Flashlight Tour

Self-Guided flashlight tours are now available on Saturday evenings from 5:30-8pm. Bring a flashlight and enjoy your journey through the Topeka Zoo. Glow sticks may be purchased at the admissions booth. Additionally, if your group does not have a flashlight, some flashlights are available to borrow for your tour.

Please remember that for many of the animals, this is their time to rest. Take a peaceful journey through the zoo and please use quiet voices when possible.

Flashlight Tour Rules:
• Don’t shine your lights into bird exhibits (Eagles, Owls, Hawk). Their eyes don’t work like ours and if the light scares them, they could fly into something and get injured. Simply look for their silhouettes in their exhibits.
• Keep your eyes on the path and watch the path edges and for your safety remain on the path at all times.
• Use your flashlights to scan exhibits to look for animals. Once you find the animal, turn your flash light off and imagine how it would be to encounter an animal like this in the wild in the dark.
• Never shine your light directly into the face of an animal. The exhibit is their home and we want them to feel comfortable there.
• If you have any questions during your experience, staff will be available at the concession stand, in the admission booth, and one staff person will be wandering the zoo.

 

Animals to see on your Flashlight Tour

Some animals are more visible in the day than they are at night. Others are more active at night than they are during the day. Temperature also plays a role in determining what animals are given access to their exhibit at night. Here is a list of animals that will have access to their exhibits during the self guided flash light tours. If you don’t see or hear the animal, they may be inside their holding area and you may want to check back later:

• Bobcat
• Pallas Cat
• North American Porcupine
• Black Bears
• Coyote
• Pronghorn
• North American River Otter
• Mountain Lion
• Golden Eagle
• Bald Eagle (Temporarily off exhibit for exhibit repair)
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Barn Owls

African Lions have access to their exhibit when the overnight temperature is above 20 degrees.

Wild Dogs are locked inside when the exhibit is muddy and when it is going to be below 20.

Addra Gazelles are locked in when the temperature will be below 20.

Sumatran Tigers and the Black Leopard are locked inside when the temperature will be below 20.

Barnyard animals have indoor and outdoor access when the temperature is between 20 and 40 degrees. Look for Gertie on the side of the barn.

Elephants require an overnight temperature of 45 degrees and most likely will not be out on these evenings.

Discovering Apes Building
Orangutans will most likely be sleeping. Look for strange shapes under sheets or hay.
The gorilla will not be viewable at night.
It will be dark in the reef tank. Are the fish asleep? What about the poison dart frogs?

Animal & Man Building
Hippos and giraffes can be viewed inside the Animal and Man building.

Gary K. Clarke Living Classroom
Many creepy and crawly creatures are on display

Rain Forest
Cannot be open when it is dark outside because the building does not have interior lighting. If a bird or bat was to be startled it could easily get injured.

 

Have fun and enjoy your journey into the wild!