Expeditions - 2023 - Q2

Welcome to spring, everyone!

It is always such a joy when the warm weather arrives in Kansas City and allows the animals much more time outside. The change in temperatures also brings more people back to the Zoo.

Just a couple of weeks ago, we were joined by hundreds of Hallmark employees who dedicated their Saturday to making the Zoo beautiful. We had over 300 volunteers here planting flowers, mulching beds, and performing other tasks that will allow our guests to enjoy the Zoo to its fullest. We can’t thank them enough for the 1000+ hours of time they dedicated to us again this year.

There has been quite a bit going on over the past few months. We are now less than four months away from opening the aquarium, which now has a name: Sobela Ocean Aquarium. There is more about the naming celebration and some of our newest residents in the pages that follow. Excitement is building and we hope that you plan to see it for yourself after we open the doors on September 1!

Spring is also a traditional time for welcoming newborns to the Zoo and this year is no different. Flotsam and Jetsam (Flo and Jet) North American river otters are just about done with their swimming lessons behind the scenes and will soon be greeting visitors inside the front entrance. Our oryx herd is growing larger as we have had several calves born over the past week. We also had a male Bornean orangutan born last week. He can be seen riding his mom, Josie, around the habitat until he is old enough to start exploring on his own.

I will close my letter with a story that started 14 years ago. A new female orangutan had just been born and though numerous attempts were made to have the mother and baby bond, it became clear that an alternate course was needed. Zoo staff and volunteers spent the next four months hand-raising the baby known as Kalijon, with the goal of being able to introduce her to a surrogate mother. Finally, we reached a point where Jill, the surrogate, could be introduced to the baby. While we were all on alert when the doors were opened, it was a success. At that time, the Kansas City Zoo was the first to introduce a baby this young to a surrogate and by doing so, there was far less imprinting on humans. The latest chapter in this story is a little bittersweet for us. Kalijon is nearly old enough to start caring for her own youngsters. Last week, at the recommendation of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, Kali made the short trip to the Topeka Zoo where she will join a new troop. Eventually, we hope she will take this story full circle and use all she learned from Jill to become a great mom herself. That will be a proud moment for everyone who took part in raising her long ago and is just one of many animal care success stories here at the Kansas City Zoo.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer and I look forward to seeing you here at the Zoo!

Sincerely,

2022-23 Friends of the Zoo

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wesley Fields, Chairperson

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Tony Reinhart, Secretary

Ford Motor Company

David Sanchez Jr., Treasurer PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP

David Barr, Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Inc.

Brad Bodamer, Graves Garrett LLC

Dr. Yolanda Cargile, Center School District

Chris Cotten, KC Parks and Recreation

Jeff Dillon, VanTrust Real Estate LLC

Ana Nubia Duin, La Mega Spanish Radio

Jan Francis, Community Volunteer

Sandra Garcia, Metropolitan Community Colleges

Hayley Hanson, Husch Blackwell LLP

Audrey Hill, Saint Luke’s Health System

Julius Lai, Community Volunteer

Kate Lambert, Dixon Family Foundation

Katie McDonald, Evergy

Yvette Miceli, Construction Brokers, Inc.

Janet Miles-Bartee, Local Investment Commission (LINC)

Joe Prenger, ECCO Select

Terry Riley, Blue Cross Blue Shield

John Russ, UMB Bank

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

Charlie Franklin, Jackson County

Carol Hallquist, Vice Chair & Treasurer, Jackson County

Jerry Nolte, Clay County

Alex Perez, KC Parks and Recreation Representative

Kansas City Zoo

Sean Putney, Executive Director/ CEO

Kansas City Zoo Foundation

Randy Wisthoff, Executive Director

Sean Putney

Executive Director & CEO

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.

Sean joined executive chairman Don Hall, Jr. and other Hallmark employees in readying the Zoo for spring at Hallmark Wild Saturday on April 29.

Sobela Ocean Aquarium

The Kansas City Zoo is thrilled to announce the name of the new 650,000-gallon aquarium as the Sobela Ocean Aquarium. The name was selected by benefactors Barnett and Shirley Helzberg, with “Sobela” being an acronym that honors the Helzbergs’ grandchildren, Sawyer, Oliver, Benton, Elias, Leo, Amelia and Arthur. The Helzbergs have been instrumental in bringing the aquarium to life and are excited to provide new educational opportunities for the children of Greater Kansas City. They also made the first financial commitment to the aquarium, which will soon open new pathways to ocean conservation and research.

