What Exhibits and Animals Can I See at Tulsa Zoo?

Updated

Tulsa Zoo spreads across 124 acres and organizes its animals into named exhibits and themed areas, so you can plan around the species and habitats you most want to see. The exhibit list below comes from the zoo's own site navigation and covers Africa, penguins, a rainforest, sea lions, a children's zoo, a conservation center, and several habitat-based areas including cold, desert, forest, and water environments. Use it to pick a route before you arrive.

The main animal exhibits

These are the named exhibits listed on tulsazoo.org:

  • Africa — the zoo's broadest regional exhibit area.
  • African Penguins — a dedicated penguin habitat.
  • Aldabra Atoll — named for the Aldabra atoll ecosystem.
  • Chimpanzee Connection — a chimpanzee exhibit.
  • Rainforest — a rainforest habitat area.
  • Sea Lion Cove — the sea lion habitat.
  • The Grottos — one of the zoo's older named exhibit areas.
  • Lost Kingdom — a themed area.
  • WildLIFE Trek — a themed area.
  • Children's Zoo — a dedicated area for younger visitors.
  • Conservation Center — the zoo's conservation-focused exhibit space.

Habitat-based exhibits

Beyond the regional and themed areas, the zoo groups several exhibits by environment rather than geography:

  • Life in the Cold
  • Life in the Desert
  • Life in the Forest
  • Life in the Water

These are useful if you want to compare how different species adapt to a specific climate or habitat, or if you're building a visit around a school or family learning topic.

How to choose what to see

If you want… Start with
Large regional habitats and hoofstock Africa
Marine mammals Sea Lion Cove
Birds and island ecosystems African Penguins, Aldabra Atoll
Primates Chimpanzee Connection
Dense, warm-climate habitat Rainforest
A themed, walk-through experience Lost Kingdom, WildLIFE Trek
Young children Children's Zoo
Conservation and education focus Conservation Center
Habitat and adaptation comparisons Life in the Cold / Desert / Forest / Water

Practical notes

The zoo's site lists a Zoo Map under Plan Your Visit, which is the most reliable way to sequence exhibits once you're on the grounds, since the 124-acre layout means you'll want to group nearby areas rather than backtrack. Tickets, membership, and planning details are handled through the Plan Your Visit and Tickets sections of tulsazoo.org.

If you have a specific animal in mind, check the exhibit list first — the zoo names exhibits by region, theme, or habitat rather than by individual species, so a given animal will usually sit inside one of the areas above.