On May 4, 2010 Sedgwick County Zoo welcomed its 15 MILLIONTH guest. When Sedgwick County Zoo opened in 1971, families were pleased, but they had little idea of the great things that were in store. The Zoo has seen steady progress through the past three decades with major exhibits opening every few years. This is quite an accomplishment for our community.

The Downing Gorilla Forest opened in 2004 to the excitement of thousands. Then Cessna Penguin Cove delighted adults and children alike. Today the Slawson Family Tiger Trek continues to inspire guests every day. It is with great pleasure that we welcomed our 15 millionth guest and look forward to many more. 

“I can’t believe it!” said Suzanne Armendariz, “I never win anything! This is so exciting! Thank you so much!” Suzanne, accompanied by her son Ethan, were rewarded with two season tickets to the 2010 Sedgwick County Zoo Capitol Federal Summer Concert Series; four tickets to one of the upcoming INTRUST Bank Arena events and a gift basket courtesy of KWCH Channel 12; plus a lifetime membership to the No. 1 outdoor family tourist attraction in Kansas – your Sedgwick County Zoo. Ethan was a bit shy at first, due to all the excitement, but before the party was over he was blowing kisses and giving out high-fives to Zoo staff.

“I’ve always believed that zoos are a reflection of their community,” said Executive Director Mark C. Reed. “Our community has been so very supportive and without that support we would not be here celebrating 15 million guests and still counting.”

Your Sedgwick County Zoo cares for animals big and small every day. Sunday, April 25 was no different. A guest arrived at the Zoo with a box containing four newly hatched owls which he had found in a tree he recently cut down in his yard. Zoo staff explained to the guest that the Zoo is not licensed to rehabilitate native wildlife and unfortunately, given the age and condition of the owls, our only recourse would be to euthanize the birds. Zoo staff then provided contact information for the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP) who maintains a list of licensed rehabilitators. After much thought and discussion with his family members, the Zoo guest decided to donate the birds to the Zoo with the understanding that the birds would be euthanized and he signed a form to that end. The Zoo Veterinarian on duty, a former rehabilitator as well, examined the birds estimating their age to be approximately 2-3 days old and determined they were not good candidates for rehabilitation. Unfortunately, news reports caused misunderstandings regarding the surrender of the four newly hatched owls. 

In the Zoo's nearly 40-year history, we did for many years participate in the rehabilitation and release of numerous native species. As the Zoo has evolved we found it necessary to reallocate resources such as staff, facilities and funding toward other areas. We allowed our Federal and State rehabilitation permits to expire due to the presence of licensed wildlife rehabilitators in the area or within reasonable driving distance. We felt these institutions or individuals could certainly care for the needs of injured or orphaned wildlife. At this time we do not feel that our Zoo has the necessary resources to provide wildlife rehabilitation services. As a result, anyone inquiring about wildlife rehabilitation is directed to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to locate a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. However, our licensed veterinarians assess all animals that are donated to the Zoo. If they are considered a viable candidate for rehabilitation they are stabilized and transferred to a licensed rehabilitator. If the animal is not considered a viable candidate for rehabilitation it is quickly and humanely euthanized. We take this responsibility very seriously and offer it only as a last resort. Verbal and written confirmation of a wild animal donation and the possible outcomes are explained to ensure all parties understand.

Our Zoo wishes to remain a valuable asset in every way possible. While the outcome of this incident saddens us all, we urge you to investigate the facts when forming your opinions. Emotions will always be present where animals are concerned but our Zoo will always maintain legal, ethical and professional practices on their behalf.

What can we do to prevent this from happening again? When it comes to backyard wildlife KDWP recommends we do these animals a favor and leave them alone. It's common to encounter young wild animals, especially in spring and summer. Every year, the lives of young wild animals are needlessly jeopardized by well-intentioned people who take them from the wild in the mistaken belief that the animals are abandoned or orphaned and will die if not given care. In fact, rescuing wildlife from the wild often results in the death of the animal.

If you find yourself in an unfortunate situation involving an injured, abandoned or displaced animal, such as the above mentioned Zoo guest, you should contact the nearest office of the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks regarding information on rehabilitators that have the correct permits for the animal in question. Rehabilitators ease the suffering of these animals by either caring for them until they can be released or humanely euthanizing them.

