Sedgwick County Zoo facts for kids
| Date opened | 1971 |
|---|---|
| Location | Wichita, Kansas, US |
| Land area | 247 acres (100 ha) |
| Coordinates | 37°42′57″N 97°24′37″W / 37.7158°N 97.4104°W |
| No. of animals | 3,000 |
| No. of species | 400 |
| Annual visitors | 654,494 (2009) |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Sedgwick County Zoo is a super cool wildlife park in Wichita, Kansas, USA. It's approved by the AZA, which means it meets high standards for animal care. The zoo opened in 1971 with help from the Sedgwick County Zoological Society.
Since then, it has become famous around the world! The zoo is known for helping save animals and for successfully breeding rare and endangered species. With over 3,000 animals from nearly 400 different species, it's the top outdoor tourist spot in Kansas!
Contents
- Explore the Exhibits
- Amazing Animals of the Zoo
- Future Plans
- Images for kids
Explore the Exhibits
Get ready to discover amazing animals from all over the world! The Sedgwick County Zoo has many special areas, each designed to look like the animals' natural homes.
Downing Gorilla Forest
Your adventure in the Downing Gorilla Forest begins in a small village, just like those found near the Congo. Here, you can see playful De Brazza's monkeys and colobus monkeys. Look out for the beautiful pink-backed pelicans and white pelicans too!
Cross a bridge to find more incredible birds like the saddle-billed stork and black crowned crane. You might also spot an okapi, which looks like a mix between a zebra and a giraffe! The main highlight is the huge gorilla exhibit. You can watch these amazing primates indoors, through big windows, or across a moat.
Pride of the Plains
Walk along a winding path in the Pride of the Plains. This area feels like the African plains with giant boulders called kopjes. Here, you'll see mighty lions and cute red river hogs. There are also two fun exhibits for meerkats, where you can watch them from different angles. At the end of this area, you'll find the energetic African painted dogs.
Penguin Cove
Opened in 2007, Penguin Cove is the zoo's first marine exhibit. It's home to a lively group of Humboldt penguins! This cool $1.5 million exhibit has a 42,000-gallon pool. It's designed with rocky areas and coves, just like where penguins live in the wild.
African Veldt
The African Veldt is where you can see some of Africa's largest animals. This exhibit features tall reticulated giraffes and giant African bush elephants. You'll also find hippos and powerful eastern black rhinos here.
In 2016, six African elephants arrived at the zoo from Eswatini to escape a drought. A new elephant exhibit, "The Reed Family Elephants of the Zambezi River Valley," opened that May. It became home to all the elephants. Later, in 2018, a male elephant named Ajani joined the group for breeding.
Tiger Trek
The Tiger Trek opened in 2009. This $3 million exhibit looks like a natural Asian forest. It's home to amazing animals like Amur tigers and Malayan tigers. You can also see adorable red pandas, unique bar-headed geese, and graceful brow-antlered deer.
Amazing Animals of the Zoo
The Sedgwick County Zoo is home to thousands of animals from all over the world! Here's a peek at some of the incredible creatures you can meet.
Animals at the Entrance
Right when you arrive, you might spot beautiful birds like the Caribbean flamingo and Greater flamingo.
Children's Farm
The Children's Farm is a fun place to meet friendly farm animals. You can see different kinds of cows, goats, sheep, and pigs. There are also interesting ducks, geese, and chickens. Some unique animals here include the Dromedary camel and the Domestic yak.
Cessna Penguin Cove Animals
Besides the Humboldt penguins, this marine exhibit also features other birds. Look for the Inca tern and the Grey gull swimming and flying around.
Amphibians and Reptiles
This building is full of fascinating cold-blooded creatures! You can see giant Aldabra giant tortoises and various turtles like the Spiny softshell turtle. There are also many types of snakes, including the Tentacled snake and the colorful Green and black poison dart frog. Don't miss the Chinese alligator and the unique Gila monster.
Tropics Animals
Step into the Tropics to feel like you're in a rainforest! This area is buzzing with insects like the Giant African millipede and amazing spiders like the Brazilian salmon birdeater tarantula. You'll also see many colorful birds, such as the Great blue turaco and the Mandarin duck. Look for the Indian flying fox and unique fish like the Australian lungfish.
African Animals
The zoo has several areas dedicated to animals from Africa.
African Veldt Animals
In the African Veldt, you'll find large animals like the Reticulated giraffe, Eastern black rhinoceros, and Hippopotamus. Keep an eye out for the fast Grevy's zebra and the cute Warthog. You can also see the striking Eastern black-and-white colobus monkeys.
Pride of the Plains Animals
This area is home to the powerful African lions and the unique African painted dog. You'll also find the playful Red river hog and curious Slender-tailed meerkats.
The Reed Family Elephants of the Zambezi River Valley Animals
This special exhibit is where you can see the magnificent African elephants.
The Downing Gorilla Forest Animals
In the Gorilla Forest, besides the Western lowland gorillas, you'll find the elegant Black crowned crane, the shy Okapi, and the tall Saddle-billed stork.
Asian Animals
Explore the Asian areas to meet animals from this vast continent.
Asian Forest Animals
The Asian Forest is home to beautiful birds like the Bar-headed goose and the Demoiselle crane. You might also spot the rare Amur leopard.
The Slawson Family Tiger Trek Animals
In the Tiger Trek, you'll see the impressive Amur tiger and the adorable Red panda. Also, look for the unique Burmese brow-antlered deer.
North American Animals
Discover animals that live closer to home in North America. You can see large mammals like the Grizzly bear and American black bear. Look for the graceful White-tailed deer and the playful North American river otter. The area also features various birds like the Bald eagle and animals like the American bison and Mexican wolf.
Australian Animals
Journey to Australia to meet some of its unique wildlife. You'll find many types of birds, including the Black swan, Laughing kookaburra, and the large Emu. Don't miss the Tammar wallaby and the impressive Double-wattled cassowary.
South American Animals
The South America section is full of vibrant creatures. You can see colorful birds like the Blue-and-yellow macaw and the Scarlet macaw. Look for the largest rodent in the world, the Capybara, and the unique Giant anteater. Other animals include the Common squirrel monkey and the striking King vulture.
KOCH Orangutan and Chimpanzee Habitat
This special habitat is home to two very intelligent primate species. Here, you can observe the clever Chimpanzees and the amazing Sumatran orangutans.
Future Plans
The zoo is always growing and improving! They are currently building a new main entrance to make your visit even better. They are also working on a new complex for managing the elephants. Plus, there will be exciting new additions to the Amphibians and Reptiles building. The zoo plans to expand and move many exhibits. They even hope to add a lodge, a water park, and a new savannah exhibit in the future!
Images for kids
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African village-themed area at the entrance to Downing Gorilla Forest
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Lioness with (imitated) zebra kill
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Cessna Penguin Cove
