News – Sedgwick County Zoo https://scz.org Wichita, Kansas Fri, 15 Dec 2023 15:47:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 Sedgwick County Zoo closes bird exhibit areas due to HPAI https://scz.org/blog/sedgwick-county-zoo-closes-bird-exhibit-areas-due-to-hpai Mon, 13 Nov 2023 23:02:02 +0000 https://scz.org/?p=17811 Sedgwick County Zoo officials have learned of a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a deceased wild duck found on Zoo grounds. HPAI is a zoonotic disease that is carried by birds, mainly migratory waterfowl. While this particular strain is not believed to pose a high risk to human health, many Zoo animals are susceptible to the disease. This includes all birds…

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]]> In Memory of Toru, the Guam Rail https://scz.org/blog/in-memory-of-toru-the-guam-rail Wed, 18 Oct 2023 21:22:30 +0000 https://scz.org/?p=17642 The Sedgwick County Zoo is saddened to announce the death of Toru, the Guam rail. Toru was chosen to be an animal ambassador and raised to be acclimated to humans from his birth in 2014. “Toru was specifically raised by AZA professionals at another institution to be an ambassador for his species,” Zoological Manager Emma Koepp said. “This is not typical for Guam Rails, as they are shy…

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]]> Sedgwick County Zoo preparing for two new arrivals https://scz.org/blog/sedgwick-county-zoo-preparing-for-two-new-arrivals Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:59:57 +0000 https://scz.org/?p=17617 Sedgwick County Zoo is thrilled to announce that two female African elephants, Simunye and Talia, are pregnant. Routine blood tests have confirmed the pregnancies, and while it is still very early, both elephants are progressing beautifully. Simunye and Talia are each roughly 4 months along in their pregnancies. “Elephants are pregnant for about 22 months,” says Lauren Ripple…

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]]> Meet Alizeti – SCZ’s newest chimpanzee https://scz.org/blog/meet-alizeti-sczs-newest-chimpanzee Mon, 28 Aug 2023 20:12:15 +0000 https://scz.org/?p=17414 Sedgwick County Zoo is excited to welcome a new member of the chimpanzee troop – a baby girl born last Sunday, August 20. Her name is Alizeti which means “sunflower” in Swahili. Chimpanzee Chuckie gave birth in the presence of the troop during the early morning hours. The animal care team at SCZ observed mom and baby for a short time before coming to the conclusion that Chuckie was not…

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]]> Beat the Summer Heat at Twilight Tuesdays https://scz.org/blog/beat-the-summer-heat-at-twilight-tuesdays Fri, 30 Jun 2023 20:06:15 +0000 https://scz.org/?p=17045 Looking for tasty food, summer concerts, and family fun? Then you won’t want to miss Twilight Tuesdays at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Since 2012, the Sedgwick County Zoo has changed up its operating hours for Twilight Tuesdays, brought to you by Cox Communications. Every Tuesday in July, the Zoo is open with extended evening hours. From 9am to 8:30pm, enjoy $3 admission for the whole family.

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]]> SCZ says goodbye to Bibi the Rhino https://scz.org/blog/scz-says-goodbye-to-bibi-the-rhino Thu, 29 Jun 2023 15:30:00 +0000 https://scz.org/?p=17034 Bibi, a 25-year-old Eastern Black Rhinoceros at the Sedgwick County Zoo, died yesterday, June 28, 2023. Bibi began showing signs of colic, a painful abdominal condition, and a diagnostic exam determined that the prognosis of her gastrointestinal condition was poor. Despite aggressive round-the-clock care, she was not responding to treatment and the very difficult decision was made to humanely…