“We have come a long way since the early discussions about building an aquarium 10 years ago,” said Sean Putney, executive director & CEO of the Kansas City Zoo. “Now, we are a mere four months away from opening day.”

In addition to the Helzbergs, this incredible endeavor has been made possible through the support of the entire community. The total cost of the project is $77 million, with $45 million coming from the Zoological District, in Clay and Jackson counties, from the 1/8-cent zoological tax, and another $32 million in private donations.

We are counting down the days until Sobela Ocean Aquarium opens on September 1, 2023!

Dive Into the Latest Updates!

Just about four months remain before Sobela Ocean Aquarium opens to guests, and we want to share some of the most exciting new developments. Over the next few weeks and months, we are expecting thousands of new aquatic residents! We have already welcomed an assortment of highly anticipated species.

With the majority of the structural work now in place, our first habitats are in the process of being populated. The Pacific Reef will be home to over 1,000 animals by the end of this month, including a sandbar shark and a zebra shark that are now making their home at the Zoo! In the coming months, the Zoo will also welcome the addition of exciting species like a sea turtle, sea otters, and giant Pacific octopus.

The 650,000-gallon Sobela Ocean Aquarium will feature six zones with 34 habitats that will tell the story of how ocean currents connect animals across the globe. Zoo visitors will enjoy an up-close and personal experience, beginning at the warm-water shore habitat and traveling “deeper” through mangrove forests, sandy shores, tropical lagoons, and coral reefs. Guest will then “ascend” through a kelp forest and end at a cold-water rocky shore. Each habitat will showcase a variety of fascinating ocean life, immersing visitors in the experience of being at the ocean!

Top: Mayor Quinton Lucas at the naming celebration Middle: Shirley Helzberg, Ollie the Otter, Sean Putney Bottom: Divers cleaning the habitats before the event

Above: Mangrove Forest habitat in progress

Students Made Waves!

Greater Kansas City made a huge splash in our Students Make Waves campaign! Primary classrooms from across the city participated in ocean conservation activities and fundraising to show their support of the new Sobela Ocean Aquarium. Whether the classes created art with a conservation message or held a school-wide fundraiser, their incredible efforts made our campaign a success.

We are excited to announce our top fundraisers in the campaign: Indian Trails Elementary and Ravenwood Elementary! These classrooms earned the opportunity to name one of our new residents at the Sobela Ocean Aquarium. We also held a random drawing for all schools who participated in conservation activities, and the lucky winners of that contest are Henry Leavenworth Elementary and Boone Elementary! These students will also be selecting the perfect names for a few of our new animal residents.

Classrooms that provided photos or videos of their efforts by April 6 were also eligible for a chance to win a visit from Zoo mascot, Ollie the Otter. Amy Nellis’ first grade class at Indian Trails Elementary earned this prize! These first graders led their school to raise more than $1,000 by growing their construction paper jellyfish with every donation. Ollie greeted students during morning drop-off and even posed for a photo with their cool art.

Thank you to all of the amazing students and teachers that participated in our Students Make Waves campaign!

Meet Flo & Jet

We have two new residents that are going to make a splash with guests this year! The Zoo is thrilled to announce the birth of North American river otter pup twins, Flo and Jet. Born to 5-year-old Ursula on March 4, the pups are keeping mom busy. Ursula is an excellent first-time mother, and she spends quite a bit of time attending to her new little boy and girl.

In conjuction with the annual Hallmark Wild Saturday volunteer event, Hallmark employees chose the perfect names, Flo and Jet. They are named after the mischievous eel duo that serve as Ursula's sidekicks in The Little Mermaid, Flotsam and Jetsam. This young female and male aren’t quite ready to be “part of your world” in the main area viewable to the public as they are still bonding – and mastering swimming – with mom behind the scenes.

Guests can visit these pups’ proud papa, Skokie, who is currently in the North American river otter habitat near the main entrance of the Zoo. He may even show off his famous backflips for you!

Top: Ollie at Indian Trails Elementary Middle: Students from Boone Elementary Bottom: Pledge wall at Longview Farm Elementary

Ursula teaching Flo & Jet how to swim

Meet Aidan

The next time you visit the Zoo, you’ll notice a towering new addition to the African horizon! The Kansas City Zoo welcomed 3-year-old Aidan, a Masai giraffe from the Brevard Zoo, back in October 2022. Over the winter, our giraffes spend much of their time in their heated barn out of the public view, but our new resident can now be seen exploring the main habitat on days with good weather and at least a 70-degree temperature.

