The Experience, Oakland: Oakland Zoo Rescue

The Experience:

Meet Lola + Mia!

Visit Lola and Mia now living in their Tiger Habitat at the Oakland Zoo after almost three months of rehabilitation.

They were rescued from a defunct, abandoned drive-thru roadside zoo in northeast Oklahoma that offered cub petting and photo opportunities. Fortunate for them, a concerned resident alerted the Oakland Zoo which is committed to rescuing and giving a permanent home to animals in need.

Oakland Zoo and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge travelled to the defunct roadside zoo, conducted onsite animal evaluations and Oakland Zoo funded the rescue with the help of a state-of-the-art, self-contained animal rescue hauler owned by Lions, Tigers, and Bears.

“For the past thirty years, we’ve fully committed Oakland Zoo’s tiger habitat as a sanctuary for tigers victimized by the circus, roadside zoo, private ownership, and cub-petting industries,” said Nik Dehejia, ceo of Oakalnd Zoo. “Those tigers need help, and we can provide that help. When a concerned Oklahoma resident called us to help these big cats, who have endured so much suffering, there was no question that we would step in and give them the homes and care they deserve for the remainder of their lives.”

After the passing of their last four rescue tigers, Oakland Zoo now has a tiger hybrid who arrived in poor condition and with a badly infected tooth that has caused facial deformity, and bowed legs, along with another tiger from a separate enclosure who was quite lean upon arrival. The animal care team named them Lola & Mia.

Now they are living healthy lives in their own habitat, and you can visit them! Visit them around feeding time and you can get up close as they are waiting for their chow.Featured below is one of the four-year old gray wolves born at the zoo and a rescue mountain lion, along with the story of Lola + Mia.. Tasty Bites & Beverages, including beer and wine, along with Bay Area panoramic views at the Landing Cafe atop the gondola in California Trails.

‍Advanced ticket reservations required.