KANSAS CITY ZOO A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE
Sean Putney Becomes New CEO
Inside this issue: • Aquarium Update • Alligators Arriving Spring 2022 • Chinstrap Penguins
2022 – Q1
Hello, Kansas City Zoo Friends! I am so happy to be writing to you all in my very first Expeditions newsletter as the Zoo’s new leader! It is an honor to be in this position and I look forward to representing the Zoo and Kansas City as we continue to grow and to provide an amazing place for our guests to have a safe and fun visit, learn about the animals, and be a part of our conservation efforts. First, I would like to give kudos to my predecessor, Randy Wisthoff. Randy was integral in getting the Zoo to where it is today. The face of the Zoo has changed dramatically during his tenure and is now truly a gem that all Kansas Citians can be proud of. Though Randy has retired from his Kansas City Zoo position, we are blessed to have him continue with fundraising efforts through the Kansas City Zoo Foundation. He will be busy raising money for the aquarium that is set to open in the fall of 2023. If you would have told me 27 years ago that I would be filling Randy’s role as executive director, I would have found that hard to believe. That being said, I have had an amazing ride over the decades that has provided me with many great opportunities and numerous people to learn from. I started my zoo career at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo as an aquarist in a brand-new aquarium. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to grow and increase my responsibilities over my 13 years there. I was able to expand my understanding of the animal world and strengthen my leadership abilities while also seeing how important conservation, education, entertainment, financial stability, and community involvement are in having a successful zoo. I credit my wife, Cyndie, for allowing me the latitude to broaden my career when the opportunity arose to move to Kansas City in 2007. It was certainly a leap of faith but one that our family has enjoyed over the past 14 years. During my time here, my roles have changed - from animal curator to director of living collections to chief zoological officer. I have had the privilege of working with many outstanding people and animals and to be involved with numerous projects that have improved the animal habitats and our guests’ experiences. Our boys, Tyler and Joshua, have had the pleasure of seeing the Kansas City Zoo improve over the years, and I have gotten to see them, and millions of other children, enjoy what the Zoo has become. Now, as a grandfather, I look forward to helping lead this Zoo towards continued success that my grandson and his generation can enjoy for decades to come. My job is to build on what Randy started and continue to make you all proud of this Zoo. I look forward to seeing you here… because it is always a great day to visit the Zoo!
2022 Friends of the Zoo BOARD OF DIRECTORS Hayley Hanson, Chairperson Husch Blackwell LLP
Tony Reinhart, Secretary Ford Motor Company
David Sanchez Jr., Treasurer PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
Stephanie Ayers, Service Management Group David Barr, Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Inc. Brad Bodamer, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP Dr. Yolanda Cargile, Center School District Jeff Dillon, VanTrust Real Estate LLC Wes Dixon, KeyWest Technologies, Inc. Ana Nubia Duin, La Mega Spanish Radio Jan Francis, Community Volunteer Sandra Garcia, Metropolitan Community Colleges Audrey Hill, Saint Luke’s Health System Gayle Krigel, Community Volunteer Julius Lai, H&R Block Jill Marchant, Hallmark Yvette Miceli, Construction Brokers, Inc. Alex Perez, Greater Kansas City Foundation (HDFKC) Joe Prenger, ECCO Select Sean Putney, Kansas City Zoo Executive Director/ CEO Terry Riley, Transformation Consultants, LLC John Russ, UMB Bank Kathy Smith, Community Volunteer Representing the City of Kansas City Heather Hall, City Council, 1st District Kevin McManus, Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, City Council, 5th District Brian Platt, City Manager Zoological District Commissioners Greg Canuteson, Chair, Clay County Carol Hallquist, Vice Chair & Treasurer, Jackson County Jerry Nolte, Clay County Alex Perez, KC Parks and Recreation Representative Sean Putney, KC Zoo Representative Dan Tarwater III, Jackson County Kansas City Zoo Foundation Randy Wisthoff, Executive Director
Open daily, year round. www.KansasCityZoo.org 816.595.1234
Sincerely,
Sean Putney Executive Director/CEO
From left to right: Sean, Cyndie, Joshua, Shelby, Lisa, Tyler & Logan
2
The Kansas City Zoo, a private, non-profit organization is operated in agreement with the Kansas City, MO Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners, partially funded by the Zoological District in Jackson and Clay Counties in MO, and is accredited by the Assocation of Zoos and Aquariums.
