New Faces, Discounts Make OKC Zoo a Great Family Place

There are plenty of reasons to visit the zoo on your next family trip to Oklahoma City, specifically because of some new residents at OKC Zoo. While you don’t exactly need a good reason to visit a zoo — a day at the zoo is always a fun way to get in some quality family time — OKC Zoo shared some pretty exciting news lately that will make it a must-see on your next trip to the Big Friendly.

In July, the zoo welcomed its newest resident, an endangered red panda cub. The baby boy was born in the zoo’s red panda habitat, Sanctuary Asia, to mom Khyana and dad Benjamin, and is currently being nurtured by his mother in the safety of their habitat until he is old enough to make his public debut.

The new panda is a welcome addition to a growing family that includes an endangered giraffe who joined the OKC Zoo family this June. Solstice, a 14-year-old female, came to the zoo from South Dakota as part of the Giraffe Species Survival Plan.

In the meantime, the zoo is hard at work expanding one of its habitats to create Expedition Africa, which will include features like a giraffe barn that Solstice and her fellow giraffes will call home. This state-of-the-art enclosure will allow for indoor viewing of the zoo’s giraffe herd year-round. Other residents of Expedition Africa will include honey badgers, wildebeest, zebra, meerkats, ostriches and flamingos, as well as a children’s play space and private event area in addition to animal habitats and viewing areas.

While the OKC Zoo family continues to grow with these new and exciting additions and upgrades, visitors can enjoy the many exhibits and attractions that helped give the zoo an incredible reputation as a family-friendly destination in Oklahoma City. Discounts include membership passports offering great pricing for multiple visits and family members; military discounts; and a reading program that rewards kids for checking out Juniper’s Butterfly Garden from participating libraries with four free zoo tickets.