ATTRACTIONS

MEET UDARA:

Just in time for Mother’s Day, The Topeka Zoo’s endangered Bornean Orangutan Rudy gave birth to Udara on May 5, 2022. “Udara,” meaning “air” in Malay, was the perfect name to accompany her older brother, Bumi whose name means “Earth!”

NAME: Udara (Air in Malay)

NICKNAME: Udi

GENDER: Female

DATE OF BIRTH: 5/7/22

TIME: 11:22 am

WEIGHT: approx. 3.3 lbs

MOTHER: Rudy

FATHER: Mawas

Gage Park

TOPEKA ZOO & CONSERVATION CENTER

The Topeka Zoo is a must for animal lovers of all ages! From long-time favorites like the Tropical Rainforest and Black Bear Woods exhibits to newer additions like Camp Cowabunga and the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden, there is something for everyone to enjoy at this Topeka staple in the glorious Gage Park.

Visit often to see the latest offerings, as the zoo is constantly becoming bigger and better! Keep an eye on the zoo’s website, TopekaZoo.org, to learn about upcoming events — like after-hours beer and wine tastings or zoo-wide trick-or-treating — and new installments, including the new multi-million-dollar giraffe exhibit coming online in 2023. Read on to learn more about this exciting new display!

BIG HAIR DON’T CARE

Zuri, an 18 year old female lion, made world headlines in 2022 when she grew a mane and began to roar, assuming leadership of the pride at the Topeka Zoo following the death of her mate, a male named Avus. See Zuri at Camp Cowabunga!

Beer for a cause!

While visiting Topeka, enjoy a Tiger Bite IPA at the Blind Tiger Brewery. A portion of the proceeds for every Tiger Bite IPA goes directly to support the Topeka Zoo’s Sumatran Tiger Conservation Campaign.

NEW IN 2023:

After 55 years, the historic Iron Horse Mini-Train made its final run in Topeka in Fall 2022. In February 2023 a new mini train will make its debut, complete with an on-board system to allow riders to play real train sounds.

Gage Park Carousel

Built in 1908, the grand old carousel in Gage Park will allow visitors to step back in time and enjoy a uniquely Victorian experience. Enjoy the music of the original Wurlitzer band organ or bring your lunch and watch the magic from the VonRohr Victorian Garden adjacent to the carousel.

KANSAS CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY CENTER

The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center is a hands-on children’s museum where families can explore, create, discover and learn through play. The Discovery Center features 15,000 square feet of indoor exhibits exploring science, careers, art, building and more. Children can paint on the walls, experiment with light, run a grocery store, build a tower, and more. Special space for babies and toddlers gives everyone a safe place to play. Outdoors, families have a 4.5-acre certified Nature Explore Classroom for adventures, including a trike trail, pirate ship, treehouse, natural stream, and educational gardens.

DON’T MISS THESE EXHIBITS:

Amazing special exhibit experiences in 2023 include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit from January 27 to May 14, Camp Kansas from June 9 to August 27 and Curious George: Let’s Get Curious from September 15, 2023 to January 7, 2024.

Curious George

Also, be on the lookout for KCDC’s upcoming 2023 exhibit, “Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!” Through this interactive exhibit children will be able to explore STEM concepts; practice problem-solving; and test other important skills like communication, collaboration and critical thinking. Another exhibit already on display at the center is “Illumination Station.” This exhibit features bright and colorful lights, mirrors and more, allowing for discovery and hands-on interaction with colors and science.