
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!
Vision for Tigers in Topeka
- Engaging platform to inspire youth through the legacy of Mark and Bette Morris and their profound contributions to animal wellbeing and conservation.
- Immersive experiences that highlight transparency and a 360-degree view of the world of tigers and their conservation challenges and solutions.
- Innovation is the foundation to tiger wellbeing that elevates their participation in their own health care.
- Active, hands-on learning through a STEM laboratory and themed classroom experience that highlights applied research in animal well-being with a focus on nutrition.
- Empowerment through participation in conservation action that tackles the critical issue for tigers – poaching.
- Conservation breeding program that builds on the success of our past and ensures a bright future for tigers in nature.
- Empathy for tigers fostered through an intimate nursery experience, connecting us with mother and cubs and our shared sense of family.




LEAVE YOUR MARK - BUY A BRICK
Be a part of Topeka Zoo’s exciting new Tiger Trails by securing your place in history! Leave your mark while supporting our mission.
Brick Options:
4x8 Brick – $100 (Up to 3 lines, 12 characters per line)
8x8 Brick – $250 (Up to 4 lines, 12 characters per line)
Engrave your name, honor a loved one, or leave an inspiring message—all while helping us build a future for wildlife conservation.
Key Features of the Tiger Trails & Den Academy
- Immersive habitats that provide an up-close look at Sumatran tigers and their behaviors.
- Transparent conservation efforts, allowing guests to witness the challenges and solutions in real time.
- A look into cutting-edge training programs where tigers participate in their own healthcare.
- STEM-focused displays and activities designed to educate and inspire children.
- Empathy-building experiences that highlight the bond between tiger mothers and their cubs.
- Interactive trail with immersive experiences.


Tiger Trails & Den Academy is an innovative program that combines STEM learning with wildlife conservation. Children participate in an exciting investigation game to track poachers, solving clues and learning about challenges faced by Sumatran tigers, like habitat destruction and poaching. This hands-on experience educates and empowers young participants to become future wildlife advocates by connecting them with real-world conservation issues.


Inspiring Future Scientists
As our young scientists slip on their lab coats and discover the fundamentals of food and the nutritional needs role playing animal nutritionist. They not only discover what elements are but how combining protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, fatty acids & oils, amino acids combined create a healthy diet for a tiger. By applying taste, texture and variety along with nutritional needs for strong, charismatic animal, we empower and inspire future generations to come. Committing to the wellness of youth today and tomorrow as well as sustaining tigers here and in the wild. Inspiring our future scientists, field researchers, nutritionists, veterinarians, and animal care staff.
King Vultures
The King Vulture is a striking bird of prey native to Central and South America, known for its vibrant plumage and impressive size. With a bare head and colorful skin around its face, its body is mostly white with black wings and tail feathers, giving it a regal appearance. As a top scavenger, it plays a vital role in ecosystems by feeding on carrion and helping to clean up the environment. King Vultures are also important socially, dominating feeding sites and allowing smaller vultures to feed afterward. While not endangered, they face threats from habitat destruction, making protection of their environment essential.

As indispensable scavengers, they contribute significantly to ecosystem health by preventing the spread of disease and aiding in nutrient recycling.

On behalf of the Topeka Zoo and all those who will benefit from your generosity, we extend a heartfelt thank you for your donation towards our masterplan. Your support plays a vital role in our efforts to create a more sustainable and engaging environment for our community. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future, where education and conservation thrive. Thank you for your commitment to the Topeka Zoo.
EIN: 48-6117369