We are pleased to announce that for the first time ever, we have Humboldt penguin chicks at Sedgwick County Zoo! Our first two penguin eggs hatched on March 21 and March 23 and the chicks are both doing well.

You can identify the penguins by their wing bands: In nest box #4 we have parents yellow/black/black + pink/yellow/yellow and in nest box #6 we have foster parents white/blue/blue + white/yellow/yellow. The first pair of penguins in nest box #4 actually laid both eggs but one egg from nest box #4 was moved by the keepers to nest box #6. By splitting the eggs between penguin pairs we hope to increase our chances that both chicks will be raised without any problems.

After an incubation period of 39 days, the two penguins hatched. Humboldt penguins share the parental duties of incubation and chick rearing equally. By doing this the species increases its chances of raising chicks to independence. The hatching occurs in the artificial burrows on exhibit but is difficult to see since the adults are so protective and need to keep the egg or hatchlings warm under their own bodies.

What Does This Mean for the Species?
Humboldt penguin reproduction is carefully monitored by breeding recommendations made by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Species Survival Plan management group. Each possible pairing is assessed based on genetic and demographic components of the entire population, showing us the importance of resulting offspring.
 

Caring for exotic animals is by no means an easy task, even when these animals are in their prime. Feeding nutritional diets, cleaning animal areas, implementing enrichment programs, researching and recording behavioral patterns, and following reproductive programs are all normal aspects of a zookeeper’s job. But what if an animal is not in its prime? What if, like all animals eventually do, a Zoo animal becomes geriatric and requires special attention and care?
Luckily, we have dedicated Zookeepers who are committed to providing excellent care for the animals – regardless of their age. Some of these Zoo employees have volunteered to give you an insight into the lives of a few of the animals that have achieved senior citizenship at the Zoo. Some of these geriatric animals are experiencing age-related issues and health concerns, and in these cases our staff makes sure to give them a little extra help to keep them comfortable in their “golden years.”

Sumatran Orangutan
Devin Bailey - Zookeeper

We are very lucky here at Sedgwick County Zoo to have Tia, a 53-year-old Sumatran orangutan. It is estimated that Tia was born in Sumatra in 1957 and came to Wichita in 1985. Tia is currently the second oldest orangutan in the Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative breeding and conservation program administered by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Over the years, Tia has been a very healthy girl; however, she has lost or worn down all of her teeth. For Tia’s nutritional needs and comfort, we steam her carrots and any other hard to chew veggies. We also like to keep her nice and warm during the winter – due to her advanced age, we keep her bedroom at a cozy 80 F. Tia is still a very feisty lady and gets around pretty well. She often uses the extra handles we installed to assist her in climbing. Despite her age, Tia is still a very healthy and active member of our orangutan family.

Eastern Black Rhinoceros
Kinna Middleton - Zookeeper

Here at Sedgwick County Zoo we currently have three Eastern black rhinoceros (rhinos). Bibi, our adult female, is 11 years old. Doppsee, our juvenile female and offspring to our adult pair, is two years old. Eugene, our adult male, has just turned 30. He was born February 25, 1980 at the Cincinnati Zoo and came to live here on June 25, 1981. Rhinos can live into their mid to late 30s.

Eugene is no longer in his prime. As all living things do, Eugene is experiencing certain ailments and physical changes to the body and mind as he ages. His back is becoming swayed. His teeth are wearing and deteriorating with use. He has lost mass and has had difficulty retaining weight.

However, there are many things we can do to help Eugene as he ages. Kelly and John Callen donated money for rubberized padded flooring in the rhino stalls, making the floor a little softer and warmer to the touch than concrete. We also put down hay bedding to keep him more comfortable. Our Zoo veterinarians will adjust his diet as needed to make sure he gets the calories and roughage (coarse plant material) needed to sustain his body. If we see that he is having trouble chewing his food or not eating all of his diet, we can cut his fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces, soak grain in water to make it softer, mulch alfalfa and even sift out alfalfa leaves from the stems.

Sheltopusik
Schaneé Anderson - Curator of Education

The sheltopusik is a legless lizard from southern Europe and Central Asia. Legless the sheltopusik is part of the education department’s animal ambassador program. Although sheltopusiks usually eat insects and small animals, Legless would occasionally eat rocks in his youth. As a young animal, Legless would generally pass the rocks through his digestive system with few problems. Now that Legless is older, the rocks do not always make it all the way through and the veterinarians have to come to his aid with a little mineral oil mixed in his favorite food. The education staff is also very careful to make sure to not put any rocks in his enclosure that are small enough for him to fit in his mouth.