Expeditions – 2022 - Q1
Aquarium Construction Continues The aquarium project is coming along swimmingly! Set to open in 2023, the 600,000-gallon aquarium is truly beginning to take shape. The concrete floors and walls in the basement area have been completed, and floors of the ground-floor public area will be finished by the end of February. When you visit the Zoo, you can now see the project going vertical! Walls for the large shark tank are coming to fruition, and before long, the construction team from JE Dunn will be working on the upper-level flooring. While this is happening, other contractors will begin working on installations in the basement level, which will include aquatic life support, electrical units, walls, and miles of piping!
February 2021
During your Zoo visit, you may notice peepholes that are present along the promenade, directly beside the work site. Be sure to take advantage of them and view the progress first-hand. Our contractors make amazing strides on a weekly basis. As construction continues, we invite you to help us make waves! Please consider a donation that will help bring to life a large-scale aquarium at the Kansas City Zoo. Gifts of every size are fin-tastic!
January 2022 Visit www.kansascityzoo.org/aquarium or scan the QR to learn more about the aquarium and how you can help bring the ocean to Kansas City.
www.kansascityzoo.org
3
Take a Bite Out of Spring! The Zoo is excited to announce the addition of an American alligator habitat scheduled to open in spring of 2022! The new alligator habitat will be located near the Koi Pond and Discovery Zone. While alligators can be outdoors most of the year, guests will also be able to see the alligators through a viewing window when they are inside.
Rendering of new alligator habitat.
Six female American alligators are expected to join the habitat and will be transferred from a Florida facility. The exhibit’s outdoor design will allow our care specialists to train the alligators while also presenting informational chats. American alligators have been affected by an increase in hunting in the past, but state and federal laws have helped its numbers to grow. Alligator populations are now sustainable again thanks to these conservation efforts.
Addra Gazelles The Zoo is thrilled to welcome three addra gazelles to the Africa Plains habitat! Also known as the dama gazelle, the addra is the largest and tallest of all gazelles. Native to Africa’s Sahara Desert region, this sleek, quick antelope species will migrate during the dry season from the scrubland to a desert habitat. Addra gazelles can survive long periods of drought by ingesting water directly from the plants that they eat. You can find the gazelles grazing alongside another striking African antelope species, the lesser kudu. Due to poaching and habitat destruction, the addra gazelle is currently listed as critically endangered.
Gazelle photos by Bill Arimborgo
4
Expeditions – 2022 - Q1
Stem Cell Therapy How cutting-edge veterinary care is helping our animals By Wm. Kirk Suedmeyer, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Director of Veterinary Health & Conservation Research The Kansas City Zoo is wholly committed to the care of every one of our more than 1,700 animals. Over the last few years, a new modality in veterinary medicine has entered – and advanced – the zoo field. We have some older animals with degenerative joint disease, or arthritis, which makes them uncomfortable when walking or doing their normal activities. Similar to people, those animals are provided various medications, laser therapy, softer substrates, etc., to help alleviate any discomfort. Unfortunately, most of these medications have not been researched to evaluate how and if they work in animals. We rely on the animal care specialists and our own observations to determine how well these treatments work, and most of the time, they do. Above: Sydney, associate RVT, carefully fills the anticoagulant tube used to separate the platelets from Skokie. Processing results in a platelet-rich “pellet” which is combined with the stem cells. Below: A sample of frozen stem cells.