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]]> Are you up to the challenge? Join Plastic Free July https://scz.org/blog/are-you-up-to-the-challenge-join-plastic-free-july Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:12:29 +0000 https://scz.org/?p=16985 In the Pacific Ocean, there is a floating island twice the size of Texas. It floats halfway between California and Hawaii. But you won’t find white sands or palm trees on this island- this island is made entirely of garbage. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is made up of over 1.8 trillion pieces of trash. The 2018 study “Frequency of Microplastics in Mesopelagic Fishes from the Northwest…

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]]> Sedgwick County Zoo mourns loss of Pudgie the Hippo https://scz.org/blog/sedgwick-county-zoo-mourns-loss-of-pudgie-the-hippo Wed, 31 May 2023 14:03:03 +0000 https://scz.org/?p=16909 Pudgie, a 50-year-old hippopotamus at the Sedgwick County Zoo, died on May 30, 2023. She succumbed to ongoing health issues and declining mobility due to her advanced age. In recent years, keepers and veterinarians at SCZ had been providing specialized geriatric care to keep Pudgie comfortable and ensure she maintained a good quality of life. However, she recently took an obvious…

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]]> Farewell to a Beloved Zoo Icon: Saying Goodbye to Boomer the Bison https://scz.org/blog/farewell-to-a-beloved-zoo-icon-saying-goodbye-to-boomer-the-bison Fri, 17 Feb 2023 19:47:37 +0000 https://scz.org/?p=16275 Last week, the Sedgwick County Zoo lost a beloved icon, Boomer. Our bull bison of 13.5 years was humanely euthanized during an exam when it was discovered that he had severe health issues from which he could not recover. Boomer, an American bison, had been with us for over 12 years, impressing visitors with his massive size and stately disposition. He was in charge, and he knew it.

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]]> HPAI: What is it, and how are we managing it? https://scz.org/blog/hpai-what-is-it-and-how-are-we-managing-it Mon, 02 May 2022 15:25:10 +0000 http://localhost:10043/?p=15033 Sedgwick County Zoo officials have been closely following reports from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) moving across the United States. HPAI is a zoonotic disease that is carried by birds, mainly migratory waterfowl. While this particular strain is not believed to pose a high risk to human health, many Zoo animals are…

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]]> Where have all the birds gone? https://scz.org/blog/where-have-all-the-birds-gone Wed, 12 Aug 2020 21:27:52 +0000 http://localhost:10043/?p=13732 You may notice that the majority of birds in the Australia/South America habitat are not visible. We’ve recently seen evidence of a wild mink, which is a natural predator to birds, inside the Australia/South America habitat at night. We are working hard to investigate and resolve any containment issues that are allowing the animal to enter the area but until then, we have moved the birds to the…

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]]> SCZ Reopening https://scz.org/blog/scz-reopening Tue, 05 May 2020 04:45:48 +0000 http://localhost:10043/?p=13410 After being closed for nearly two months due to COVID-19, the Sedgwick County Zoo is building a phased plan to reopen under the current guidelines set by State and local governments. Restrictions will be put in place to ensure safety of animals, employees, and guests. Upon reopening, the most notable difference will be scheduled admission for all guests. Tickets must be purchased online prior…

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]]> A New Look https://scz.org/blog/a-new-look Thu, 24 Oct 2019 18:58:18 +0000 http://localhost:10043/?p=12869 Our new logo reflects that passion. Who better than the King of the Jungle paired with our native sunflower to reflect our deep, caring commitment to conservation of wildlife and wild places. Both right here in Wichita, and around the world, while inviting new people from all over the country to join us. So LION up. And let’s get WILD. Read the News Release (PDF) …

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]]> Your Future Zoo https://scz.org/blog/your-future-zoo Fri, 30 Nov 2018 23:40:00 +0000 http://localhost:10043/?p=11016 For 47 years, the Sedgwick County Zoo has worked to provide unforgettable experiences for our community, innovative and healthy habitats for animals, and conservation of species for future generations to be inspired. Now, SCZ is looking toward the future to determine what the Zoo will look like over the next 25 years. Your future Zoo will be a major multi-day destination and…

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