North American Animals
Nancy Smith - Senior Zookeeper

When I heard that there was a request for articles regarding care for geriatric animals in the Zoo, I happily agreed to share. There was a time not that long ago when I wouldn’t have been able to offer any information, as we had all young animals in the North American Prairie. When the Prairie was built, almost all the animals we received were under a year old. But time has flown by, and here we are looking at a Prairie exhibit that is almost 17 years old.

Nala, our cougar, is the oldest Prairie animal. She will turn 19 in April. Nala lost her companion Bo, another female cougar, last year. Bo was experiencing age-related health problems that were affecting her quality of life. There-fore we had to make the difficult decision to humanely euthanize her. After Bo died, we were afraid that Nala would not be far behind, as she was two years older than Bo and was already blind in one eye and having problems with the other eye. Oftentimes when an aged animal loses its companion, it becomes ill from stress and it doesn’t live much longer.

This has not been the case with Nala. Not too long after Bo died, she lost vision in her second eye. We were really worried that this would be the beginning of the end for her. But much to our relief, she adapted extremely well to her lack of vision and adjusted to being alone. By keeping her routine consistent, Nala has done very well. We do everything the same way, day after day. We do not change her environment, so she knows where everything is located. We talk to her to let her know where we are. If she is having trouble finding one of her daily mice treats, we tap on the ground with a tool to show her where it is. She was a little unsure on her ramp that leads from the den to the exhibit, so we asked our maintenance department to build a railing to keep her from falling. She also has steps up to her platform at the base of the ramp so she doesn’t have to jump.

Because of her age, Nala has become much more sensitive to temperature extremes. In the winter, we give her a big bed of straw in the den that she really enjoys and we keep the thermostat set higher to ensure she stays warm. She also gets a bed of prairie hay in the caves on exhibit. When the weather is borderline warm enough for her to be outside, we let her have access to her den and exhibit and let her decide what she wants to do. Likewise, in the summer, if it is going to be really hot, we give her access to her den all day so she can decide if she wants to be outside. She is given a water mister on exhibit and a fan in the den to help her stay cool.

Prairie Dancer, the 16-year-old pronghorn, has her own special routine that she requires in order to keep her healthy. We keep her separated from the male at all times, due to his tendency to chase her. Although she can still run surprisingly well, she doesn’t have the stamina she used to have, and her joints are wearing down, and so eliminating the chasing helps avoid injuries. In order to give her time on exhibit with the other females, the male is kept inside the holding area every other day so she can be with the others. To help her joints feel better, she receives two supplements in her food each day.
Like Nala the cougar, Prairie Dancer also has less tolerance for extreme temperatures, especially the cold. We do not let her on to exhibit unless it is warm enough for her to be comfortable, and every night she has access to, or is even shut in, the heated barn. We also give her a giant bed of hay that she really enjoys. In the summer, we provide her with a box fan to help keep her cool.

Prairie Dancer also has a special diet to help her maintain an appropriate weight. Because of this, she is separated from the others every night to give her plenty of time to eat. She seems to really like all the special food items she receives, and is always ready to come in when it is dinnertime.

Both Nala and Prairie Dancer seem to be doing well with these accommodations. I like to think that they are enjoying all the special attention they are receiving. We hope to have them with us for quite a while longer. And when they are gone, there are plenty of Prairie animals that are approaching their golden years that we will accommodate as well.

Silver Spring, Maryland (September 23, 2009) – The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) today announced that the Sedgwick County Zoo was granted accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission.

“The Sedgwick County Zoo is one of the best in the world because it has met the highest standards in the world,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “It takes hard work and a sustained commitment to excellence to meet Association of Zoos and Aquariums Accreditation Standards.”

To be accredited, the Sedgwick County Zoo underwent a thorough investigation to insure it has and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous accreditation process in order to be members of the Association, and are required to resubmit to this process every five years.

“The Sedgwick County Zoo is also a great place for people to connect with nature,” Maddy added. “Members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums support their schools and communities with science-based wildlife education programs that not only inform, but also inspire conservation action.”

