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.

Berlin

The Kansas City Zoo is mourning the loss of 33-year-old polar bear Berlin, who resided here for a decade. Berlin was the oldest polar bear in human care in the United States, and perhaps in North America, which is a testament to the extraordinary care she received from her animal care and veterinary health teams. Berlin was being treated for hypertension and renal failure, but ultimately the difficult decision was made to euthanize her in January.

Berlin was born at the Cincinnati Zoo on December 11, 1989, just a little over a month after the Berlin Wall fell, so she was given her unique name honoring the event. In 2012, Berlin was residing at Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth when it flooded, and famously swam to the perimeter wall of her habitat where she waited until staff arrived and discovered her. She was temporarily housed at Como Zoo in Saint Paul and arrived in Kansas City from there in December 2012.

A beloved ambassador for her species, Berlin helped contribute to research that has benefited the wild polar bear population. Her animal care specialists commended her big personality and described her as “smart and sassy.” The team says she gave all of her caregivers “a run for their money!”

Berlin will be dearly missed by her Zoo family, including staff, volunteers, and guests. The Kansas City Zoo will make its annual contribution from the Zoo’s Conservation Fund to Polar Bears International in memory of Berlin this year to aid in conserving this amazing, vulnerable species and their habitat in the wild. Learn more about this important conservation organization’s work at polarbearsinternational.org.

Eli

Eli, a beloved peregrine falcon that helped educate children and adults across the metro, was euthanized in January following an untreatable chronic illness. Also known as Elation, this striking falcon hatched in 2006 and arrived at the Zoo in 2008 from the University of Missouri-Columbia’s College of Veterinary Medicine Raptor Rehabilitation Project. She was non-releasable due to a previous non-healed and non-repairable fracture of her right wing, which meant she could not fly. Her care specialists called Eli a "spicy gal" who would let you know when you did not get her food to her fast enough. She loved to perch on a glove in the sun, and her chin feathers would poof out like a little beard and her head feathers would look like a square. Because her species is the fastest animal in the world, Eli gave audiences in our education programs an opportunity to see all of her beautiful adaptations for speed. Eli will be missed by the staff and guests of every age.

Aramis

Aramis, a blue and gold macaw featured in the Amazing Animal Ambassadors Show, was euthanized in January following a deteriorating neurologic condition, despite treatment. This beloved parrot who hatched October 16, 2013, arrived at the Zoo when she was just 4 months old with her sisters, Athos, D’Artagnan, and Porthos. Out of the four, Aramis was the boldest and the most confident. She was the first to learn to fly and initiated interactions with her caretakers. Aramis encouraged the other three to be as inquisitive and adventurous as she was. A macaw with a big heart, Aramis was an incredible ambassador for her species that allowed visitors to get up close and created a conservation bridge with her wild counterparts. She will be greatly missed by her team, her sisters, and our zoo visitors.

Gertrude

Gertrude, an American alligator, passed away in January. Born on September 11, 2012, Gertrude was known for her relaxed personality among the other female alligator residents. Gertrude’s care specialists enjoyed watching her grow in size and personality, and this scaled beauty eventually learned how to recognize her own name during training sessions! Gertrude – otherwise known as “Gertie” – loved eating mice, fish, and alligator chow biscuits. She will be missed at Alligator Alley.