THE ZOO WILL CLOSE AT 1PM ON 4/26 TO SET UP FOR ROAR & POUR.
ROAR & POUR ON SALE NOW!
Tickets for Roar & Pour are on sale now! Don't miss out on this snazzy soirée of wine, food, and fun, all benefitting the zoo and you!
TIGER TRAILS & DEN ACADEMY
Tiger Trails & Den Academy offers an immersive experience that brings guests closer to Sumatran tigers and King Vultures while inspiring future conservation leaders. The Den Academy engages children in hands-on STEM learning, teaching them about wildlife conservation and the challenges tigers face. Through interactive activities, kids develop empathy and a deeper understanding of conservation, empowering them to take action. This initiative is a vital step in nurturing the next generation of wildlife advocates. Join us in making this vision a reality!
EARTH DAY
The Topeka Zoo’s Earth Day celebration will feature a variety of engaging activities and educational opportunities for visitors of all ages, with educational booths, craft booths, edible treats, hands-on activities around the zoo, and Keeper Chats with Zookeepers all part of regular admission from 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM on April 19th!
Join us!
SUMMER NIGHTS
Experience the Topeka Zoo like never before with our returning exclusive "Summer Nights Program".
Enjoy a unique evening tour to explore the zoo's exhibits after hours. This perfect family-friendly outing offers a unique and intimate look at our amazing animals and exhibits, culminating in the final night on September 18th. GET TICKETS
Drumroll, please! 🥁
We’re excited to announce the winners and honorable mentions of our Writing and Art Contests! If you see your name, congratulations! Our Education department will be contacting winners soon about their prizes and certificates.
Reminder- ALL participants of the Writing & Art Contest sponsored by Vaughn Pediatric Dentistry gain free entry to the Zoo during our Party for the Planet, this Saturday April 19 from 9 am to 3 pm.🌍🌎🌏
We’re excited to announce the winners and honorable mentions of our Writing and Art Contests! If you see your name, congratulations! Our Education department will be contacting winners soon about their prizes and certificates.
Reminder- ALL participants of the Writing & Art Contest sponsored by Vaughn Pediatric Dentistry gain free entry to the Zoo during our Party for the Planet, this Saturday April 19 from 9 am to 3 pm.🌍🌎🌏
Eggscellent otter photos for your feed! 🥚🦦
Yesterday we hosted our annual EGGSTRAVAGANZA which has provided us with plenty of content for the week leading up to Easter! The animals enjoyed special spring-themed enrichment complete with animal safe paper-mache eggs. The otters also received boiled eggs that were peeled and colored, providing on-theme protein! 💪
📸s: Kim B. , Keeper Melissa, & Keeper Madison B.
Yesterday we hosted our annual EGGSTRAVAGANZA which has provided us with plenty of content for the week leading up to Easter! The animals enjoyed special spring-themed enrichment complete with animal safe paper-mache eggs. The otters also received boiled eggs that were peeled and colored, providing on-theme protein! 💪
📸s: Kim B. , Keeper Melissa, & Keeper Madison B.
Why limit happy hour to an hour?? 🍾🕠
Asante had fun all day at her 21st birthday party! Our lioness is one of the oldest lions in North America so celebrating her is extra special. The median life expectancy of lions in Zoos is 16. The Topeka Zoo Animal Care and Veterinary teams do an amazing job at providing geriatric care, keeping Asante healthy & active.
Asante’s Keepers were super creative with her party but don’t’ worry, Asante was not given any alcoholic beverages. Happy 21st birthday to our amazing Asante!! (We know she’ll be attending Roar and Pour Wine Fest Presented by Kaw Valley Bank 🦁🍷 on April 26th! 😉)
📸: Kim B.
Asante had fun all day at her 21st birthday party! Our lioness is one of the oldest lions in North America so celebrating her is extra special. The median life expectancy of lions in Zoos is 16. The Topeka Zoo Animal Care and Veterinary teams do an amazing job at providing geriatric care, keeping Asante healthy & active.
