Tulsa Zoo Celebrates 90th Anniversary

The Tulsa Zoo will celebrate its 90th year of operation in September.

It all started when Will O. Doolittle, who was the Tulsa Parks Superintendent at the time, proposed the idea of a zoo focused on conservation ideals.

The zoo continues the tradition today with accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

“AZA accreditation signifies that the Tulsa Zoo is committed to meeting the very highest standards in the zoological profession,” AZA President and CEO Dan Ashe said. “It means that the Tulsa Zoo is a proven leader in animal care and welfare and in providing educational and meaningful experiences for visitors.”

With more than 40 years of accreditation, the Tulsa Zoo continues to maintain high standards in animal care and welfare, veterinary programs, conservation, education and safety, the zoo said in a news release. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to complete this accreditation process every five years to continue holding membership to the association.

“Tulsa can be proud of the zoo for maintaining a commitment to high standards of animal care, for increasing our contribution to global wildlife conservation and for serving as an education resource in the community,” Tulsa Zoo President and CEO Terrie Correll said.

Visit the Tulsa Zoo’s 90th anniversary exhibit to learn more about how the zoo has and will continue to evolve.