In 2006, medical researchers made an exciting discovery: undifferentiated cells, called stem or mesenchymal cells, could be triggered to develop into normal healthy cells and decrease inflammation and pain. This has progressed into the veterinary field, and within the past 8-10 years, into the zoo field. The treatment utilizing this process is called stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy combines the mesenchymal cells with platelet-rich plasma from the affected animal. Platelets are cells which circulate in the body and provide proteins that can help clot open wounds, stimulate tissue healing, provide anti-inflammatory products and pain relief, and promote tissue remodeling and cell healing factors. Since 2015, we have harvested mesenchymal cells from the fat that lies underneath the skin during routine exams. This is a simple procedure done while the animal is asleep. Many times, our veterinary students collect the samples as part of their training. The animal may not need stem cell therapy at the time, but we can freeze the processed samples for up to 25 years! (continued on next page)
www.kansascityzoo.org
5
Skokie, by Bill Arimborgo
Swiss, by Sharon Martin
(continued from previous page) When the animal becomes advanced in age and develops degenerative changes or issues where stem cell therapy may help, we can now use their own cells that were banked in prior years. By encouraging the body to heal itself, we can often reduce the need for multiple medications. The banked cells are combined with platelet-rich plasma from blood samples obtained at the time of or shortly before the procedure. The combined product is then activated by a specific wavelength of light. This activation of the platelets causes the release of bioproteins, which will start the healing and repair processes. We have employed this technique on two of our animals with amazing results! Skokie, our 12-year-old male North American river otter, came to us in July of 2020, and already had significant arthritis in his spine, ankles, and knees. He was taking multiple medications to alleviate any discomfort. During his quarantine exam, we collected mesenchymal cells and sent them to our referral laboratory facility, Ardent Animal Health, for processing and storage. We received a report on how many stem cells were obtained the next day, and in Skokie’s case, we harvested 666 million cells with a viability of 99.9%! These cells were frozen in July of 2020.
6
In the winter of 2020, despite multiple medications, Skokie was noted as occasionally dragging his rear limbs across the snow. While he was not doing this constantly, we were concerned that he was uncomfortable and collectively decided to pursue stem cell therapy. Skokie was anesthetized and blood samples were obtained to collect the platelets. Once the platelets were processed, they were combined with 333 million the banked stem cells that were shipped back to us that morning. The combined product was activated with the light source and injected into the affected joints. Additional cells were provided through an intravenous injection over 20 minutes. These cells will migrate to areas of inflammation and degeneration that we cannot otherwise access and provide the healing response that Skokie needs. We still have 333 million cells banked that we can use in the future, should that be necessary. Skokie recovered well from the procedure and was noted as walking better less than a week afterwards. He rapidly recovered to walking without dragging the rear limbs! Since then, we have weaned him off nearly all his medications. While Skokie still has arthritic conditions,
Expeditions – 2022 - Q1
which can alter his appearance and gait, his movement and attitude are fantastic nearly a year after therapy! We also utilized this therapy on Swiss, one of our elderly goats at the Discovery Barn. Swiss was also uncomfortable from degenerative changes in his legs and only moderately responding to medications. Through an identical process as Skokie, Swiss received stem cell therapy in a similar manner. Ruminants, or herbivorous grazers like goats, are always more difficult to anesthetize, but Swiss’ procedure went very well. Much like Skokie’s results, Swiss’ improvement was dramatic. We don’t know how long the therapy will last, but our consultant believes that the effects of the stem cell therapy could provide 1-2 years of relief for each animal. All of this was made possible because of an anonymous
donation to purchase the equipment needed to process and prepare the stem cells. Ardent Animal Health provides the training and storage for stem cells, and we are constantly evaluating and streamlining the technique for the next animal. To date, we have collected stem cells from more than 50 animals and are expanding the program to include primates, reptiles, birds, and even fish! Stem cell therapy isn’t always the best option for the array of animals’ medical issues, but this is a cuttingedge procedure that can be very successful in the right circumstances. The Kansas City Zoo’s program is unique in proactively collecting stem cells and planning for the future, providing another option for making our animals comfortable. Visit Skokie and Swiss at their habitats throughout the year to see the results for yourself!
Pickleball for Polar Bears Kansas City Zoo has partnered with Polar Bears International (PBI) to take a more active role in polar bear conservation. Through this partnership, we support Polar Bears International and its efforts to learn about bears in the wild and to teach the rest of the world about the effects of climate change. Funds raised from the Pickleball for Polar Bear tournament will go towards our efforts with PBI. Visit www.kansascityzoo.org/event/pickleball-for-polar-bears to register.
