Blog

Cat-tastic Healthcare: Training the Zoo’s Small Cats for Blood Draws and Injections

Feline healthy! At the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, medical training is a critical part of our animal family’s health and wellness. These training sessions not only monitor the health of our animal family, but also strengthen the relationships between caretaker and animal, while providing an enriching opportunity. Regardless of the size of the animal, caretakers strive to encourage voluntary medical participation by creating a rewarding, positive environment. The Zoo’s ... Read More

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How to Train a Baby Rhino

At just over 550 pounds, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s youngest Indian rhino is growing up quickly! Yabi was born on October 23, 2020, weighing in at approximately 154 pounds. She is the second calf born to mom, Niki, but she more closely resembles her late father, Arun. Never far from mom, Yabi gains a little more confidence and independence every day as she continues to explore her habitat in Sanctuary Asia. Guests can often find her wallowing in the mud or napping in ... Read More

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Tuesday, February 25, 2020

The Truth About Unaccredited Roadside Zoos

Spring Break, only a few weeks away, is a great time for families to visit the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden and enjoy other outdoor activities. In fact, it’s frequently the biggest week of the year at the OKC Zoo – last year’s record-breaking attendance topped 93,000! But when deciding to visit a zoo or other organization that hosts animals, it’s critical that Oklahomans select organizations accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), like the... Read More

at Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Animal welfare Association of Zoos & Aquariums

Monday, February 10, 2020

Shape Up! Body Condition Scoring Keeps OKC Zoo Animals Fit

How are your New Year’s resolutions holding up? Many people resolve in the new year to lose weight, eat healthier foods and exercise more. Often times those resolutions don’t hold up and end up abandoned. For animals at the OKC Zoo, resolutions are not needed - proper nutrition, activity level and body weight are top priorities all year long. Maintaining proper body weight and nutrition is vital for overall health and longevity, both for our pets and the animal... Read More

at Monday, February 10, 2020

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Wednesday, January 29, 2020

The Opportunities and Challenges of Whole Life Animal Care

Compared to animals in the wild, those in human care tend to live significantly longer lives, sometimes doubling life expectancy. This presents unique challenges to Zoo staff and requires innovations to ensure quality of life is maintained for senior animals. Frequent issues faced by animals in their golden years are cataracts and dental problems. The Zoo’s veterinary staff are trained in oral health procedures like pulling teeth and have a number of specialists who consult on m... Read More

at Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Veterinary Science Animal welfare Cold Laser Therapy Whole Life Care

Category: Animal welfare