Although still fairly young, Aidan is currently 1,400 pounds and nearly as tall as 10-year-old female Makali! Aidan is excelling in his positive reinforcement training sessions and currently learning to participate in hoof care.

The Masai giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world and takes advantage of its height by snagging buds and leaves from the treetops that few animals can reach. It is considered an endangered species, primarily due to illegal hunting and land use changes. Aidan’s move to Kansas City was under recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), for breeding. Through its Conservation Fund, the Kansas City Zoo supports the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, which aims to preserve this wild species across Africa.

Zumi Update

Zumi has been zooming into our hearts since she was born on December 31, 2022! We introduced you to this eastern black rhinoceros calf in the last edition of Expeditions, and we are happy to report that Zumi has been flourishing under the watchful eye of mother, Zuri, and her incredible animal care team. Although a rhinoceros will nurse up to two years, Zumi is already starting to eat the same food as her mother, including browse, grain, and produce. This growing girl currently weighs 400 pounds, and her two horns are now visible!

An important aspect of animal care is positive reinforcement training. Zumi has started this process and will touch her nose to a target stick when asked by care specialists. She is then positively reinforced by treats, which will include her absolute favorite – banana! Through this training, Zumi has been able to learn a variety of behaviors, such as weighing on a scale, that allow her to participate voluntarily in her own health care.

The care specialists are introducing Zumi to new areas, in hopes she will be viewable to the public soon. Guests may spot her as she is getting comfortable with the pathway leading up to the main habitat on the African Plains and has ventured only briefly into the habitat itself. We will post updates on the young rhino’s progress on our social media pages!

Aidan & Makali

Burr on Fur

The Zoo’s polar bear ambassador, 6-year-old Nuniq, is playing a big role in conservation research to help his counterparts in the wild! If you visited Polar Bear Passage recently, you may have noticed a small device located on Nuniq’s back. We are excited to share that this device is a key component in Polar Bear International’s (PBI) Burr on Fur project. The mission is to develop a minimally invasive way of tracking polar bears through small devices that stick to the animal’s fur. While this bear species has been tracked in the past via radio and satellite collars, researchers are now using smaller, lighter, and more efficient tracking devices.

Created by 3M, the Burr on Fur trackers are now being tested at zoological facilities, and the Kansas City Zoo is proud to be a participant in testing one of the prototypes. Deploying the tags on zoo bears enables researchers to closely monitor how the prototypes perform under various conditions, including its durability on land and in water.

An additional benefit of the Burr on Fur devices is that they would allow scientists to follow the movements of adult males and subadult bears, two groups that are not able to be studied through current satellite collar technology. Adult males cannot wear collars because their necks are as big as their heads, causing the collars to slip off. Subadult bears cannot be collared because young bears grow too fast.

We are happy to report that the prototype test was a success, with the device staying on Nuniq for almost two weeks. The device attaches much like hair bands or barrettes do with human hair. Our polar bear ambassador swam, rolled in the grass, and even rubbed against rocks during this time frame, putting the device through all sorts of tests. Our animal care team was also able to gather notes from the application process, which will be useful for future testing.

Marissa Krouse, programs manager for Polar Bears International, adds, “By working with our zoo partners we can fill key knowledge gaps in polar bear ecology. This project is an excellent example of how zoos can help with polar bear conservation, in this case by helping to validate new technology that will assist researchers in studying wild bears. As the Arctic continues to warm and sea ice melts, creative and innovative advances in research methods and technology are critical to furthering conservation efforts—for polar bears and for wildlife around the globe.”

Learn about this exciting innovation and other PBI projects at polarbearsinternational.org/what-we-do/research/tech-innovations/

Critically Endangered Bornean Orangutan Born

The Kansas City Zoo had an extra reason to celebrate this Mother’s Day! We are excited to announce that a critically endangered male Bornean orangutan was born on Monday, May 8, to mother Josie. Both mom and son appear healthy and are doing well, and are alternating with the other orangutan in the indoor and outdoor habitats.

Josie was born at the Kansas City Zoo 20 years ago to mother Jill, who also still resides at the Zoo. Orangutan infants have longlasting relationships with their mothers, so Josie will spend the next several years showing the new baby vital orangutan skills like how to build nests, where to find food, how to interact with others, and how to use tools to forage.

The Bornean orangutan is a species native to the island of Borneo and is classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List primarily due to deforestation. The Kansas City Zoo formed the CREATE Project in partnership with APE Malaysia, which is aimed at long-term habitat restoration in the Kinabatangan rainforest of Borneo. The wildlife sanctuary under restoration is home to many species, including orangutans. Since July 2017, more than 7,000 saplings have already been planted.

