of the children’s zoo.
 
@Okie, thanks for the update.

The Sedgwick - Kansas Zoo hatchlings are the first I think for a few good years. Great that the OKC Zoo is taking up this role for the SSP/AZA.
 
This afternoon’s zoo trust meeting was a significant one with agenda items for two big ticket exhibits:

1. The construction bid for the Africa project was awarded ($27 million.) OKC has done a nice job of updating over the last 15-20 years, but the newer exhibits have mainly been around the perimeter of the zoo. I’m pretty excited for this one, as it will renovate the heart of the zoo. I’ve seen the construction plans that went out for the bid and can give details to anyone who wants them. (I’d rather not upload 500 pages of plans.)

2. A contract was awarded for design of a new sea lion and seal exhibit. For those unfamiliar with the current situation, not much of the pinniped habitat is visible to guests. They are primarily seen in the presentation stadium show for an extra cost. This new project will provide a new, more typical exhibit for all guests to experience these animals.
 
Okie said:
This afternoon’s zoo trust meeting was a significant one with agenda items for two big ticket exhibits:

1. The construction bid for the Africa project was awarded ($27 million.) OKC has done a nice job of updating over the last 15-20 years, but the newer exhibits have mainly been around the perimeter of the zoo. I’m pretty excited for this one, as it will renovate the heart of the zoo. I’ve seen the construction plans that went out for the bid and can give details to anyone who wants them. (I’d rather not upload 500 pages of plans.)

2. A contract was awarded for design of a new sea lion and seal exhibit. For those unfamiliar with the current situation, not much of the pinniped habitat is visible to guests. They are primarily seen in the presentation stadium show for an extra cost. This new project will provide a new, more typical exhibit for all guests to experience these animals.
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What is the planned species list for Africa?
 
nczoofan said:
What is the planned species list for Africa?
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That seems like an easy question. In some places it is, but in others the plans are a little fuzzier. Here’s what I can tell and what is still fuzzy. Here it is by habitat:

giraffe, eland, ostrich, cranes (doesn’t specify which species), helmeted guineafowl

Dik-dik, 7 other indoor holdings for “hoofstock” without specifying

cheetah
wild dog

okapi

“Hoofstock” (later in plans identifies one of the two indoor holdings here is for zebra)

red river hog

honey badger
meerkat

lemur (7 indoor holding stalls, unclear which/multiple species)

flamingo

lion

dwarf mongoose
pygmy falcon
Gambian rat
“Pancake tortoises and lizards”
Rock monitor
Naked mole rat
Rhino vipers
“Exhibit 7-kid crawl” (I think this is hissing cockroach and some other invertebrates)
Cichlid
African lungfish

Regarding the hoofstock, the original plan listed roan and the zoo currently exhibits Addra gazelles. I assume that is part of it. I also think there are some other hoofstock that will appear, but I have no idea what else to expect.
 
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