The accreditation process includes a detailed application and a meticulous on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals. The inspecting team observes all aspects of the institution’s operation in areas such as animal care; keeper training; safety for visitors, staff, and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts; veterinary programs; financial stability; risk management; visitor services; and other areas. The inspection team prepares an extensive written report for the Accreditation Commission. Finally, top officials are interviewed at a formal Commission hearing, after which accreditation is granted, tabled, or denied. Any institution that is denied may reapply one year after the Commission’s decision is made.

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, the AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, please visit www.aza.org.

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Please contact Christan Baumer at the Sedgwick County Zoo at 316.266.8212 for additional information about the institution, including special events and activities for visitors and its ongoing commitment to wildlife conservation and science education.
 

You will take a trek through a simulated tiger reserve as you cross a rugged bridge and enter through a gateway into another land where tigers roam. Hikers must pass through a poacher’s checkpoint in order to be allowed into the park. Poaching is a big threat as the tiger’s meat, skin, and bones are used for medicines. Many countries have passed laws to stop the sale of products made from tiger parts. Once past the poacher’s checkpoint, you enter tiger territory! Learn more about Malayan and Amur tigers as you observe them as they play, pounce and rest.

Along the trail, a red panda can be found just beyond a washed out gully. The taxonomy of this animal has given scientists many headaches. It has been put in both the raccoon family and the bear family, but now it is in its own family, Ailuridae. These adorable creatures are naturally found in the bamboo forests of the rocky Himalayan foothills.

Ahead, you will come to the Tiger Reserve Lodge, a place to come in out of the weather, relax a bit, and get a close-up view of the nearby tigers. The big cats may be cooling themselves in the mountain stream or enjoying their enrichment training from the keepers. The lodge will be available for overnights and group events. Imagine sleeping soundly with these huge nocturnal predators roaming just outside the window.

Leaving the lodge, a stone path leads to a shaded viewing structure. Here you may see tigers as well as evidence of human encroachment. Logging, another threat to tigers, has left only tree trunks sticking out of the ground. Often the clearing of trees is the first step towards people inhabiting a new area. Not even the tiger park reserve is immune to population expansion.

Trekking onward, you will find the trail becomes an elevated boardwalk, that takes you to a lookout tower. This vantage point offers a majestic view of the tigers as well as the first glimpse of a rare deer species. In the wild, tigers prey on wild boar, birds, fish, mice, brown bear elk, and deer.

At the edge of the reserve, you will see a settlement of shacks and tents. Urban sprawl has stretched its first finger into the park. Learn more about tigers and how you can make a difference through learning adventures at the Zoo. Sedgwick County Zoo works to promote conservation initiatives around the world including the Save the Tiger Fund. This fund allocates funds to 13 different tiger range countries in Asia to enable tiger conservation activities such as research, education, breeding programs, habitat restoration, sustainable development projects, and human-tiger conflict reduction. Every time you visit the Zoo, you help fund conservation programs that Sedgwick County Zoo supports!

• How the Slawson Family Tiger Trek began
• Isn't a tiger just a tiger
• Lesser but sill amazing
• Progression of a forest
• Tigers are coming to the Zoo. Are you?
• Media advisory
• Next group event a growling good time
• Media photo library

The votes are all in. We've counted and we've carefully selected our prize winners!

What will the tigers' new names be? Who will win the grand prize packages? You'll have to wait a few more days to find out. Join us at the ribbon cutting ceremony to find out - Friday, May 22 at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Slawson Family Tiger Trek! See you there.

Four Grand Prize Winners will receive:

• A one-year membership - Enjoy unlimited visits for one full year.
  Yes, if you are already a member this can be added to your current membership.
• Summer Concert Season Tickets for Two - Enjoy the sounds of summer at Sedgwick County Zoo.

• Three of our winners will receive a Sedgwick County Zoo Growling Good Time Gift containing tons of terrific tiger merchandise.
• One of our winners will receive a NewMarket Square Gift Basket - Enjoy special items from NewMarket Square retailers and restaurants.