Sunday, February 27, 2022 4pm – 7pm Chicken N Pickle – Kansas City 1761 Burlington St North Kansas City, MO 64116 $100 per team (2 players per team) Registration includes: • One beer ticket per player • Two Kansas City Zoo admission tickets per player • All teams guaranteed to play 3 – 4 games
Prizes: 1st Place – KCZoo penguin ice shelf experience + two trophies 2nd Place – 5-gallon bucket of pickles 3rd Place – 1-gallon jar of pickles
www.kansascityzoo.org
7
A Flurry of New Life The Zoo welcomed a new penguin species, the chinstrap, to Helzberg Penguin Plaza in late 2021! Native to the Southern Pacific and the Antarctic oceans, the chinstrap is identified by the dark band that will eventually form on the face of an adult penguin. The distinctive mark looks a bit like the strap you would find on a hat! Adult chinstrap penguins can stand between 20 to 30 inches tall and weigh approximately 9 pounds. SeaWorld San Diego sent the Zoo several incubated eggs in November of 2021. Among those that hatched were two chinstraps and three macaroni chicks. During the first few months of these penguins’ lives, the Water’s Edge care specialists hand-raised one chinstrap and one macaroni behind the scenes, while the other two macaronis and one chinstrap were fostered by three different gentoo pairings. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of both our care specialists and the gentoo foster parents, these chicks continue to flourish and even have the perfect names: Fez and Cowboy (chinstraps), and Gnocchi, Rigatoni, and Egg Noodle (macaronis). These chicks now have their adult feathers and are residing in the cold-weather habitat. Photos on this page are of chinstrap Fez (lighter) and macaroni Egg Noodle (darker) being weighed in towel-covered bowls. They were both hand-raised by our animal care specialists.
8
Expeditions – 2022 - Q1
How a Penguin Grows
Macaronis
Chinstraps
~1 week
~1 month
~2 months
Adult plumage acquired at about 60-70 days.
www.kansascityzoo.org
9
Conservation by the Numbers
CONSERVATION IN ACTION
2021 CONSERVATION FUND REVENUE $525,000
Raised
$450,000
$507,000
$375,000
$47,000
in 2021
22 Reforestation of 40 acres of riparian habitat in the tropical floodplain rainforest within the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah, Borneo. Roughly 16,000 tree saplings planted.
Trumpeter swan cygnets born at the Zoo
To date, 19,660 freshwater mussels raised at the Zoo have been released into the wild
10+ pollinator gardens at the Zoo
2021
Participated in 3 AZA SAFE Programs
Step Up programs in the gift shops and food and beverage locations along with animal paintings sold in the gift shop accumulated $47,000
$300,000
$51,500
Donations from our bird show, coin vortex displays, private donations, and miscellaneous contributions raised $51,500
$225,000
$51,500
$150,000
$51,500 was raised from education programs and events, including the Zoo Run and Brew at the Zoo
$357,000
$75,000
In 2021, $357,000 was raised from the conservation portion of admission and membership sales
Orangutan SAFE
Tree Kangaroo SAFE
North American Songbird SAFE
Funds raised in 2021 will be utilized for conservation investments in 2022.
CONSERVATION PROJECTS 16 Total Conservation Projects Worldwide 6 Projects at the Kansas City Zoo 8 Projects outside the United States 8 Projects in the United States
Conservation Fund Investments:
$293,196
1 8 3
2
2
$56,914 conservation program support $69,567 conservation initiatives supported $166,715 conservation research and field projects
10
Remaining funds reserved for future conservation projects.
Expeditions – 2022 - Q1
Education Programs Day Camps Explore nature and the wonderful world of animals at the Kansas City Zoo. During day camps, your children will have adventures in a safe and fun environment that is sure to get a ROAR of approval! www.kansascityzoo.org/day-camps
School’s Out Camp School’s out? No problem! Spend the day at the Zoo! School’s Out Safari Day Camps are one-day camps that are a fun and educational option when school is closed. 8:30 am-3:30 pm | $60 per camp / $54 FOTZ www.kansascityzoo.org/camp/schools-out-camp
Summer Break Camp Make your summer a little wilder with Summer Break Camp. Camp runs June 6 through August 18. Our day camp curriculums are age-appropriate and are properly chaperoned at all times. Activities may include, but are not limited to: educational games, crafts, shows, rides, science experiments, and educational movies. Full day camps are available for ages 5-17, Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-3:30pm. COST: $260 for full week camps, $60 for single-day camps FOTZ members receive a 10% discount. www.kansascityzoo.org/camp/summer-break-camp
Overnights Spend the night at the Kansas City Zoo! It is the WILDEST place in town for an overnight adventure! Want an experience and memories that will last a lifetime? We are now booking private overnights for family groups. Stay in Helzberg Penguin Plaza or Polar Bear Passage, take a night hike through the Zoo, and enjoy a movie. Feeling more adventurous? Pitch your tent for one-of-a-kind camping! Overnights are scheduled for Friday or Saturday nights only. www.kansascityzoo.org/overnights
Birthday Parties
For more information, call 816.595.1765 or email education@fotzkc.org. www.kansascityzoo.org
A birthday party at the Kansas City Zoo guarantees a wild time for all your guests! Join us for a celebration like no other! All parties are on Saturdays at 10am12pm and 2pm-4pm and Sundays at 2pm-4pm. www.kansascityzoo.org/birthdays
11
Events Calendar
Check out our calendar of events online at www.KansasCityZoo.org to find more information.
