Adventure awaits, adults only! Explore Middle Earth at A Night in the Shire, our final camp of the year, Nov. 14. 🎫 Sign Up → ➔ 
Step into a winter wonderland at Zoo Lights! Stroll through dazzling light displays, enjoy festive treats and seasonal activities, and make magical holiday memories with family and friends at the Topeka Zoo.
Ready, set, roll! Kids 10 and under, deck out your bikes, wagons and strollers with lights and join our glowing parade through Zoo Lights. Bring your brightest bling and roll like a herd of shining zebras. Registration is required, so grab your spot before the parade fills up!
Make your Zoo Lights visit extra special with a private igloo rental! Enjoy cozy seating, festive décor, and exclusive perks as you sip, snack, and soak in the sparkle of the season.
Santa is stopping by the Topeka Zoo for a SWEET Holiday visit - before his big night!
Help us light up Zoo Lights at the Glow Roll Parade, on Saturday, November 21!
Kids ages 10 and younger can decorate their bikes, trikes, wagons, and strollers with holiday lights and festive decorations before rolling through the Zoo surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights. It’s a fun way to add a little extra sparkle to your Zoo Lights experience!
The parade begins at 6 p.m., with lineup starting around 5:30 p.m. Participation is free with Zoo Lights admission, and advance registration is required. Space is limited, so don’t wait to sign up!
Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/VSx2rYNedN
Stick insects, also known as phasmids, are masters of camouflage! They mimic sticks and leaves, and some even sway like plants blowing in the wind. Depending on the species, they may also use sharp spines or irritating liquids to defend themselves from predators.
Stick insects also play an important role in their ecosystems as a food source, natural plant pruners, and contributors of nutrients to the soil.
At the Topeka Zoo’s Schendel Bug Zoo, you can find two species: Jungle nymphs and Vietnamese walking sticks. Both are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females look different. Female Jungle nymphs are larger and a lighter green, while males are brown. Female Vietnamese walking sticks are also larger than males and have horn-like protrusions on their heads. The Jungle nymph stick insect produces what is believed to be the largest egg of any insect!
Visit the Schendel Bug Zoo during your next visit to see these fascinating insects up close!
That’s a wrap on our second Boo at the Zoo, presented by Fit Excavating and what a great way to finish out the season! From creative costumes and trick-or-treating to watching our animals dig into their pumpkin enrichment, we loved celebrating Halloween with our Zoo community. Thank you to everyone who came out and made both weekends so much fun!
Now we want to know: Which costume stole the show? Tell us in the comments!
The countdown is ON! Starting November 20, you can experience the transformation of the Zoo into a dazzling holiday adventure - Zoo Lights, presented by Evergy
Imagine wandering beneath brilliant canopies of twinkling lights, discovering vibrant colors illuminating the night and exploring 11 spectacular Joy to the World zones inspired by holiday traditions and magical places around the globe. Everywhere you turn, there’s another glowing scene to explore, a picture-perfect moment to capture and a little holiday magic waiting to be discovered.
🎟️ Your Zoo Lights night awaits! Get your tickets today and start counting down with us!
https://topekazoo.org/zoo-events/topeka-zoo-lights/
Join us this Saturday, October 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for our final day of trick-or-treating! Our animals are getting in on the Halloween fun with pumpkin enrichment, and Tank is ready to show off his pumpkin-chomping skills.
Boo at the Zoo is presented by Fit Excavating Zoo members get in free and can skip the admissions line with the Member Only Lane!
We’ll see you Saturday for costumes, candy, and spooky fun! What are you dressing up as?
These meetings provide an opportunity to share what’s working well, discuss challenges, and learn from one another as we continue working to create the best possible experiences for our guests and the animals in our care.
We enjoyed a day of discussion, along with the opportunity to tour Tiger Trails and Den Academy and share these exciting new spaces with our fellow zoo professionals!
We’re grateful to be part of a community of AZA-accredited zoos across Kansas that values collaboration, learning, and working together to make a difference.
Lee Richardson Zoo, Sunset Zoo, Rolling Hills Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, Hutchinson Zoo, Emporia Zoo
See news on our facebook page here.
Classes, camps and clubs for every age are waiting just below. Scroll down to explore!
Our Mission
is to enrich our community through wildlife conservation and education.
Learn Something Wild
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