Rules: No immediate family members of The Wichita Eagle, Sedgwick County Zoo or Sedgwick County Zoological Society living in the same household are eligible to win. You need not be present to win if your entry is chosen. The Wichita Eagle and Sedgwick County Zoo are not responsible for any lost or damaged entries. Contest participants grant unlimited, non-exclusive use license to The Wichita Eagle and Sedgwick County Zoo. The Wichita Eagle and Sedgwick County Zoo reserve the right to use the winners’ names in printed materials and electronic media in the promotion of Sedgwick County Zoo, Slawson Family Tiger Trek and other activities and events. All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1. The four names with the most votes win. Four prize winners, one for each tiger, will be selected from the group of entries who voted for the winning name. Prize winners will be announced during the Grand Opening ribbon cutting celebration May 22 at 10:00 a.m. The Wichita Eagle and Sedgwick County Zoo reserve the right to select the grand prizewinner. All decisions are final. Contest is void where restricted or prohibited by state or local laws. Limit one vote per person.
 

Have you noticed that the flamingos near the Zoo entrance are a varied bunch lately? The Caribbean flamingos (the bright pink ones) are the usual residents there. The flamingos that look pale pink to almost white are greater flamingos. They normally reside in Nganda Village but are currently staying with their youngsters in the Caribbean flamingo exhibit for easier care and more protection from the elements. The gray flamingos are the juvenile greater flamingos, just four months old. Watch the following video interview with Bird Curator Joe Barkowski as he provides behind-the-scenes info regarding our flamingos.

Wichita, KS - The Sedgwick County Zoo finished 2008 with a total of 584,076 guests, making it the third best year in terms of attendance in the Zoo’s history. Sedgwick County Zoo achieved attendance record highs in 2004 with the opening of The Downing Gorilla Forest (591,687 guests) and 2007 with the opening of Cessna Penguin Cove (593,428 guests). 

Sedgwick County Zoo also exceeded revenue goals in 2008 by 5.9% ($332,871). This additional revenue is already being invested in the Zoo. Plans for a new Avian Propagation Facility are underway as well us general maintenance plans for buildings, pathways, animal shelters and much, much more. 

“We have been very fortunate to experience such tremendous growth both in exhibits and attendance over the last few years,” said Mark C. Reed, Executive Director. “The support of this community has been outstanding and thanks to the public/private partnership we have with Sedgwick County, we have been able to make this zoo one of the premier attractions in the state and a real asset to the quality of life for those living in South Central Kansas.” 

As for a return on investment from all funding sources to the Zoo, a recent study showed that Sedgwick County Zoo has a total annual economic impact of more than $43 million to Wichita and Sedgwick County. Nearly half of the guests who visit the Zoo come from outside Sedgwick County making it one of the top attractions in Wichita and, in fact, the state of Kansas. 

“The Zoo is becoming a destination attraction for our community and with the opening of the Slawson Family Tiger Trek this May, we are working hard to make 2009 an even better year than 2008,” said Reed. “In these tough economic times, we all have to work a little harder and offer even more valuable, quality experience to our customers when it comes to their discretionary recreational dollar.” 

^{The Sedgwick County Zoo is a not-for-profit organization, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit www.aza.org. Sedgwick County Zoo is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums www.waza.org. Sedgwick County Zoo has been recognized with national and international awards for its support of field conservation programs and successful breeding of rare and endangered species. It's the No. 1 outdoor family tourist attraction in Kansas and is home to more than 2,500 animals of nearly 400 different species. For more information, visit www.scz.org.}

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May 30, 2008
Wichita, Kansas

The overall Master Plan of Sedgwick County Zoo addresses the existing land on which the Zoo is located (approximately 247 acres). No property expansion plans have been made. The Zoo is organized in two different ways. Exhibits located north and around the Central Plaza are oriented to specific themes, such as habitats (i.e. the Jungle) or animal groups of special interest (i.e. Amphibians & Reptiles). Exhibits south of the Central Plaza are organized zoogeographically by continent.

Immersion exhibits are a successful trend that have been adopted by the Zoo. In this type of exhibit design the visitor is immersed into an environment that resembles the natural habitat of the animals that are presented. Examples are the Jungle, The Downing Gorilla Forest and even Cessna Penguin Cove. This method enhances educational value since it provides the opportunity to share information about entire biomes shared by animals, plants, and humans, allowing us to tie together strong conservation messages.

Some of the Master Plan improvements—
The existing entrance building, built in 1972, is in need of major changes to meet current and future needs. The architecture of the entrance complex is to identify it as the main gateway into the Zoo. It will take on a character that compliments the Cargill Learning Center.