Travel with the Zoo!

Do you have an interest in global adventure but just don’t know where to start? Over the decades, the Zoo has worked with travel companies to build specialized tours where you can travel with others from around Greater Kansas City and interact with Zoo Director Sean Putney during the adventure. We are developing a trip for 2024 but want input from those who may be interested in a group expedition. If that's you, let us know what interests you most. Please vote on one location at www.kansascityzoo.org/form/global-adventure-vote.

1) A trip to the “bottom of the world”. This is a small cruise that would leave from the tip of Argentina and spend time around the Antarctic Coast to view the majesty of the glaciers, icebergs, and the many animals that live there.

2) Darwin’s Cruise. This would be a trip aboard a small cruise ship around the Galapagos Islands, seeing the numerous animals that have made these small islands home for centuries and the adaptations they have made to survive there.

3) African Safari. “Glamping” around a few of the major animal stomping grounds in Kenya or Tanzania.

ASIAN SMALLCLAWED OTTER

Smallest of the 13 otter species

Largest porcupine species in the world

Largest rodent in the world

COTTON-TOP TAMARIN

Has a vocal repertoire of 38 distinct sounds, some of which are too high-pitched to be heard by the human ear

CRESTED SCREAMER

Its distinctive call is one of the loudest of any bird

MONA MONKEY

When threatened, often freezes until danger passes

CAPE PORCUPINE

CAPYBARA

A vast array of species reside in our historic Tropics building, which was the first facility to house Kansas City Zoo’s animals in 1909. Today, it is home to many guest favorites, including the gravity-defying white-cheeked gibbons and the largest rodent species in the world, the capybara. Let’s meet the residents of this fun and fascinating section of the Zoo!

PREHENSILE-TAILED PORCUPINE

Uses tail like a fifth limb

SPOTTED FRESHWATER STINGRAY

Has cartilage instead of bones

STUHLMANN'S BLUE MONKEY

Has cheek pouches like a hamster

VON DER DECKEN'S HORNBILL

Likes to take dust baths rather than water baths

WHITE-CHEEKED GIBBON

Has strong, hook-shaped hands for grasping branches and very long arms for reaching far limbs

WHITE-FACED SAKI MONKEY

Mates for life

DEAI Manager Added

My name is Danielle Collier, and I am excited to be the Kansas City Zoo’s new Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) Manager! I am passionate about diversity and creating inclusive workspaces for people to feel comfortable showing up as their full selves. My position is a new one at the Kansas City Zoo and is the next step in its DEAI efforts. I bring experience in cultivating an environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

The Kansas City Zoo is a staple attraction, and our workforce and guests should reflect the diversity of our thriving city. By diversifying our workforce, creating and maintaining a workplace of inclusion and belonging, and cultivating community partnerships, we will make the Kansas City Zoo accessible and welcoming for people from all walks of life.

Having a diverse workforce is extremely important and directly impacts an organization’s success. Studies have shown that diverse teams are better at problem-solving and innovation, which produces better results. A diverse workforce has employees from all walks of life, as opposed to homogenous groups that tend to hold the same thoughts and ideas. By developing policies and practices through a DEAI lens, the Kansas City Zoo will be able to improve employee hiring and retention, alleviate biases, and be better equipped to serve the Kansas City community in meaningful ways.

Creating a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive Kansas City Zoo will be a team effort. Diversity is about more than hiring people from different backgrounds. We must create an environment that makes employees and guests feel like they are seen and belong here, which requires buy-in and commitment from everyone. By dedicating ourselves to the work of DEAI, the zoo will become an even greater place. We will garner more ideas through teamwork, create strong community partnerships, and will be a premier location for people to visit and work.

Kansas City Zoo’s DEA&I Vision of Success: “The Kansas City Zoo is committed to reflecting our diverse community, where everyone can feel welcome. We are dedicated to creating an environment where all employees and visitors feel included, respected, comfortable, and engaged, and where all staff are heard and valued.”

Meet the Team: Grounds

The Kansas City Zoo is proud to provide a welcoming, clean environment to the hundreds of thousands of guests that visit each year. The grounds team is the hard-working group that keeps the Zoo looking like a world-class destination yearround. Each season presents new work and challanges, but as we approach summer, the grounds team will be attending to a much larger volume of waste as the crowds increase.

