Happy #WorldElephantDay! While we truly celebrated on Saturday, we're going to mention them again because, well, they're kind of a big deal. We also celebrate these girls' birthdays on Elephant Day and this year, Tembo is 50 years old and Cora is 62 years old. The median life expectancy of elephants is around 37 years so these two are considered geriatric - but don't tell them that!

Because they are older, they receive specialized care. Their yard contains sand piles for them to rest on if they don't want to lay all the way down - though both of them still can and do. They also participate in their daily care including exercises and stretches to keep them both strong and limber and receive enrichment and training to keep their minds active. One thing is for sure, we cherish all the time we have with them and we challenge you all to #GoGrey for elephants all over the world today and every day.

Happy Birthday, ladies! ... See more

We are LIVE at the African Lion habitat for World Lion Day!! #worldlionday

Happy #WorldElephantDay ! Today, it's all about the largest terrestrial mammal. Elephant numbers have dropped over 62% in just the last 10 year, mostly due to poachers seeking ivory but also for meat, other body parts, and habitat loss. Currently, there are more elephants being killed for ivory than are being born. Please help them by saying #NoToIvory.

Today, the celebration has already begun and will continue until 3! Tembo and Cora received specially painted boxes with treats inside. We have docents near the elephants so you can learn more and make an elephant ear hat to help spread awareness. There will also be keeper chats at 10am and 2pm. Stop by and learn more about why these giants are so amazing and worthy of protection. We ❤❤❤ 🐘🐘🐘!

📷: Keeper Caiti and Interns Dillon and Bekah ... See more

When you don’t want to get out of bed but you smell breakfast....
🦔
#sniffsniff #lazyhedgehog

Today was our Animal Care Intern appreciation lunch! These dedicated, future animal care professionals were a great asset to the Zoo this summer. As they leave for their next adventure, we wanted to say THANK YOU and we’ll miss them! #interns #appreciation ... See more

We cannot wait for this new addition to open later this month! More details will be coming out in the next couple of weeks for the opening.

Book your next event. Call or email Jesika at (785)783-4264 or jesikae@fotz.org. ... See more

It’s hard to express the beauty of Kay McFarland Japanese Garden...and it’s not even finished yet! We’re getting so close.

#weddingvenue #japanesegarden

We welcomed two new faces to the zoo last week! On your next visit, you may be able to sneak a peek at some very tiny golden lion tamarins! They will be hard to catch a glimpse of but look for a change in pattern on the fur of the adults and especially look for a little patch of black hair as this will be the top of their head. Tamarin groups all help raise the offspring and take turns carrying them to give the mom a break until she takes them back to feed them. Much of the time, it will be hard to see their faces, but one looked up when Keeper Joe was caring for them and he was able to grab this photo for everyone!

📷: Keeper Joe M. ... See more

Did you know the first Saturday of every month is a Household Hazardous Waste collection day in Shawnee County? From 9am to noon you can recycle a bunch of things that you probably didn't know you could! Hop on over to their website to see a list! https://www.snco.us/sw/hhwaste.asp ... See more

Informative site about the services offered in Shawnee County.

Each year, July 31st is World Ranger Day. This is a day for each of us to reflect on the work Wildlife Rangers are doing around the globe to protect the animals we love and the spaces they depend on for their survival. While Rangers are not at the forefront of media stories, they are the front line of protecting species of endangered wildlife around the globe from the many threats they face.

Illegal wildlife trafficking is estimated to be worth over 20 Billion dollars each year, rivaling that of international drug smuggling and arms dealing globally. The financial value placed on many species by poachers and illegal markets, places Rangers protecting them in harm’s way each day while they struggle to safeguard those species.

Wildlife Rangers, often called the Thin Green Line, face threats from well-armed poachers, militia groups, dangerous wild animals, and community backlash.

Approximately two wildlife Rangers are killed in the line of duty each week around the world while protecting our living treasures.
On this World Ranger Day, and every day, let us all reflect on the difficult and dangerous work Rangers are doing for us, and pay tribute to the great work they do and the great sacrifices they make while doing so.

Join the Topeka Zoo, today, as we showcase four different rangers from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation work in Uganda throughout the day!

#WorldRangerDay ... See more