The zoo hosts a variety of exhibits, including the Lost Kingdom complex and its Valley of the Elephant enclosure.

[10] Lost Kingdom presents gardens and settings inspired by ancient Asian cultures such as the city at Angkor-Wat and contains animals such as Malayan tigers, snow leopards, Chinese alligators, siamangs, binturongs, and Komodo dragons.

Animals include Siberian cranes, tawny frogmouth, emerald doves, chinchilla, peccary, seahorses, and grizzly bears.

Exhibits include species such as black howler monkeys, a green anaconda, piranhas, dwarf caimans, jaguars, and golden-headed lion tamarins.

Many species roam freely, including rainforest birds, two-toed sloths, and Jamaican fruit bats.

The roof is composed of translucent panels to illuminate the canopy of the rainforest and a path that guides visitors through the building.

This is the outdoor enclosure for chimpanzees containing a climbing structure consisting of cargo nets and ropes, caves, a termite mound, and vegetation.

The exhibit features a saltwater pool, an underwater viewing window wall, a waterfall, and rock haul-out areas.

A wave pool or water action simulator, along with a rocky coastline setting, imitates their natural habitat.

Constructed in 1957, the Conservation Center has a large variety of animals including primates, reptiles, birds, and fish.

Some animals exhibited include American flamingos, wrinkled hornbills, giant snakehead, radiated tortoises, Diana monkeys, white-faced saki monkeys, Fiji banded iguanas, and a Grand Cayman Island blue iguana.The African black-footed penguin exhibit was funded through a citywide art campaign, popularized by the gifting of 6-foot (1.8 m) sculptures, depicting a penguin with certain visual characteristics based on its location or owner, to businesses or organizations who donated to the exhibit.

[18] The Tulsa Zoo attracted national media attention in 2005 when a group complained about the mention of evolutionary theory and the inclusion of religious icons, theories, and beliefs in zoo displays, including a statue of the Hindu elephant-headed god Ganesha as part of the elephant exhibition.

[20][21] The board subsequently reconsidered and reversed its decision, citing widespread public criticism.

Also, weekly appearances of zoo staff became a regular activity on the Uncle Zeb Show.

The Tulsa Zoo also welcomed their first full-time staff Veterinarian position, and Sneezy, a four-and-a-half-year-old Male Asian elephant.

The complex was neither a zoo, a museum, or a botanical garden; rather, it was a natural history facility that includes all the things common to those institutions with the goal of telling an integrated story about America's land and life.

The Tulsa Zoo's exhibit department constructed the entire cave and received the AAZPA's prestigious Significant Achievement Award.

1986 - The Tulsa Zoo celebrated the birth of a healthy male Asian elephant "Maverick".

1990 - Mary Collins was hired as Tulsa Zoo Friends (formerly TZDI) new executive director.

1992 - Construction began on the new main entry, gift shop, elephant compound, commissary, exhibits building, animal reserve, and restaurant.

Maverick the Asian elephant contracted a fast-moving bacterial infection at the age of seven and died.

Also, the award-winning Elephant Encounter Museum which was funded by TZF and designed entirely by the exhibits staff was completed.

1998 - The Children's Zoo contact yard opened, and the bull elephant viewing was installed.

It was dedicated in honor of Mary Collins; this won the ABC Excellence in Construction Award.

2007 - A new Elephant Demonstration Yard was opened and dedicated to Larry Nunley for his 32 years of service to the zoo.