Topeka Zoological Park
The Topeka Zoo exists to strengthen the bond between people and the living earth, by providing visitors with opportunities to:
Learn more about the natural world;
Increase scientific knowledge that benefits conservation
Support conservation of endangered animal populations and their habitat;
Participate actively in improving the quality of life in Kansas.
Description:
The Topeka Zoological Park is located within Gage Park in Topeka, KS. With over 300 animals in various exhibits large and small, we are one of the top tourist attractions in the area.
History:
In 1899, the Gage Family donated 80 acres of land to the City of Topeka to be used as a public park for the health, comfort and recreation of the citizens of Topeka and their friends. The area of land was named in honor of the Gage family and is known as Gage Park. Today Gage Park offers many activities in the park including the Topeka Zoo. Over the years, the Topeka Zoo has updated and improved the overall appearance of exhibits as well as developing future animal exhibits while emphasizing conservation of threatened species and educating visitors on wildlife survival and habitat conservation.
The first Zoo facilities were constructed in 1933 for Zoo animals. The Zoo has always been located in the Northeast corner of Gage Park. As the Zoo changed, adding animal exhibits during the 1950s and 1960s, slowly the philosophy changed. In 1963, the first permanent Zoo Director was hired by the City of Topeka.
In 1969 a non-profit membership organization named Friends of the Topeka Zoo (FOTZ) was formed. Today FOTZ continues their dedication to the improvement and development of capital projects at the Topeka Zoo as well as support educational opportunities.
Over the years, the Zoo has constructed several exhibits that are still in existence today. In 1966, the Large Mammal building was constructed as the first major facility under Zoo Director Gary K. Clarke. This facility provided a home for elephants, giraffe, hippos, and great apes. In 1974, the Tropical Rainforest facility was opened as one of the first walk-through facilities of its kind. In 1981 Discovering Apes opened as a new home for the gorillas and orangutans. In 1985, Gorilla Encounter opened with a walk-through tunnel within the gorilla exhibit. While in 1989, Lions Pride opened providing a unique viewing experience for visitors of African Lions. In 1992, Security Benefit Children’s Zoo opened, providing an opportunity for children of all ages to interact with animals. In 1996, Black Bear Woods opened. It had been fifteen (15) years since bears were at the Zoo. This 20,000 square foot exhibit provided opportunities for the bears to climb live trees, cool off in a small pool, and live among bushes and grasses. A renovation of the outdoor Elephant Exhibit in 1996 changed the exhibit of elephants from “free contact” to “protected contact.” In 2000, the Water bird Lagoon ponds were renovated to include an elevated deck for bird/fish feeding, a waterfall, new plantings, and “no barrier” access to parts of the ponds. In 2003, the Outdoor Orangutan habitat was opened, providing an outdoor enclosure for Bornean orangutans. The new outdoor orangutan habitat provides over 8,000 sq feet of space for our orangutan family. The orangutans love to twine rope, build nest, swing or climb form branch to branch.
More recently in 2004, the Zoo along with FOTZ opened the Gary K. Clarke Education Center that includes new administrative offices and the Leopard Spot gift shop. Other construction included an outdoor hippopotamus exhibit, enhancement to the elephant exhibit with a large pool, new exhibits for bald and golden eagles, and an exhibit for Arctic foxes. In 2005, the Jungle Cats exhibits opened for Sumatran tigers and Black leopards providing a return of tigers and leopards to the Topeka Zoo. This large outdoor enclosure provides an excellent opportunity for the visitors to experience an up close encounter with both animals. In 2006, the Zoo will open a new Grant’s zebra exhibit.
Annually the Topeka Zoological Park is host to over 150,000 – 180,000 visitors on an annual basis and is one of the states leading attractions. The Topeka Zoological Park provides a memorable experience for the visitors, quality animal care, and the conservation for over 350 exotic animals.
Contact people:
Office fax number: (785) 368-9152
Address:
Web Site: http://www.topeka.org
| Last updated on March 16, 2009 |
