Cast Your Vote for Zoo Lovers Day!
Team Dog or Team Cat
It's the ultimate Dog vs. Cat showdown! Which side are you on—Team African Painted Dog or Team Cheetah? Celebrate your love for wildlife on Zoo Lover’s Day by participating in this exciting challenge at the OKC Zoo!
Make Your Vote Count! Every donation supports the incredible animals at the OKC Zoo and the conservation efforts that protect African painted dogs and cheetahs. Whether you're on Team Dog or Team Cat, your gift makes a difference—so choose your side and contribute today! Join the fun, choose your team, and let’s make Zoo Lover’s Day a howling success!
All donations will be matched up to $10,000, doubling your impact courtesy of the Hong Family and Elizabeth Rasche!
Plus, gifts starting $25+ come with exclusive donor benefits, see the details below.
To show our appreciation, donors who give at the following levels will receive exclusive thank you gifts:
Early Bird Gifts - Raffle Entry
Donors before April 8th receive one entry to win a Predator Pass behind-the-scenes experience for two. This private experience, is not available to the public.
$25 - Commemorative Zoo Lover's Day Sticker
Receive an exclusive Zoo Lover’s Day sticker.
$100 - Predator Pass Certificate
Celebrate with a personalized digital Predator Pass Certificate featuring the animal you voted for in our Dog vs. Cat showdown!
$250 - Exclusive Enrichment Video
Enjoy a digital enrichment session featuring the animal you voted for in our Dog vs. Cat showdown narrated by their dedicated caretakers.
$500 - Predator Pass Party
Enjoy an exclusive evening at the OKC Zoo with drinks, light bites and to view our packs and coalitions up close and visit with caretakers.
$1,000+ - Predator Pass Behind-the-Scenes Experience
Enjoy exclusive, VIP access to a behind-the-scenes experience at the OKC Zoo for two! This private experience, not available to the public, gives you an inside look at the expert care and enrichment of the Zoo’s African painted dogs or cheetahs.
Meet the Pack
Say hello to eight-year-old African painted dogs, Tex, BackSlash, and Spot, born at the OKC Zoo in 2017. Their names come from their distinctive markings on their rear hips.
Known for their distinctive coat patterns and tight-knit social bonds, African painted dogs are exceptional team players in the wild—and Tex, Back Slash, and Spot are no exception! Whether they're playfully chasing each other around their habitat or working together at mealtime, this trio shows us the true meaning of teamwork.
APD Fact: Painted dogs do not bark or howl, they communicate with a range of vocalizations, including “chirps” and squeals.
Meet the Coalition
Meet Erindi, Hasani, and Jabari, the OKC Zoo's five-year-old cheetah brothers! These bachelors joined the Zoo from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, as part of the AZA Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for cheetahs.
Each brother’s name reflects something special: Jabari, meaning “fearless,” suits his bold personality. Hasani, Swahili for “handsome,” highlights his sleek and striking appearance. And Erindi honors a protected reserve in Namibia where cheetahs are rehabilitated and reintroduced to the wild.
Cheetah Fact: A group of cheetahs is called a coalition or sometimes a streak.
The OKC Zoo is home to three packs of African painted dogs, a group of three males, three females, and a family pack of five males and one female. As well as two coalitions of cheetahs, one with three males and another with two males.