Heartland

Dodge City Wichita Manhattan

By Amber Fraley

In 2021, the Sedgwick County Zoo celebrates its 50th anniversary, welcoming visitors to encounter a range of exhibits and residents—including Stephanie the elephant, who will be celebrating her 50th birthday along with the zoo.

Stephanie was one of two elephants who arrived just two years after the zoo opened. Now the matriarch of the zoo’s herd, Stephanie is one of the oldest African elephants in the United States. She’s seen many changes since the Sedgwick Zoo, charging fifty cents for each adult entry, opened as an exhibition of “American and Asian Farms.”

“About every year or two something significant was built or developed,” says Jennica King, the zoo’s director of strategic communication. The zoo’s expansions included the Amphibians and Reptiles building, the Indoor Rainforest Habitat, one of the largest outdoor aviaries in the country, orangutans, chimpanzees and lowland gorillas, and an 11-acre North American prairie section that includes grizzly bears, cougars, river otters and bald eagles. In 1981, the zoo became accredited with the AZA—Association of Zoos and Aquariums—and is now in its 40th year of the “gold standard” in zoo accreditation. In 2018, the zoo announced a new mission statement to capture its philosophy: “Inspiring respect and conservation for wild animals and wild places.”

The zoo has several projects and events in the works: a new entry complex that opened in May; a new leopard habitat that will allow for the addition of snow leopards; a nighttime lantern festival set to run from October 1 to December 5; construction of a new passenger train route of 1.3 miles that will run around the perimeter of the zoo, set to open by June 2022; and an interactive stingray exhibition set to open April 2022.

Located at 5555 W Zoo Blvd in Wichita, the Sedgwick County Zoo has been operating at full capacity since May 2021, but be sure to call or check the zoo’s website before visiting. scz.org | (316) 660-9453

Wright Park Zoo One of the state’s smallest zoos, Dodge City’s Wright Park Zoo opened in 1926 and earned its accreditation with the Zoological Association of America in 2010. Currently, the zoo is home to 126 animals of approximately 30 species, including Siberian tigers, longhorn cattle, bison, black bears, and emu. Wright Park Zoo is located at 71 N 2nd Ave. and is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

If there are insect lovers in your family, then the Kansas State University Insect Zoo is a must-visit destination. Located in a converted limestone barn, the zoo features a large array of pinned specimens as well as several live insect exhibits. The Insect Zoo is located at 1500 Denison Ave in Manhattan and has been running by appointment only during the pandemic. Be sure to call or check the website for hours, appointment times and admission fees. (785) 380-9139 | k-state.edu/butterfly insect-zoo.appointlet.com