Elephant team has had a very eventful weekend!

On Friday, Topeka Zoo's elephant management team united with team members from both Sedgwick County Zoo and Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium to partake in what is called a 'Down Animal Drill'. This includes training from professionals at ASAR Training and Response where team members learn how to set up an intricate pulley system (among other tools) that would aide caretakers in the event of an emergency where a large animal is in need of help standing or finding stability. This is useful for not only elephant caretakers but for species such as rhinos, hippos, or giraffe. As a facility housing 3 of those listed species including a geriatric, 56-year-old African elephant, this training is crucial for our team to be prepared for worst-case scenarios. It was incredibly special to host friends and colleagues from nearby Zoos for this important professional development.

Speaking of our 56-year-old elephant, Saturday kicked off with her birthday bash! Tembo's 'royal court' threw her a birthday fit for a queen complete with a castle made out of boxes, a cantaloupe cake, and streamers all around the elephant yard!

Can you guess what’s next❓❓❓🌊

This new mural is washing up excitement from our community- we’re curious to see if anyone has ideas on what animals could be next to be featured.

Here’s a few hints:

💧This mural project aims to draw attention to some key species along North America’s waterways that are affected by plastic pollution.

🏞️ The next species to be featured is an indicator species - their presence usually means a river system is healthy since they have very specific adaptations and needs to thrive.

🌻 Both of the final species are Kansas natives!

This mural project is beautifully designed & completed by aerosol artist @abstractdissent with the support of the Rotary Club of Topeka. Visitors are welcome to come by and see the work in progress, no Zoo admission required (although we’d love to see you!).

Today was an exciting first - a miniature service horse paid a visit to the Zoo!

Staff were more than thrilled to meet Jeremiah the Miniature Service Horse and his handlers, who were the perfect example of what to do if you have a service animal and want to stop by! Before their arrival, they called to ensure we allow service animals & specifically miniature horses. Jeremiah was also properly checked in at our admissions, where he received a snazzy bandana that helps Zoo staff know he's verified. As you can see, Jeremiah also arrived dressed in his best gear letting other visitors know it's safe to approach as long as they ASK to pet - something not always allowed with service animals due to the jobs & tasks they are performing. Remember - trained service animals aren't just pals; they are someone's medical device!

During their visit, Jeremiah and his handlers were also very respectful that this is our animals' home. They paid attention to areas where it wasn't safe for Jeremiah to be in and watched the reactions of the Zoo's residents, moving on if anyone wasn't a fan or became too fixated.

Many folks are unaware that miniature horses make fantastic service animals for a variety of reasons: their stature is perfect for someone who needs weight-bearing support while standing or walking, they have an amazing sense of smell and can detect changes in their handler's body before their handler might, and they have a longer lifespan than a dog (average is about 30 years).

The Topeka Zoo welcomes trained service animals and aims to be accessible to all. To view the areas of the Zoo service animals are restricted from for safety or what kinds of service animals are allowed, visit: https://topekazoo.org/visit-the-topeka-zoo/service-animal-policy/

Whale (shark), look what's on the horizon! 🐋🦈

In case you haven't heard - the Topeka Zoo is in the process of having a mural installed by aerosol artist Abstract Dissent. This mural was graciously gifted by the The Rotary Club of Topeka to aide in efforts of raising awareness on plastic pollution, and the wildlife along North America's waterways that it affects - including the Whale shark. Fun fact - whale sharks are classified as true sharks, which are fish NOT whales, by the IUCN.

This mural faces the Zoo's main parking lot, gifting visitors with a new magnificent view upon entry. Keep checking back on social media for updates, swing by and see the painting process for yourself, or visit us on April 18 for Party for the Planet!