The Tulsa Zoo sits on 124 acres inside Mohawk Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has been introducing visitors to wildlife from around the world since it opened in 1927. Owned by the City of Tulsa and privately managed by the nonprofit Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. since 2010, the zoo houses more than 2,000 animals representing hundreds of species across themed exhibit areas that range from African savanna habitats to Southeast Asian rainforest.
Among the zoo’s best-known areas are the Lost Kingdom, home to tigers, snow leopards, and Komodo dragons, and WildLIFE Trek, which recreates cold, desert, forest, and water ecosystems under one roof. The zoo has long been a hub for conservation work, and in 2026 it announced the successful hatching of three endangered Komodo dragons, a milestone for the species’ survival program.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Mohawk Park, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Opened: 1927
- Size: 124 acres
- Animals: More than 2,000 animals
- Species: Hundreds of species
- Annual Visitors: About 700,000
- Famous For: Lost Kingdom exhibit and AZA accreditation since 1976
The Zoo Experience
Visitors move through distinct habitat zones, including the Africa area with giraffes and white rhinoceros, the Chimpanzee Connection, Sea Lion Cove, and the Aldabra Atoll tortoise habitat. The Lost Kingdom complex, built with Asian-inspired architecture, is one of the zoo’s signature exhibits and showcases tigers, snow leopards, and Komodo dragons in naturalistic settings.
The zoo has also been home to notable individual animals, including Gunda the Asian elephant, who arrived in 1954 and lived to age 68 before dying in 2018, making him one of the oldest elephants in any North American zoo’s history.
History & Conservation
The zoo was incorporated in 1927 and became one of the first eleven zoos in the country accredited by what is now the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 1976, an accreditation it has maintained continuously, most recently renewed through 2028. It also holds American Alliance of Museums certification.
Since transitioning to private management in 2010, the zoo has driven significant growth in attendance and new construction, including elephant and African species complexes planned as part of a broader master plan aimed at eventually welcoming 1 million visitors a year.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Tulsa Zoo FAQs
When did the Tulsa Zoo open?
The Tulsa Zoo was incorporated and opened in 1927 in Mohawk Park, where it remains today.
How big is the Tulsa Zoo?
The zoo covers 124 acres within Mohawk Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Is the Tulsa Zoo accredited?
Yes. The Tulsa Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1976, one of the first eleven zoos in the U.S. to earn that status, and it also holds American Alliance of Museums certification.
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Photo: Angela Severn / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.