The 2023 Mid-Year Meeting took place in Oklahoma City, March 25-30, hosted by the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. More than 940 colleagues, exhibitors and sponsors made the trip to Oklahoma to learn from one another and discuss big ideas, in person.
As a leader in animal care and wellbeing, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is proud to announce plans for its next expansion project, a new marine mammal habitat. Construction will begin Spring 2023 on this premier animal habitat that will be home to the Zoo’s California sea lions, harbor seals and potentially other species. This additional space will provide an expanded and enriched habitat for these coastal animals while creating an exciting opportunity for guests to enjoy them from a fresh perspective.
While the habitat is being constructed, the Zoo’s sea lion family including males Xander, 19, and Cash, 5, and females Piper, 22, Addie, 22, Pearl, 19, Phoenix, 6, and Isla, 4, as well as harbor seals, Liberty, 20, and Bixby, 10, will all be temporarily relocated to other Association of Zoos and Aquariums member zoos and aquariums. The Zoo’s marine mammal caretakers will be shifting to work in other animal areas throughout this transition.
Wildlife fans interested in “sea”ing our marine mammals before they move are encouraged to attend the Zoo’s sea lion presentations occurring at 1 p.m. daily and 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays now through Sunday, October 30. Sea lion presentations will be a featured attraction at the new habitat that will resume once the project is completed in 2025. Additionally, the Zoo’s Wild Encounter experience with sea lions will conclude on Sunday, October 30.
Cokv Hecvlke Nvkaftetv Cvko (Student Center) is the gathering place for the College of the Muscogee Nation students. The design of the building incorporates impressive graphic displays of Mvskoke history that includes the Creek Treaty of 1832, Maps of Creek Removal and Creek Etvlwv - Tribal Towns. Through these presentations students and visitors may become more knowledgeable of the 1832 Tribal Treaty, the forced removal of Creek people from their homeland to Indian territory and locations of the Creek Etvlwv after Removal. The Maps and Graphics were provided by the MCN Geographic Information System Department, Frank Harjo and David King from the Muscogee Creek Nation Department of Housing. The new 20,000 square foot Student Center is designed with materials and forms that are reflective of the Muscogee Creek Nation Culture. The building houses the Raven’s Nest Bookstore, Core Values Café, a fitness center, flexible multipurpose classrooms, science labs, and library/learning center.