February Sat
19
Sat & Sun
26-27
Sun
27
Teddy Bear Clinic
Do you have a teddy bear or stuffed animal in need of some TLC? Bring your favorite stuffed friends to the Teddy Bear Clinic and let the volunteers from Kansas City Young Matrons nurse them back to health. We will fix rips, tears and holes and give them a good fluff. Once they are back to tip-top shape, they will receive a clean bill of health. Every stuffed animal deserves a little TLC at the Zoo’s Teddy Bear Clinic.
International Polar Bear Weekend
In celebration of International Polar Bear Day, we are celebrating our polar bear pals, Berlin and Nuniq. Watch as they enjoy special enrichment and visit with their care team at animal chats at 10:30 am and 2 pm. Polar Bear Passage will be full of fun! Touch polar bear biofacts, make your own polar bear hat, and grab an activity page to take home and learn how you can help polar bears in the wild.
Pickleball for Polar Bears
Kansas City Zoo has partnered with Polar Bears International to take a more active role in Polar Bear conservation. Through this partnership, we support Polar Bears International and its efforts to learn about bears in the wild and to teach the rest of the world about the effects of climate change. Funds raised from the Pickleball for Polar Bear tournament will go towards our efforts with Polar Bears International.
March Sat & Sun
26-27
Art for the Animals
Guests can create their own works of art in the main lobby, strike a pose at our photo op, and visit the gift shop to purchase some of the artwork created by our animals. See our animals show off their natural talents as their care teams host a creative animal chat. Pinot’s Palette will also be hosting a painting class from 2pm-4pm at the Zoo with the proceeds benefitting the Zoo! Seats are limited - register separately at www.pinotspalette.com/olathe/event/594015
April Sat & Sun
23-24
12
Party for the Planet
We are celebrating Mother Earth with a Party for the Planet. Learn about conservation through a Dr. Seuss favorite, The Lorax. Watch the movie and take a photo with The Lorax. Want to help the environment and save? Bring in your old cell phones, iPods, iPads, tablets, mp3 players and all accessories to be recycled, and receive a free gift! Learn how to attract pollinators to your garden by making a native plant seed ball. The Little Blue River Watershed Coalition will also be presenting interactive, fun, and educational activities related to water quality. Plus, learn about our famous compost, ZooManoo.
Expeditions – 2022 - Q1
Save the Dates!
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 19TH ANNUAL
Hump Day Happy Hour Wednesday, May 25
4 MILE & 1 MILE
Wine Walk for Wildlife Friday, June 3
Jazzoo
RUN THROUGH THE ZOO
COLLECTIBLE FINISHER MEDALS
Friday, August 26
8:30AM - 4 MILE WALK/RUN 9:45AM - 1 MILE WALK/RUN REGISTER AT WWW.KANSASCITYZOORUN.ORG PRODUCED BY EVENTMIDWEST, LLC
Brew at the Zoo and Wine Too Saturday, October 15 Interested in being a vendor or sponsor at one of these events? Email askthezoo@fotzkc.org
www.kansascityzoo.org
13
Adopt a Wild Child Valentine’s Day Lovebird Special Show your lovebird how much you care this Valentine’s Day with a gift they’ll never forget – an adoption of one of Kansas City Zoo’s most splendid animals – the flamingo! Through our Adopt a Wild Child program you can adopt a pink beauty for life for your valentine. Your $70 Lovebird package will include: An 8” animal plush A date to the Zoo (two Zoo tickets) A certificate for one family pack of fudge at the Deja Zoo fudge counter Official adoption certificate Framed photo of your flamingo *includes shipping and handling
Upgrade your adoption with a Charlie Hustle Heart Communi-tee created especially for the KCZoo (limited quantity available)
$30
Scan the QR code or visit www.kansascityzoo.org/aawc to adopt today!
