TOPEKA, KS  - On Thursday, January 12, the Tropical Rainforest at the Topeka Zoo will temporarily close to the public. The rainforest is undergoing several construction projects that will expand and repair the facility.

The first of these construction projects, which began last December, will expand the holding area at the back of the building. Once the holding area is completed, the rainforest animals will be transferred to this area and construction on the rainforest roof will begin. The glass triangular panels that make up the roof surface have become cracked over time. These panels will be replaced and other repairs will be done as necessary.

Construction is expected to be completed by the beginning of summer 2012. “We are sorry to have to close the rainforest to the public, but the construction is necessary for the safety of the animals and visitors,” said Brendan Wiley, zoo director.

The Topeka Zoo’s rainforest is currently home to nearly 100 different species of plants, birds, reptiles and mammals. Many of the animal species are native to South America, while many of the birds are Neotropical. The wide variety of plant life in the rainforest is representative of many parts of the world.

For more than 35 years, the Topeka Zoo’s rainforest has been a major tourist attraction in Kansas. Opening in 1974, it was the first and largest rainforest building of its kind. Designed as a Crystogon dome, the building won an award from the Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA). The award was for outstanding achievement in the area of exotic animal display, exhibit technique and design innovation.

On Saturday evenings, guests can enjoy self-guided flashlight tours, warming fires, s’mores and ice skating. “The zoo is an exciting place to visit at night,” said zoo director, Brendan Wiley. “The flashlight tours have become very popular and we want to continue this activity so visitors can enjoy their zoo at night,” Wiley said.

In addition to ice skating and flashlight tours, giraffe feeding will be offered every Saturday evening from 6:30 to 7pm. For $1 guests can get up close and personal, while feeding the giraffes.

The Polar Ice Cap skating rink, which is open during normal zoo hours, is also open Saturday evenings. The synthetic ice rink is located inside the zoo under the outdoor Security Benefit Picnic Pavilion. Skate rental is available for $2/pair. The Polar Ice Cap skating rink provides the community with a fun and safe family activity and continues to grow in popularity.

The Topeka Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the last gate entry at 4:30 p.m. Evening hours are 5:30 to 8p.m. on Saturday evenings through February (weather permitting). Daytime admission is $5.75 for adults, $4.25 for children ages 3-12 and $4.75 for seniors. Evening admission is $3 for adults and seniors and $2 for children ages 3-12. Friends of the Zoo members and children under 3 are admitted free.

Personal invitation to join Tux, the Topeka Zoo Penguin Mascot and WIBW Weather Personality Drew Switzer as VIP guests on May 10th for the Penguin Plunge Grand Opening.

FREE Zoo Admission for the winning class (up to 30 students)

Transportation voucher of $200 in the form of a check issued to the school to assist with transportation costs for the zoo trip.

Special Penguin Education Program presented by the Topeka Zoo Education Department

Ice Cream Party at the zoo to round out your day of fun!

To learn more about Pennies For Penguins, click on the links below.

A Message From Tux!

Pennies for Penguins Rules To Waddle By

Pennies for Penguins Class Committment Form

“This is going to be a wonderful addition to the Zoo as well as draw a number of guests to the Topeka community” states Kate Larison, Executive Director of Friends of the Topeka Zoo.  “Friends of the Topeka Zoo will be working very hard to generate funds for this exhibit and we need the support of everyone in the community….business leaders, organizations, schools, and families to make this exhibit successful.”

Whether it is sponsoring the Penguin Plunge, participating in one of the many events that will revolve around the penguins, or fundraising in the schools, Larison states there are numerous opportunities to contribute.  “This is the COMMUNITIES Zoo and now is the time for everyone to embrace the zoo and help support this wonderful cause.”

More information on how you can help support the Penguin Plunge is below.  For further information, you can reach Kate Larison, Executive Director of Friends of the Topeka Zoo at 368-9162 or email at katel@fotz.org.

For Sponsorship Information, click here

To make a donation to the Penguin Plunge click here

For information on the Pennies For Penguins, click here

The African Penguins, formerly known as the Black Footed Penguins stand approxamately 18 inches tall and weigh between 5 and 11 pounds.  They wear the typical black and white coat of a penguin, however, they have a distinguished feature that is a glack stripe that curves across their chest with a unique pattern of spots on their front.

Like all penguins, the African Penguin is a flightless bird and spends most of its time in the water.  They are graceful swimmers and can swim at speeds as fast as 25 miles per hour.  When not at sea hunting for food, they can be found in large colonies along the rocky shores of Africa.  They dig shallow burrows under rockes, in sand, or under sparse vegetation.  The Penguin Plunge exhibit will feature a landscape with rock formations, a pool and beach.

In 1900, there were roughly 4 million African Penguins in exhistence.  Today, the number is estimated to be only 55,000.  If this rapid decline is not halted, the African Penguin is expected to become extinct within 15 years.  The Penguin Plunge exhibit will allow visitors to explore the many reasons behind the population decline.  It will be desinged as an interactive exhibit featuring many educational stations including:

• A mock oil spill showing the tragic effecs that oil has on the penguin plunge population.
• A fishing boat that interlaces the message of fishing and the effects that over fishing has on the penguins.
• Penguin Predator Watch:  Visitors can learn more about the various predators that penguins encounter.
• A guano harvesting area complete with guano bags and tools, all of which offer cluse to how guano harvesting disrupts the nesting of wild penguins and other birds.
• Penguin Plaza – an interactive play area.

Penguin Plunge will be open to the public from May 10 through September 2012 and will take zoo visitors on an adventure to the beaches of Cape Town South Africa where they will encounter an exhibit that simulates Boulders Beach, a habitat of which one of the alrgest colonies of African Penguins reside.  Visitors will be able to see the flightless birds preen, feed, and swim in their naturalistic surroundings.  A viewing window will allow close-up views as the penguins “fly” underwater.

In addition to the live penguin viewing area, the exhibit will feature many educational stations designed for guests to explore the biology, culture, and conservation issues facing these penguins.  An interactive play area will also be part of the exhibit.  Many special events in 2012 will also be themed around the penguins.

Unlike the arctic species of penguin, African Penguins are found on the southernmost coast of Africa and live in colonies on rocky shores and beaches.  The populations of African Penguins are declining at an alarming rate and have recently been designated as an endangered species.  By bringing the exhibit to Topeka, the Zoo hopes to raise awareness of this decline in penguin population and continue their committment to animal conservation.

“We have everything you need to complete your shopping list,” Kate Larison, Friends of the Zoo Director said.  The Zootique offers apparel, children’s books, pillows, toys and household decorating items. The popular Schleich animal figurines make the perfect stocking stuffers.  And for the people on your list who are hardto shop for, the elephant poo paper and notebooks make a unique gift.  The Zootique is also offering a special “elephant lovers” gift set this year. The set includes an ‘Ellie Poo’ notebook and a plush elephant. Elephant paintings are also available.

For families, a special gift membership is the perfect gift.  Accompanying their membership will be an adorable plush penguin.  Larison comments that FOTZ Memberships are the perfect gift that keeps on giving the entire year.   Other gift options available at the Zootique include zoo ticket packages,  behind the scenes tours, giraffe feeding packages, and variety of zoo adoption options.  And, for those that are in the spirit of giving this time of the year, they can sponsor an animal or perhaps a class to come to the zoo!

For more gift giving ideas, view the Holiday Gift Giving Guide!

The Zootique will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Click below to view the Holiday Gift Giving Guide!

Holiday Gift Giving Catalog

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.

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.

Have fun and enjoy your journey!