The daily tasks of a grounds team member will vary, but there is a consistent to-do checklist that is needed to keep the Zoo in tip-top shape. Some of these tasks include:

• Cleaning restrooms and buildings

• Emptying all trash and recycling on grounds

• Sweeping up all trash on the ground

• Cleaning and organizing all picnic areas

• Setting up and tearing down events

Pressure-washing the grounds is extremely important in the warmer months, as sales of cold, sticky treats will increase. The coldest months of the year often see their allotment of

precipitation, and the grounds team are the dedicated staff attending to any snow and ice removal.

Whether it's the hottest or coldest day of the year, the grounds employees are here to help and can often be seen with a broom or spray bottle. The next time you’re at the Zoo, be sure to say hello to these employees that are so essential to the overall guest experience!

Education Programs

Summer Camps

Explore nature and the wonderful world of animals at the Kansas City Zoo. During summer camps, your children will have adventures in a safe and fun environment that is sure to get a ROAR of approval!

June 5 - August 18 | 8:30am-3:30pm | Ages 5-17 $260 for 4-day camp | $65 for 1-day camp

FOTZ members receive a 10% discount

www.kansascityzoo.org/camp/summer-break-camp

Sponsored in part by

Homeschool

Join us for the Kansas City Zoo’s hands-on homeschool class for next school year. Students PreK-12th grade can explore the world of science through animals and nature in a fun and interactive way! Registration for Fall 2023 When Science Attacks classes will open in July.

www.kansascityzoo.org/homeschool

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. 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 in our Outback or African campgrounds! Overnights are scheduled for Friday or Saturday nights only.

www.kansascityzoo.org/overnights

Sponsored by

For more information, call 816.595.1765 or email education@fotzkc.org.

Events Calendar

Scan the code or visit www.kansascityzoo.org/events for more information on each event.

Friday Flamingle Happy Hour - Tropical

Friday, May 19 | 5-9pm | 21+

Join us for our first Friday Flamingle! This 21+ evening event lets you experience the Zoo and its animal residents (excluding Africa) while enjoying music, free carousel and train rides, and yard games. Plus, you’ll have access to cash bars, food truck treats, Zoo trivia games, and more.

We’re bringing warm and sunny vibes at this tropical-themed event. Show off your competitive spirit in our hula hoop and limbo contests, and don't forget to wear your favorite tropical wardrobe! Presented by FNBO.

Jazzoo

Friday, June 2 | 7:30pm-midnight | 21+

Be a part of the wildest fundraiser in town! Party animals from across the metro will gather to enjoy unlimited food, drinks, and entertainment — all while raising money for the Kansas City Zoo. Funds provide food for the animals in our care and educational opportunities for the youth of our community.

Friday Flamingle Happy Hour - Decades

Friday, June 16 | 5-9pm | 21+

Calling all fans of retro fun! Join us for our second Friday Flamingle of the summer! Show off your competitive spirit in our lip sync battle and music bingo contests, and don’t forget to wear your best retro attire! Presented by FNBO.

Locked Zoo: Cryptic Cats

Saturday, June 24 | 5-9pm | 21+

Interested in being a vendor or sponsor at one of these events? Email askthezoo@fotzkc.org May June July

Escape room fans, come take a walk on the wild side! If you love mysteries or puzzles, you won’t want to miss Locked Zoo: Cryptic Cats. This adult-only (age 18+) interactive event puts you and your team up to the task of exploring select areas of the Kansas City Zoo to search for clues and solve puzzles about big cats and conservation.

Friday Flamingle Happy Hour - Christmas in July

Friday, July 14 | 5-9pm | 21+

Don’t miss our last Friday Flamingle of the summer! Get in the holiday spirit zoo-style at our Christmas-themed night. Show off your competitive spirit in our reindeer games and don’t forget to wear your favorite holiday attire! We hope you aren’t on the naughty list, as you may spot the jolly old elf himself. Presented by FNBO.

Wine Walk for Wildlife

Saturday, August 26

GloWild: Around the World

Friday, September 29 -

Saturday, December 30

Brew at the Zoo

Saturday, October 14

Interested

Kansas City Zoo is the purr-fect solution for your company's outings and events!

Contact: Or visit:

Meeting space and after-hours events also available. Learn more at: www.kansascityzoo.org/corporate-meetings

Improvement Projects

The Zoo’s improvement projects are truly taking shape! In the last edition of Expeditions, we told you about some of the exciting and beneficial renovations happening at Sea Lion Splash, Australia, and the Train Barn. These projects will create a more accessible experience for both guests and staff, and we are excited to announce fresh updates on these undertakings.

