ZOO BLOG
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Gift Guide for Zoo Lovers
Christmas will be here before you know it, but there's still time to get some great Zoo-related gifts! Give a gift that keeps on giving all year long; even for those that seem impossible to shop for...
Zoo Lights Tickets
on Sale Monday
October 29, 2021
No one looks forward to Monday, but here’s a little bit of brightness to look forward to next week. Zoo Lights presented by Evergy tickets go on sale Monday, November 1. You won’t want to miss Zoo Lights in its second year. We’re doubling the fun in 2021! Last year, we only covered half the Zoo in lights, but this year, we’re covering the entire Zoo with lights, including the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden.
Here are some new things we’re introducing this year:
Zoo Lights Returns
for Year Two
October 7, 2021
The Topeka Zoo is excited to announce that Zoo Lights Presented by Evergy is back at the Topeka Zoo after a successful first year. Last year, over 65,000 people showed up to bask in the glow of the lights, meet Santa Claus, and sip hot chocolate. While it might be easy to sit back and accept the success of last year, here at the Zoo we’re always striving for bigger and better. In Year Two we’re DOUBLING the lights, fun, magic, and still have a few other surprises up our festive, sweater sleeves...
Elephant Conservation
The Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center is very fortunate to have both an African elephant (Tembo) and an Asian elephant (Cora). Both of our girls are elderly elephants, with Tembo having been born in 1970 and Cora in 1958. It is a relatively rare opportunity to see an African and Asian elephant next to each other. Elephants are the largest land mammals on earth. Their physical characteristics are unique in the animal kingdom. With that comes the observations of just how different these two species are...
Conservation of the Sumatran Tiger
The Sumatran Tiger is one of the species the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center cares for that is in the AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP). Our female tiger, Jingga was bred with Rojo in 2014 resulting in three daughters. Rojo has since gone to the IN, Miller Park Zoo and the three girls went to the Nashville Zoo. Since then, we accepted the arrival.....
World Oceans Day
We are privileged at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center to have one of our animal care supervisors come to us with experience from working at Miami, Florida’s Seaquarium. Shanna Simpson spent seven years working with sea mammals such as the bottlenose dolphin, California sea lions, Pacific harbor seals and the Pacific white sided dolphins. One of her favorites and one she worked with as an animal trainer was....
Animal Conservation Efforts
Last month’s article focused on conservation efforts at the Topeka Zoo with the emphasis on what we do at the Zoo to reduce, reuse and recycle and how we raise money for conservation efforts. Our conservation efforts include conservation of animal species. On site, we provide care for the animals to maintain their physical, social and mental health....
CONSERVATION IN ACTION
Conservation is in our name, Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center. So, what is conservation and what does the Zoo do that made it important to us to include it in our name? According to Merriam Dictionary, “Conservation is a careful preservation and protection of...
BLACK BEAR DEN
Ever wondered where our black bears disappear to every winter? Indie sleeps in a den box that we built for her, we have never seen Indie do any kind of digging for her own outside den and wanted to make sure she can go into torpor so a group of volunteers made it for her. If you look closely out on the habitat thought...
TOPZOO VETERINARIAN
Being the solo Veterinarian at the Topeka Zoo means having knowledge in internal medicine, dermatology, neurology, obstetrics-gynecology, hematology, urology, allergies, diagnostic radiology, nutrition, pharmacology, parasitology, dentistry, anesthesiology, surgery and probably a few other medical...
Meet Val and Indie
If you've ever visited the Topeka Zoo, you may have come across two beautiful black bears by the names of Val and Indie out in Hill’s Black Bear Woods. Although they are the same species of bear, when it comes to looks and personality, they cannot be any more different from one another. With a bit of time and inside knowledge, you too can differentiate the two...
Torpor
When thinking of bears and winter, we immediately think of hibernation. Contrary to popular belief, bears and many animals don't go into hibernation but torpor. Hibernation is when the animal lowers or ceases all body functions such as heart rate, body temp, and metabolism, making it so they...
Feeding the TopZoo animals
Feeding the animals at our Zoo is not a simple process. We are going to go behind the scenes with Nathan Martin, Commissary Specialist and Dr. Shirley Llizo, Zoo Veterinarian and learn more about them and the work they do to keep our animals healthy and fed. But first some background information...
Topeka Zoo and RAINFOREST
SANTA'S AT THE ZOO
Thank you to Our Elves
As we are a week out- we thought we would share with you what our amazing elves received, a glimpse at the amazing work they have done. Each elf has been as busy as a bee with their tasks, providing support, time, skills a lot of hard work...
Zoo Lights Regulations
With the Shawnee County Health Department implemented a new Health Order today, we have gotten a lot of questions about whether or not this will affect the 33 day Zoo Lights event. Because we knew the impact of COVID-19 could increase as we headed towards the end of the year, we began planning for that months ago. Here are some...
COOKIES WITH MRS CLAUS
With everyone working so hard around the Zoo preparing for Zoo Lights, we decided to take a break and enjoy a nice relaxing morning with very special company. For 12 days in December, we will be hosting Cookies with Mrs. Claus...
It Takes a Village
The Holiday Village is full of merry makers! Our village is home to five buildings, with smells of Bavarian nuts, Ho ho hos, merry music and jolly good times. You will find snacks, sweets and fun treats in the pantry of the Church. The Holiday Shop sponsored by the Emerson Family will be...
Explosion of Events
Staff and Volunteers here at the Topeka Zoo have been hard at work putting everything together for multiple events! If you happened to have walked around the Zoo these last few weeks...
TOPWinter
Topeka is working on becoming a destination for people, us here at the Zoo want to be part of that experience and show what the city of Topeka has to offer! Holidays in Topeka are grand and merry with...
Lights Displays
HME is a Steel Fabricator founded by Jon Haas in 1996 that provides structural steel to the construction industry. Having worked on a number of projects around the country...
Zoo lights Safety
While you and your family can experience the zoo during the day, Zoo Lights gives you the opportunity to experience a magical moment when it is dark out. There is something about seeing burst of colored of lights creating scenes of surprise! As we are wrapping lights now...
OUR TEAM OF ELVES!
Topeka is full of giving people, people full of talent and skills with huge hearts and a love for the holidays! The joy that lights up in their eyes at the mention of bursts of lights, oversized candy, festive music, dancing...
INAUGURAL ZOO LIGHTS
Several of us at the zoo have a passion for the holiday season. It is a magical and uplifting time of year to spend with our families and animal friends. Zoo Lights is a holiday phenomenon that has been in communities across the country for decades...