OKC Zoo Partners with AZA SAFE to Protect Western Lowland Gorillas
- The Oklahoma City Zoo is bringing back its Breakfast With the Animals event in May 2026, offering guests a specialized experience to engage with the facility's wildlife.
- A central part of the zoo's animal collection includes eight critically endangered Western lowland gorillas.
- The Oklahoma City Zoo operates as a partner of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction gorilla program.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is bringing back its Breakfast With the Animals
event in May 2026, offering guests a specialized experience to engage with the facility’s wildlife. According to reporting from OKC Fox, the event provides early access to the zoo along with activities designed for children to connect with and learn about the animals.
A central part of the zoo’s animal collection includes eight critically endangered Western lowland gorillas. These primates are part of a broader effort to maintain and protect great ape populations through strategic partnerships.
Conservation Partnerships and the SAFE Program
The Oklahoma City Zoo operates as a partner of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction gorilla program. While Western lowland gorillas are the only sub-species of gorillas found in United States zoos, the AZA SAFE program extends its focus to the two most endangered sub-species: the Grauer’s and Cross River gorillas.
Specific efforts to protect the Cross River gorilla are supported by the OKC Zoo’s AAZK chapter. This partnership with the AZA SAFE program aims to halt the decline of the fragile Cross River gorilla populations in Africa.
Beyond the SAFE program, the Oklahoma City Zoo supports primate conservation initiatives across both Africa and South America through various guest-supported initiatives and strategic partnerships.
Population Management and Social Groupings
To ensure the health and stability of its gorilla population, the Oklahoma City Zoo supports the AZA Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP). This program is used to monitor gorilla populations and provide professional recommendations for social groupings.
The social dynamics of the zoo’s gorilla family troop are subject to change, such as the transition following the departure of a Western lowland gorilla named Ndjole. The zoo notes that the bonds and resilience within the troop help the animals adjust to these changes in their social structure.