Australia

The pathway improvement project has been successfully completed, and Australia has been open since mid-March! The newly repaved pathways will provide a more enjoyable, accessible experience while you visit animal residents like the red kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and dingoes. Hop on over to visit species native to the land down under! We want to give a special thanks to the sponsor of the red kangaroos, UMKC, for their help in making this project come to fruition!

Train Barn

Crews have been hard at work creating a new facility where our fleet team can work on the trains, trams, and other vehicles that keep the Zoo running. The former train barn was built in 1955 and updates were required to accommodate the Zoo’s changing needs. While the new-and-improved train barn is located in an area viewable only from the African Tram, we are excited to announce that this project is nearing completion as we roll into the busy spring and summer seasons.

Sea Lion Splash

We are getting closer to a splash-tastic summer! Since the autumn of 2022, the area around Sea Lion Splash has been undergoing updates that will include increased seating capacity, improved ADA accessibility, and additional indoor space for the sea lions. While this project is still underway, we expect it to be finished this summer. The incredible sea lion ambassadors – Delilah, Tamale, Pepper, and Luna – continue to live behind the scenes in another area of the Zoo while the renovation is taking place, but we are excited for guests to see them back in action at our daily shows later this summer!

In Memoriam

Rhaegal

It is with sadness that we announce that due to chronic renal failure, Rhaegal the cheetah was euthanized on March 17. Rhaegal was born at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas in 2015, and joined the Kansas City Zoo family in February 2017. Rhaegal’s animal care specialists will fondly remember him lying in the grass watching the African Sky Safari and knocking balls into the moat in the cheetah habitat. Please keep our dedicated staff in your thoughts at this time, as Rhaegal will be greatly missed.

Skipper

Skipper, a beloved 11-year-old Orinoco goose, was euthanized in March following chronic health issues due to degenerative joint disease. As a resident of the flamingo yard, Skipper often delighted guests with his favorite hobby of sitting in front of mirrors. He also enjoyed spending time with the Zoo’s oldest flamingo resident, 49-year-old Codi. This beautiful bird brought great joy to guests and staff alike, and he will be dearly missed.

Lion’s Pride Society

The Lion's Pride Society was founded in 2011 to recognize and honor the valuable contributions of Zoo friends who express their commitment to our mission by including the Zoo in their estate plans. Over the years, the "pride" has grown strong. We invite you to join us!

Our benefits include:

Introduction at the Friends of the Zoo (FOTZ) Annual Meeting

Invitations to sneak previews and exhibit openings

Invitations to estate-planning seminars

Frequent mention in the FOTZ newsletter

Create your legacy

With a little planning, you have the opportunity to ensure that future generations are able to experience the adventure and wonder of the Kansas City Zoo. By including a charitable gift within your overall estate and financial plans, you can provide your support far into the future.

Why Kentucky is giving...

"My wife and I joined Lion’s Pride to help ensure that future generations would have these beautiful creatures to share with their families. The Zoo is my happy place and staff is like family.”

– Kentucky McDaniel, Lion’s Pride Society member

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.

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

Marlee Carroll

Teri Chandler

Debbie & James Eads

Billie Harrison

Jeanne Hays

Betty & Leonard Hershman

Louise & Gary Hicks

Sarah Hopkins

Harold Hudson

Joanna Ioannidis

Richard Jensen

Audrey Keairnes

Patricia Keairnes

Gayle & Bruce Krigel

Judith Layton

Kay Lippincott

Leslie & John Martin

Kentucky McDaniel & Carol Murphy

Patrick & Amy McHenry

Mary & Michael McNiel

Glynda Miller

Anne & Sam Mollet

Debra Myers

Elizabeth Norton

Richard Ong

Pamela Ratliff

Brad Redburn

Marjorie Roberts

Debra & Michael Ryder

Dianne Schmidt

Don Shanks

Barb Sherer

Kathy Smith

Linda & Harlan Smith

Juston Taylor

Grace Thornton

Sandie & John Valentine

Frank & Gerry Victor

Jean & Don Wagner

Richard Wells

Barb & Randy Wisthoff

Contact Richard Wells, development and donor database assistant manager, at richardwells@fotzkc.org or 816.595.1217 to explore the many ways you can extend your legacy at the Kansas City Zoo for years to come.

Kansas City Zoo Railroad American Alligator

S. Turner Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee

California Sea Lion

Red Kangaroo

Outback Campground Summer Camps Beverages

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 $14 an hour. Flexible, weekend and/or weekday shifts are available! Visit