Asante’s Keepers were super creative with her party but don’t’ worry, Asante was not given any alcoholic beverages. Happy 21st birthday to our amazing Asante!! (We know she’ll be attending Roar and Pour Wine Fest Presented by Kaw Valley Bank 🦁🍷 on April 26th! 😉)
📸: Kim B.
THANK YOU to the Kindergarten class at Topeka Collegiate 💙🦒
Each year, the Topeka Collegiate Kindergarten class makes a visit to the Zoo. Besides bringing us the gift of being able to inspire new generations of animal lovers & conservationists, they also donate a gift of enrichment items as a thank you for the animals! Animal crackers, BBQ Sauce, peanut butter, saltines - all are items we saw brought in today. Director of Animal Care, Wrylie, probably had just as much fun telling the children which animals would be receiving their donations/special treats as the animals will have receiving them!
*Photos posted with permission from the present guardians & school! 💙
Each year, the Topeka Collegiate Kindergarten class makes a visit to the Zoo. Besides bringing us the gift of being able to inspire new generations of animal lovers & conservationists, they also donate a gift of enrichment items as a thank you for the animals! Animal crackers, BBQ Sauce, peanut butter, saltines - all are items we saw brought in today. Director of Animal Care, Wrylie, probably had just as much fun telling the children which animals would be receiving their donations/special treats as the animals will have receiving them!
*Photos posted with permission from the present guardians & school! 💙
Is it a yawn… or the looks on our faces watching buses unload 20 - 200 school children? 🤪
Some good field trip reminders:
🚌 - Topeka Zoo has a South side entrance dedicated to school groups & a bus drop off zone. Bus-friendly entry is on Zoo PKWY beside the Helen Hocker theater.
🚌 - Groups must register in advance & pay together to receive the group discount rate - any parents or children arriving separate must pay full admission fee. Booking link: https://topekazoo.org/groupsandfieldtrips
🚌 - Education programs are available with advanced booking as a great addition to any field trip. To view prices visit https://topekazoo.org/education/education-programs/
(All jokes aside - we appreciate teachers for continuing to foster passion in conservation & wildlife by providing their classes the opportunity to visit the Zoo! ❤️🦧)
📸: Keeper Ashley
Some good field trip reminders:
🚌 - Topeka Zoo has a South side entrance dedicated to school groups & a bus drop off zone. Bus-friendly entry is on Zoo PKWY beside the Helen Hocker theater.
🚌 - Groups must register in advance & pay together to receive the group discount rate - any parents or children arriving separate must pay full admission fee. Booking link: https://topekazoo.org/groupsandfieldtrips
🚌 - Education programs are available with advanced booking as a great addition to any field trip. To view prices visit https://topekazoo.org/education/education-programs/
(All jokes aside - we appreciate teachers for continuing to foster passion in conservation & wildlife by providing their classes the opportunity to visit the Zoo! ❤️🦧)
📸: Keeper Ashley
❤️ react to give Cora a lil kiss on the trunk 😘
An elephant’s trunk serves multiple purposes as their nose AND their upper lip! Two nostrils travel all the way up their trunk to their upper nasal cavities, where millions of receptor cells process smells. An elephant’s olfactory (smell) sensitivity surpasses that of a bloodhound’s! At the tip of the trunk are ‘fingers’ that give elephants added dexterity in grabbing objects. African elephants have fingers at the top & bottom of their trunk tip, whereas Asian elephants like Cora just have a finger at the top!
📸: Keeper Shannon
An elephant’s trunk serves multiple purposes as their nose AND their upper lip! Two nostrils travel all the way up their trunk to their upper nasal cavities, where millions of receptor cells process smells. An elephant’s olfactory (smell) sensitivity surpasses that of a bloodhound’s! At the tip of the trunk are ‘fingers’ that give elephants added dexterity in grabbing objects. African elephants have fingers at the top & bottom of their trunk tip, whereas Asian elephants like Cora just have a finger at the top!