Lion’s Pride Society First founded in 2011, the Lion’s Pride Society recognizes and honors the valuable contributions of donors who express their commitment to the Kansas City Zoo by including the Kansas City Zoo in their estate plans, enabling the conservation and protection of our world’s wildlife, and assuring future generations can experience the awe and diversity of our natural world. The financial contributions of Zoo friends help to continue enriching the lives of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, well into the future. Thank you to all of our 1909 Lion’s Pride Society members for their continued support. Jan Armstrong Sandra & Donald Breckon Kenneth Campbell Dorothy & Joe Carlisle Teri Chandler Debbie & James Eads Billie Harrison Jeanne Hays Betty & Leonard Hershman Louise & Gary Hicks Sarah Hopkins
Harold Hudson Joanna Ioannidis Audrey Keairnes Patricia Keairnes Gayle & Bruce Krigel Judith Layton Kay Lippincott Leslie & John Martin Kentucky McDaniel Patrick & Amy McHenry Mary & Michael McNiel
Glynda Miller Anne & Sam Mollet Debra Myers Elizabeth Norton Richard Ong Terry Pritchett & Don Shanks Marjorie Roberts Debra & Michael Ryder Dianne Schmidt Barb Sherer Kathy Smith
Linda & Harlan Smith Juston Taylor Grace Thornton Sandie & John Valentine Frank & Gerry Victor Jean & William Wagner Richard Wells Barb & Randy Wisthoff
Contact Merritt McShane, annual fund manager, at 816-595-1216 or merrittmcshane@fotzkc.org to explore your many support options that will extend your legacy at the Kansas City Zoo for years to come.
14
Expeditions – 2022 - Q1
Charitable Stock Gifts Make your biggest impact yet, at less cost. Interested in making a more financially conscious gift to Kansas City Zoo? Consider one simple way to increase your own financial savings while supporting your animal friends: Donating your appreciated stock! Many of our amazing supporters donate appreciated stocks to help us support the 1,700 animals in our care. These gifts can often help you avoid paying the capital gains tax as well as provide an immediate deduction! It allows you to give more, while giving smarter! To make your donation, scan the QR code to be redirected to our stock giving site! Or you can visit www.FreeWill.com/Stocks/KansasCityZoo
Thank You to Our Sponsors We are grateful for the continued generosity of our exhibit sponsors. Thank you for your steadfast support that helps make our world-class Zoo possible.
If your company would be interested in sponsoring an animal or area of the Zoo, please contact lisafickenscher@fotzkc.org. Kansas City Zoo sponsorship is a great way to increase visibility for your business and support the incredible work that our Zoo does year-round.
Kansas City Zoo Railroad
Sumatran Tigers
Work at the Zoo!
Polar Bear
California Sea Lions
Sign up for our weekly insider email and stay up to date on all the Zoo News! Sign up online at www.kansascityzoo.org/zoonews or scan the QR code.
If you would like to work in a fun, unique environment and help families create lasting memories, you’ll feel right at home as a part of our Guest Services team. In this role, you’ll be providing customer service in retail, rides, or admissions. The Zoo is an equal opportunity employer that offers a starting rate of $13.75. Flexible, weekend and/or weekday shifts are available! Visit www.kansascityzoo.org/careers to apply.
www.kansascityzoo.org
15
OPEN DAILY!
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PA I D
KANSAS CITY, MO #4831
February 9:30 am-4 pm Daily
6800 Zoo Drive | Kansas City, MO 64132 816.595.1234 | www.KansasCityZoo.org
Let’s Get Social!
March-October 9:30 am-4 pm Mon-Fri 9:30 am-5 pm Sat-Sun
LOOK INSIDE! Alligators Are Coming! See page 4
ZOO MISSION: The Kansas City Zoo connects people to each other and the natural world to promote understanding, appreciation, and conservation.
In Memoriam Natalia, our female Amur leopard, passed away in December at 19 years of age. This amazing ambassador for her critically endangered species was admired by her care specialists on Team Baobab for her independent spirit and amazing ability to learn new behaviors. Natalia will be remembered fondly for her love of boxes, cat treats, and brush sessions with back scratchers.