Topeka Zoo facts for kids
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| Location | Topeka, Kansas, United States |
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| Coordinates | 39°03′25″N 95°43′33″W / 39.0569°N 95.7259°W |
| No. of animals | 300+ |
| Annual visitors | 250,000 |
| Memberships | AZA WAZA and Elephant Managers Association |
The Topeka Zoo is a fun place to visit in Topeka, Kansas. It's located inside Gage Park, which is easy to find near I-70. Even though it's a medium-sized zoo, it's home to over 300 animals!
One special part of the zoo is its indoor tropical rainforest, which was one of the first in the United States. Many people love visiting the Topeka Zoo, with over 250,000 visitors each year. The zoo is also a trusted member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This means it meets high standards for animal care and education.
Contents
History of the Topeka Zoo
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The story of the Topeka Zoo began in 1899. The Gage family gave 80 acres of land to the city of Topeka to create a public park. Over time, this park grew to include playgrounds, a swimming pool, and even a mini train.
The zoo officially opened its doors in 1933. More animal exhibits were built over the years. In 1963, Gary K. Clarke became the zoo's first director. He helped create many of the exhibits you can see today, like the Tropical Rainforest.
In 2001, the Topeka Zoo lost its special accreditation from the AZA. This happened because of some issues with how the zoo was managed and how some animals were cared for. But the zoo worked hard to make big improvements. They added new exhibits and made many changes. Because of these efforts, the Topeka Zoo proudly got its accreditation back in 2003.
In 2010, Brendan Wiley became the new zoo director. Since then, the community has felt much more positive about the zoo.
Amazing Animal Exhibits
Kansas Carnivores
Opened in 2009, this area features animals that hunt for food. You can see powerful cougars and playful river otters in their side-by-side homes.
Hill's Black Bear Woods
Built in 1997, this exhibit showcases animals from North America. You might spot Virginia opossums, tiny eastern screech owls, and soaring red-tailed hawks. Large flight pens are home to majestic golden eagles and eagle-owls. Nearby, you can find pronghorns and wild turkeys. There's also a home for striped skunks. Four American black bears live in a large area with trees to climb. You can watch them from a high walkway or a window closer to the ground.
Waterbird Lagoon
This exhibit has three ponds where waterfowl like trumpeter swans live. Many wild birds, such as mallard ducks, wood ducks, and herons, also visit these ponds.
Jungle Cats
The Jungle Cats exhibit is home to rare Sumatran tigers. They live in areas with lots of plants and water features. In May 2014, three Sumatran tiger cubs were born here!
Tropical Rainforest
The Tropical Rainforest was the first indoor rainforest exhibit in the United States. Here, birds like scarlet macaws and Bali mynahs fly freely. You might also see Hoffmann's two-toed sloths moving slowly and Indian flying foxes hanging upside down. Other animals like golden lion tamarins, three-banded armadillos, and Cuvier's dwarf caimans live in their own special habitats.
Animals and Man
This building features smaller animals like black-and-white ruffed lemurs and Cape porcupines. It's also the indoor home for the zoo's large animals, including hippos, African and Asian elephants, and reticulated giraffes. These big animals also have large outdoor areas. The giraffes even share their space with East African crowned cranes.
Camp Cowabunga
This exhibit, once called Lion's Pride, has three lions in a large habitat. Next door, you can see painted dogs. Patas monkeys live in an exhibit that stretches over the entrance to Camp Cowabunga. They share their space with Kirk's dik-diks, African spurred tortoises, and helmeted guineafowl. The main area has a central plaza where you can see African artifacts and even sit in a canoe like those used on the Zambezi River. You can also view the animals from safari tents.
Lianas Forest
In the Lianas Forest building, Bornean orangutans live behind glass in a habitat that looks like the treetops of Borneo. They also have a big outdoor yard. A tunnel lets visitors walk through an outdoor area that is now home to Malayan sun bears.
Children's Zoo
Added in 1992, the Children's Zoo lets you get up close with domestic animals like sheep and goats that you can feed. There's also a playground right next to it for kids to enjoy.
Adventure Trail
The Adventure Trail opened in 2015 and offers many fun family activities. You can visit the rainbow lorikeet aviary and even feed these colorful birds for a small fee. There's a playground with climbing structures and a place to ride tricycles. You can also try a mining sluice for fun. A general store in this area sells snacks and drinks.
Kay's Garden
Opened in 2020, Kay's Garden is a peaceful exhibit that looks like a traditional Japanese garden. It features a beautiful koi pond and honors Kansas Chief Justice Kay McFarland.
Giraffe and Friends
Giraffe and Friends opened in 2022. It's a new home for reticulated giraffes, lesser kudus, ostriches, and other species. This habitat includes barns for the giraffes, a training room, and a special playroom for them. Guests can also feed the giraffes from indoor and outdoor platforms!
Notable Animal Births
The Topeka Zoo has celebrated many successful animal births over the years, showing their commitment to conservation:
- Reticulated Giraffe, Hope, 2010
- Nile River Hippopotamus, Vision, 2011
- Three Banded Armadillo, 2010, 2011, 2015
- Bornean Orangutan, Bumi, 2013
- Golden Lion Tamarin, 2013, 2014, 2015
- 3 Sumatran Tigers, Raza, Shanti, and ChloJo, 2014
- Hoffmann's 2-Toed Sloth, 2014, 2015
- Greater Malayan Chevrotain, 2014, 2015, 2023
- Reticulated Giraffe, Konza, 2018
- Bornean Orangutan, Udara, 2022
Awards
- Edward H. Bean Award, 1972
Zoo Incidents
Sometimes, unexpected things happen at the zoo. In 2003, one orangutan passed away from a disease. Zoo officials believed the orangutans might have come into contact with a wild rabbit that carried the illness. After this, the zoo put up a special fence around the orangutan area to keep wild animals out.
On May 6, 2010, a bobcat escaped its habitat after someone opened its cage. The bobcat was found a few hours later nearby. It was safely returned to its home.
On April 20, 2019, a Sumatran tiger injured its keeper in its exhibit. The keeper needed surgery but recovered.
In April 2024, an ostrich named Karen sadly passed away after accidentally swallowing a set of keys that a zookeeper dropped. Efforts were made to save her, but they were not successful. Karen lived in the Giraffe and Friends habitat.