📸: Keeper Shannon
See news on our facebook page here.
2025 DATES
•Membership Only Events are in orange.
FREE DAYS:
- July 18th- 5pm-8pm.
- August 30th from 9am-3pm
January
- The zoo is open! 9:00 am - 5:00 pm with last admission at 4:30 pm
- Spring break camp enrollment opens - 20th
February
- The zoo is open!
- Friends Giving Society Brunch: Saturday, February 22
March
- Annual meeting for members - March 8th The meeting is in the Kay's Garden venue. We will meet at 1:00pm. Members can enter through the turtle gate to have direct access to the venue.
- Spring break camp March - 10-14
- Docent training March - 19-22
- World Water Day - March 22
- Members Only Giraffe feeding: Saturday, March 8 (1:30 p.m.)
- Wake & Learn- Animal Personalities at the Zoo: Friday, March 21 (8 – 9 a.m.)
April
- Kansas Ballet Performance - April 4-6
- Eggstravaganza - April 12
- Earth Day - April 19
- Roar and Pour - April 26
May
- KS Safe Kids - May 3
- Pollinator Palooza- Wildflower sale - May 10
- Endangered Species Day - May 17
- World Turtle Day - May 24
- Membership drive month – offer 10% off for new memberships
- Member Preview for Dinosaurs Alive! – Friday, May 23 (5:30 – 7:30 p.m.)
- Wake & Learn - Dinos and their Topeka Zoo Relatives: Thursday, May 29 (8 – 9 a.m.)
June
- Oceans Day - June 7
- Rainforests Awareness Day - June 14
- Joel Sartore/Tiger Fundraiser - Day presentation + Evening Event - June 14
- Giraffe Day - June 21
- Member Morning – Saturday, June 14 (Gates open for members at 8 a.m.)
- Member Morning – Saturday, June 28 (Gates open for members at 8 a.m.)
July
- Global Tiger Day - July 26th
- Member Morning – Saturday, July 12 (Gates open for members at 8 a.m.)
- Member Morning – Saturday, July 26 (Gates open for members at 8 a.m.)
- Member Appreciation Night – Thursday, July 31 (5 – 7:30 p.m.)
August
- World Lion Day - Aug 2
- World Elephant Day - Aug 9
- World Orangutan Day - Aug 16
- World Painted Dog Day - Aug 23
- Gage Park Founder's Fest/Free Day - Aug 30*
*Admission is free with suggested non perishable food item. - Ballet Midwest - Wildly Creative Event - Aug 30
- Wake & Learn: Growing Green in the Heart of the Zoo: Saturday, August 9 (8 – 9 a.m.)
September
- Brew at the Zoo - Sept 13
- World Rivers Day - Sept 20
- Member pricing for Zoo Lights (discount codes will be emailed to members)
October
- Chalktoberfest Event - Oct 11
- Chalk and Cheers - Oct 11 at 6 p.m.
- Boo at the Zoo - Oct - 18
- Boo at the zoo - Oct -25
- Boo at the Zoo (Member Only Lane) – Saturday, October 18 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
- Boo at the Zoo: (Member Only Lane) – Saturday, October 25 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
November
- Zoo Lights Begins - Nov 20
- Wake & Learn – Behind the Scenes of Zoo Lights: Tuesday, November 11 (8 a.m. – 9 a.m.)
- Member pricing for Zoo Lights (discount codes will be emailed to members)
December
- Cookies with Claus - Dec 6
- Zoo Lights Closes - Dec 28
- Member pricing for Zoo Lights (discount codes will be emailed to members)
- Cookies with Claus (Member Discount): Saturday, December 6 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
- Gift Membership Drive – Purchase the gift of year-round Zoo Membership!
Our Mission is to enrich our community through wildlife conservation and education.
BE THE DIFFERENCE.
When you become a business partner, you become a huge part of the success of the zoo AND the community! Join us today!