Tulsa Zoo Tulsa Zoo News

This looks phenomenal. Most exciting is the note that they plan to acquire new elephants and breed a multigenerational herd:

Fifteen million will be used to construct a 35,000+ square-foot elephant building with 13 acres of new outdoor habitats to accommodate a larger, multi-generational herd, give us the ability to house multiple male elephants, and add privacy yards for new mothers and calves, as well as geriatric animals.
But where would they receive the additional females, only African Lion Safari, and White Oak have the number of cows that it wouldn't hurt to send a few of their breeding females to Tulsa
 
But where would they receive the additional females, only African Lion Safari, and White Oak have the number of cows that it wouldn't hurt to send a few of their breeding females to Tulsa
Perhaps more European imports? Smithsonian and Cincinnati have both turned to the EAZA for surplus breeding cows and if all goes well, those girls should all be arriving within the next year or two. If these imports are successful, Tulsa could do the same and hopefully bring in some new genes into the population. If they do end up importing, let's hope they don't import more Motek x Warda descendants like Cincinnati and Smithsonian are doing.
 
But where would they receive the additional females, only African Lion Safari, and White Oak have the number of cows that it wouldn't hurt to send a few of their breeding females to Tulsa

It frustrates me Australasia isn’t considering sending cows to the USA. We have a number of founders and Zoo Victoria is only now at the point of being able to breed them regularly now that the Werribee complex is opening up in a couple of years.

Taronga has more cows than it knows what to do with (four adults and a juvenile female) to the point where they’re breeding from these cows every 7-8 years and may even cease breeding from one of them, who’s now had two sons (one of which is breeding). It’s very frustrating considering they’re founders and the USA is desperate for young elephants.

Personally, I’d love to see Pak Boon (1992) and Thong Dee (2000) sent to Tulsa - a move that would benefit both zoos and the North American region.
 
It frustrates me Australasia isn’t considering sending cows to the USA. We have a number of founders and Zoo Victoria is only now at the point of being able to breed them regularly now that the Werribee complex is opening up in a couple of years.

Taronga has more cows than it knows what to do with (four adults and a juvenile female) to the point where they’re breeding from these cows every 7-8 years and may even cease breeding from one of them, who’s now had two sons (one of which is breeding). It’s very frustrating considering they’re founders and the USA is desperate for young elephants.

Personally, I’d love to see Pak Boon (1992) and Thong Dee (2000) sent to Tulsa - a move that would benefit both zoos and the North American region.
I agree, I've always been frustrated with Taronga's very abnormal breeding intervals, and moving some of their cows to the US would allow them to breed much more consistently assuming they're placed with a proven/capable breeding bull.

To be honest, importing Pak Boon and Thong Dee (or any of the Australian breeding cows) instead of Ongard would've been so much more beneficial to the population. He's just sitting at Miami, wasting away with an older bull and post-repro cow. Now if a few of the girls had been imported instead, the very valuable Dahlip could've become a father again!
 
I agree, I've always been frustrated with Taronga's very abnormal breeding intervals, and moving some of their cows to the US would allow them to breed much more consistently assuming they're placed with a proven/capable breeding bull.

To be honest, importing Pak Boon and Thong Dee (or any of the Australian breeding cows) instead of Ongard would've been so much more beneficial to the population. He's just sitting at Miami, wasting away with an older bull and post-repro cow. Now if a few of the girls had been imported instead, the very valuable Dahlip could've become a father again!

Taronga are actually at a cross-roads now where this is (theoretically) possible. The separation of Sabai (2016) from Thong Dee (2000) is almost complete, freeing her up; while following the tragic losses of her two calves, Pak Boon (1992) is also available for transfer.

Meanwhile, Taronga would be grateful of the additional space to breed Porntip (1992) and Anjalee (2006); as well as Porntip’s daughter Kanlaya (2018) in time.

Like I say, I doubt this will happen - but in an ideal world, it’d be the perfect solution to everyone’s problem.
 
Consider this: transfer surplus individuals to a Thailand elephant rewilding scheme, meets 2 major mission goals for any zoo.

Right now, we don’t have many ideal candidates. The surplus cows I identified have spent a considerable time in captivity and the elder one is now 30 years old.

However, with Werribee’s complex and regular breeding, it’s not hard to believe we’ll soon have a surplus of young elephants in the Australasian region we could contribute to such a programme. It’s an exciting and novel concept.

This could inspire a lot of people re. the role of zoos - the same way rewilding the three Perth Zoo orangutans back to Sumatra did.
 
Today was the groundbreaking of the Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve. There will be roughly 10 acres of outdoor enclosures and the barn will be over 36,000 square feet. Scheduled for completion in 2024.

Login • Instagram
I wonder how long the elephants will still be on view??? I know that Cleveland and other facilities have had to move their elephants elsewhere until their new exhibits were completed.
 
The Tulsa Zoo has released updated renderings and a site plan for the new African Wilds: Carnivores exhibit. African Wilds: Carnivores - Building Beyond
This is supposed to break ground here in a few months. With this expansion plus the Oxley Family Elephant Preserve, the Tulsa Zoo continues its large scale efforts to rebuild the entire zoo.
african-wilds
 
Today was the groundbreaking of the Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve. There will be roughly 10 acres of outdoor enclosures and the barn will be over 36,000 square feet. Scheduled for completion in 2024.

Login • Instagram
Concept plans look here:
Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve - Building Beyond

Re: the Carnivore building. Emphasis on Lions and painted dogs and on the other side of the building room for African Forest bird aviary, pygmy hippos and Diana monkeys.

Plan:
African Wilds: Carnivores - Building Beyond
 
Last edited:
Other 2022 News:

On March 11th, the zoo announced that the (0.0.1) African penguin that was born in February passed away.

Log into Facebook

On April 4th, the zoo announced that their (1.0) southern white rhino that was born in November (now named Hodari) and his mother, Sally, is now on exhibit in the Mary K. Chapman Rhino Reserve.

Log into Facebook

On July 1st, the zoo announced that the Robert J. Lafortune WildLIFE Trek is now fully open as 3 out of the 4 buildings were closed due to avian influenza.

Log into Facebook
 
Back
Top