We thank you, Oklahoma City Zoo supporters, for all you do! Tuesday, July 17, 2012, marks the twenty-second anniversary of the 1/8 of a cent dedicated sales tax being passed by Oklahoma City citizens for the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, and to celebrate, the Zoo is offering free admission to all on Tuesday, July 17.

Passed by Oklahoma City citizens in 1990, the sales tax has made numerous capitol improvements possible at the Zoo including Great EscApe, Cat Forest/Lion Overlook, the main entrance facility, the Canopy Food Court, Oklahoma Trails, the Children’s Zoo and the Elephant Habitat. Moving forward the sales tax will help fund a new animal hospital slated to open in 2014.

“We are extremely grateful to the citizens of Oklahoma City for their ongoing dedication to the Zoo. The significant support we receive from the community enables the Zoo to continue to grow and strive for excellence in our mission of conservation, education, research and recreation; while becoming a world class attraction that Oklahomans are proud to call their zoo.” said Dwight Scott, Executive Director/CEO.

Take advantage of the free admission and make plans to visit the Zoo on Sales Tax Appreciation Day, Tuesday, July 17. Group reservations are not required. Regular prices apply for all rides and attractions.

Visit Oklahoma’s #1 attraction and one of the top three zoos in the country as named in the 2012 10Besties Readers’ Choice Travel Awards. The Oklahoma City Zoo is a proud member of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages three-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free.

Now through August 26, the Zoo is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Morning Zoo Rise. Guests can take advantage of our late Saturdays through September 1, and stay and play until 8 p.m. All guests must leave grounds at closing. Become a Zoo fan at http://www.facebook.com/okczoobg or follow us on Twitter @okczoo. To learn more about these and other happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.com.

SATURDAYS:

10:30 a.m. African Wild Dogs (Wild Dog Drive)

11:00 a.m. Children’s Zoo (Barnyard)

1:15 p.m. Elephant Behavioral Presentation (Elephant Pavilion)

1:30 p.m. Andean Condor & Harpy Eagle (across from picnic pavilions)

1:30 p.m. Great Apes (Great EscApe Building)

2:00 p.m. Upper Aquarium (Noble Aquatic Center)

2:30 p.m. River Otters (Oklahoma Trails)

3:00 p.m. Grizzly Bears (Oklahoma Trails)

3:00 p.m. Sea Lion Habitat (Noble Aquatic Center)

3:30 p.m. Indian Rhino

4:00 p.m. Alligators (Oklahoma Trails)

SUNDAYS:

10:30 a.m. Giraffes

11:00 a.m. Children’s Zoo (Underground)

11:30 a.m. Galapagos Tortoise (Island Life)

1:15 p.m. Elephant Behavioral Presentation (Elephant Pavilion)

1:30 p.m. Andean Condor & Harpy Eagle (across from picnic pavilions)

1:30 p.m. Great Apes (Great EscApe Building)

2:00 p.m. Lower Aquarium (Noble Aquatic Center)

2:30 p.m. River Otters (Oklahoma Trails)

3:00 p.m. Grizzly Bears (Oklahoma Trails)

3:00 p.m. Sea Lion Habitat (Noble Aquatic Center)

3:30 p.m. Indian Rhino

4:00 p.m. Turkey Vulture (Oklahoma Trails Aviary)

• Zoo’s Will, Wiley can’t bear any more wintry weather. (Oklahoma City) ( Get it? They can’t bear it, like bare it. They’re bears.)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

• At zoo exhibit, it’s a bear’s life. (Oklahoma City – Be sure to click on this one and check out the neat panorama photo!)
• Opinion: Zoo’s growth continues. (Oklahoma City)
• Take care of pets during holidays. (Norman)
• Packing up one fragile tusk to go. (Norman)
• Two-legged pooch offers hope to wounded veterans. (Ardmore)
• Fishing days set for children. (Tulsa)
• Build-a-Bear videos raise conservative ire. (Missouri)
• Rainbow of underwater color shines in Caribbean. (Belize)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

Leo the lion, Shere Kahn the tiger and Baloo the bear share a home a the park thanks to their unlikely upbringing. The three animals, kept as pets by drug barons, were seized during a raid in Atlanta eight years ago when they were still cubs.

Shere Kahn, Leo and Baloo enjoy their new home at Noah's Ark

When they were turned over to the Noah’s Ark Rescue Center in Locust Grove, Ga., the decision was made to keep them together. Raised by the zoo’s founders, the three get along like siblings. Now that they have a new public enclosure, visitors can see the three eating, sleeping and playing together.

Enjoy the photos, courtesy of the Noah’s Ark Facebook fan page for the trio, which you can find here.

Leo and Shere Kahn play as cubs Baloo and Shere Kahn with one of the owners of Noah's Ark

The three animl buddies play as cubs

Baloo and Shere Kahn with one of the owners of Noah's Ark

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

They could see someone moving around inside their car from their window, so they called sheriff’s deputies. When authorities arrived the thief was discovered — a young bear somehow found its way into the car.

After snapping a couple of photos, deputies opened the door and the bear took off, but not before he managed to cause significant damage to the car’s interior. Apparently this isn’t an uncommon problem. People who leave food in their cars when bears are about run the risk of bear-related damage.

Fortunately, damage is repairable. I can only imagine the heart attack I’d get if I walked out to my car at night to find a bear inside.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

The show marks its 20th anniversary at 6 p.m. Sunday on ABC. (Read more about TV on the NewsOK Television Blog!)

And in honor of their anniversary, show officials calculated all the animal winners during the past 20 years. Dogs finished first with cats close behind. But there are all kinds of other animals that have won. (Who knew whales could be funny? And who knew that a praying mantis would win not once but twice?)

• 1 ANT
• 3 BEARS
• 22 BIRDS
• 1 BULL
• 1 CAMEL
• 34 CATS
• 1 CHIMP
• 1 DEER
• 136 DOGS
• 1 ELK
• 1 FERRET
• 1 FISH
• 1 FLY
• 1 FROG
• 4 GIRAFFES
• 4 GOATS
• 1 GORILLA
• 1 GUINEA PIG
• 3 HAMSTERS
• 4 HORSES
• 1 KANGAROO
• 1 LIZARD
• 2 LLAMAS
• 5 MONKEYS
• 2 MICE
• 1 ORANGUTAN
• 1 OSTRICH
• 2 PRAYING MANTIS
• 5 RACOONS
• 1 RAM
• 1 RAT
• 1 RHINO
• 1 SEA LION
• 1 SPIDER
• 1 SNAKES
• 9 SQUIRRELS
• 1 TARANTULA
• 1 TOAD
• 2 WHALES

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll