was funded by TZF and designed entirely by the exhibits staff was completed. 1996 - The Ethel F. Crate granite globe fountain was installed. The polar bear exhibit received a major renovation and the Helmerich Playground was opened. 1997 - The Helmerich Discovery Center was completed. The cheetah, meerkat and dik-diks exhibits were finished. And the long-awaited Tropical American Rainforest also opened. 1998 - The Children's Zoo contact yard opened, and the bull elephant viewing was installed. The Tulsa Zoo also held the AZA National Conference in September. 1999 - Siamang/langur habitat and overlook completed. Also, the black & white ruffed lemur exhibit was renovated. 2000 - Siamang Interactive Area for children was completed. And the "Wings of Wonder" butterfly exhibit opened. 2002 - The African Penguin exhibit officially opened. It was dedicated in honor of Mary Collins; this won the ABC Excellence in Construction Award. 2003 - Conservation Center (formerly Animal Kingdom) was officially renamed. 2004 - A new Veterinary Hospital was complete. And The Maasai exhibit in the African section of the zoo was also finished. 2005 - A temporary koala exhibit was added to the Conservation Center. And the Tulsa Zoo was awarded "America's Favorite Zoo" in the national competition by Microsoft. 2006 - The Oklahoma Trails exhibit was added in honor of Oklahoma's 100th birthday. And the North American Living Museum exhibited bison in honor of the Centennial. 2007 - A new Elephant Demonstration Yard was opened and dedicated to Larry Nunley for his 32 years of service to the zoo. 2008 - "Feather Fest" was added as a temporary free flight bird exhibit. 2009 - The HA Chapman Event Lodge opened. 2012 - Sea Lion Cove a new naturalistic sea lion exhibit was complete. 2013 - After years of renovations the former Robert J. Lafortune North American Living Museum reopened as the Robert J. Lafortune WildLIFE Trek. It no longer focused on only animals from North America but now animals from across the world with adaptations to living in the cold, desert, forest, and water. 2014 - The former Elephant Encounter Museum received a renovation and renaming to the Lost Kingdom: Valley of the Elephant Interpretive Center. Also, Zoorassic Park, a temporary dinosaur exhibit, displayed 15 animatronic dinosaurs. As the very first exhibit of the new 20-year master plan, the Mary K. Chapman Rhino Reserve opened. 2015 - A temporary dinosaur exhibit returned for its