The African zoo-geographic zone of the Zoo will be strengthened with both new animals and new exhibits for existing animals. A new elephant exhibit will be located between the Pride of the Plains and The Downing Gorilla Forest.

A new event area and stage will be located south of Plaza Beastro in the existing giraffe yard (giraffes will move to a new exhibit where the current elephant yard is located). It will consist of a stage and an amphitheater with a capacity of 2,000 people to serve large functions such as the popular concert series and Zoobilee.

The Aquatic Complex is off to a good start with the opening of the popular Cessna Penguin Cove in May 2007. The Master Plan provides more aquatic encounters with an exciting seashore biome by adding a large saltwater facility for sea lions.
 

May 21, 2008
Wichita, Kansas

Sedgwick County Zoo is happy to announce three new residents: three Chinese alligators from Houston Aquarium. Chinese alligators are smaller than American alligators. These alligators are critically endangered in the wild. Their few numbers can only be found in a small area of the Yangtze River ecosystem in China.

The Chinese alligators are the start of a new habitat area in the Amphibian & Reptile building at Sedgwick County Zoo representing the most endangered river system in the world – the Yangtze River. Also new to this exhibit are golden thread turtles and yellow pond turtles.

April 25, 2008
Wichita, Kansas

The new restaurant has officially been named Plaza Beastro. A Restaurant Naming Contest was held in coordination with B98 FM, providing us with an outstanding 3,000 plus name possibilities! We had many excellent, creative names submitted and we thank everyone who contributed their ideas. After much deliberation, the final name was chosen and is actually a hybrid of two names. The name was unveiled and the two winners were announced at the restaurant’s Grand Opening, held on April 25. Congratulations, Chris McNiece and Jinger Titus!

Plaza Beastro serves as the main restaurant of the Zoo. It is located in the Central Plaza and offers views of the surrounding ponds and of the nearby giraffes and grizzly bears. The new restaurant can accommodate guests inside and many more outside, both on the restaurant’s deck and off.

Plaza Beastro boasts indoor restrooms, an ATM, and three entrances, with the main entrance located across from the giraffes. The cafeteria-style setup inside is much more conducive to serving large groups. There are two separate cash register lines, two beverage areas, and easily accessible condiments so you can fix up your food just the way you like it.

Do you have places to go and animals to see? Just hit the Beastro Express walk-up window on the northwest side of Plaza Beastro, across from Cessna Penguin Cove. There you will be quickly served your choice of our more popular items such as pizza, nachos, drinks, and more!

The expanded indoor area of the restaurant leaves us with opportunities for indoor birthday parties and group events, things that we previously could not accomodate indoors. We even have a party room that is separate from the main seating area and seats up to 24; it’s perfect for a personal party or a business meeting!

Next time you’re here, stop by the newest addition to the Zoo. The only animals inside will be the humans, but we can satisfy the appetite of a bear!
 

February 1, 2008
Wichita, Kansas

Sedgwick County Zoo has become the first zoo in the Americas to document that Komodo dragons are capable of parthenogenesis (reproduction without the contribution of a male). One Komodo dragon entered the world on January 31 and a second hatched on February 1, 2008 thanks to this type of asexual reproduction.

Parthenogenesis is a reproductive process that occurs naturally in some species including invertebrates, lower plants, and less commonly in vertebrates such as reptiles and fish. A parthenogenetic egg needs no fertilization from a male because it inherits and duplicates the mother’s chromosome. Based on a Komodo dragon’s genetics of sex determination, hatchlings reproduced in this way will always be male.

The hatchlings are healthy and feisty, the first measuring almost 17 inches long from nose to tail and weighing 104 grams and the second hatchling measuring 16 inches long and weighing 100 grams. Both males are doing well. Because of the nature of Komodo dragons, only one will be on exhibit at a time starting in the Amphibian and Reptile building.

Sedgwick County Zoo has two adult Komodo dragons; both are female and cared for separately. One female laid approximately 17 eggs on May 19-20, 2007 and Zoo staff followed the Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommendation to incubate and hatch two eggs. The SSP wanted to further document that Komodo dragons are capable of parthenogenesis. Only two earlier cases were documented in 2006 at London Zoo and Chester Zoo in England.