“It’s an incredible honor to be nominated for this year’s 10Best awards,” said Dwight Lawson, OKC Zoo’s executive director/CEO. “Achieving accolades of this caliber would not be possible without the continuous support of all those who visit and care about the OKC Zoo and, of course, vote for us to achieve this top ranking.”

OKC Zoo is Oklahoma’s largest attended cultural attraction, providing opportunities for millions of visitors to connect with wildlife and wild places through world-class habitats and engaging experiences in hopes to inspire conservation action. The Zoo continues to propel exciting growth in all areas including its animal family, commitment to conservation and habitat developments.

In 2022, the Zoo celebrated several significant births including three critically endangered species – an Asian elephant calf, Sumatran tiger twins and an okapi calf. Plus, the arrival of four African lion cubs, the first litter born at the Zoo in 15 years, and a chimpanzee infant. Round Up for Conservation, the Zoo’s grassroot program that encourages guests to round up their purchases to the next dollar amount in support of the Zoo’s conservation initiatives, has successfully raised over a million dollars since the program launched in 2011.

Construction is nearing completion for Expedition Africa, the Zoo’s latest and largest habitat expansion in its history, slated to open this summer. This enhanced habitat will provide a new home for animals native to the African continent such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, honey badger, hyena, meerkat, and more, while offering new and memorable wildlife experiences for guests to enjoy.

Nominated for Best Zoo Exhibit, Oklahoma Trails opened in 2007 and is a favorite destination among OKC Zoo guests to experience. Spanning eight acres, Oklahoma Trails is an immersive, naturalistic habitat where guests can discover the diverse species of animals native to Oklahoma. The habitat is designed to highlight the 11 distinct life zones unique to the Sooner State and the incredible wildlife that call these regions home including alligator, bison, black bear, coyote, elk, mountain lions, rattlesnake, sandhill crane, turkey vulture and more. Grizzly bear brothers, Will and Wiley (20), are two of Oklahoma Trails most well-known ambassadors. The brother bears were orphaned in the Alaska wilderness as cubs and arrived at the Zoo in 2003. The Zoo is celebrating two decades of caring for these beloved bears and marking the occasion with a special event this summer.

Participants can vote once a day in each category for the run of the contest. Voting ends Monday, March 6, 2023 and the winners will be announced on 10Best on Friday, March 17.