FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                     March 7, 2012

CONTACTS:

Tara Henson                       (405) 425-0219 O / (405) 919-9038 C / thenson@okczoo.com

Candice Rennels              (405) 425-0298 O / (405) 412-6172 C / crennels@okczoo.com

OKC ZOO RANKED THIRD BEST ZOO IN THE NATION

108 years of wild fun and still making history! The votes have been tabulated and many are to be congratulated as the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden was named third best zoo in the nation via 10Best.com’s 10Bestie’s Readers’ Choice Travel Awards!

Travel recommendation site 10Best.com recently announced the winners of its inaugural 10Besties Readers' Choice Travel Awards. Voting in the 10Besties began in late January with 20 nominees in each of 10 categories, ranging from Best Aquariums and Best Zoos to Best Ski Resorts and Best Museums. 10Best's readers were asked to vote for their favorite nominee in each category. Oklahoma City Zoo friends and fans rallied around the call for votes via Facebook and the Zoo’s web site, helping the Zoo rise up through the ranks to claim the number three spot. 

"We're absolutely thrilled by this recognition, especially in light of the number of other accredited zoos, our colleagues, who  also provide excellent opportunities for guests to connect with nature and have fun," said Dwight Scott, Zoo Executive Director. "Our zoo team and patrons are to be thanked for their support of our zoo, which continues to improve because of this dedication."

Established in 1904, the Oklahoma City Zoo features a diverse and fascinating animal and plant collection encompassing over 119 acres. The Zoo is home to 1,900 of the world's most exotic animals, including 54 endangered or threatened species. The Zoo is a fully accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Association of Museums (AAM) as both a living museum and a botanical garden. Educational opportunities, conservation efforts, guest service, community involvement combined with a fun and safe place for people to enjoy nature are all important elements of the Zoo’s mission.

There’s something fun for everyone at the Oklahoma City Zoo! Oklahoma’s #1 attraction, the Zoo is a proud member of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with buildings closing at 4:45 p.m. Regular admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages three-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Become a Zoo fan at www.facebook.com/okczoobg or follow us on Twitter @okczoo. To learn about Zoo happenings call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.com. For the complete list of 10Best’s Readers’ Choice Travel Awards: www.10best.com.

-okczoo-