Kansas City Zoo Kansas City Zoo News 2025

[JVM]

Two one year old male sitatungas ("Mushroom" and "Chili" are acclimating to the former bongo and duiker yards in the West African zone of "Africa" , which are now joined under the elevated boardwalk, and are alternating in the yard with lesser kudu.

Issuu Reader

I had assumed the zoo would continue with Bongo, but I do feel that Sitatunga are a great choice to fill an empty Bongo habitat!

 

[Haliaeetus]

Birth of 1 Squirrel Monkey.
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "The baby boom continues! The next time you’re at the Discovery Barn, see if you can spot the Zoo’s newest precious squirrel monkey. Born to mom Marley and dad Quentin, the yet-to-be-named little one was born on Sunday and is doing wonderfully. You can visit this sweet family on the upper level of the Discovery Barn. We ask that this is a quiet area as baby gets acclimated to its surroundings. Stay tuned for more information on the name and sex of the new squirrel monkey in the coming weeks! Each birth announcement this year is part of our Wild Beginnings program, which is sponsored by @saintlukeskc and celebrates “zooborns” at the KCZoo. Saint Luke’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered maternity care has helped local families flourish for more than 140 years and is a perfect sponsor for the Zoo’s growing animal families."

 

[Milwaukee Man]

An orphaned male river otter has arrived.

Orphaned otter to get new home in Kansas City Zoo - The Bulletin

 

[JVM]

Trip Report 9/25 and 9/26:

• A Lady Ross' Turaco is being introduced to the Africa aviary but is not yet signed. After receiving food from a keeper, mostly stayed hidden in a tree.
• A spur-winged lapwing is temporarily being held in the Africa aviary, unsigned, until it can be reintroduced to the Aquarium. It sounds like this was breeding-related.
• Red-crowned mangabey seem to no longer be present, per conversation with a keeper. He implied they had been sent out rather than died but only confirmed they were "gone".
• Grant's zebra are currently being mixed in the Ostrich enclosure that can be seen from the Skyfari. Was a nice surprise to spot them!
• I may be wrong but I think Giant Madagascar Hognose Snake is in the former Burmese python exhibit in the Snakes building. The hognose is in the 'double-wide' habitat. Does that sound correct?
• The two lesser kudu in the former Bongo yard are a male-female pair and geriatric individuals, per a keeper.

I did see two North American river otters, so I believe that includes the new one, as well as
the baby squirrel monkey, baby cotton top tamarins, both addaxes and at least one foxes. (I saw three fennec foxes total.)

 

[DesertTortoise]

A spur-winged lapwing is temporarily being held in the Africa aviary, unsigned, until it can be reintroduced to the Aquarium. It sounds like this was breeding-related.

This bird has been in here for around two years now.

I may be wrong but I think Giant Madagascar Hognose Snake is in the former Burmese python exhibit in the Snakes building. The hognose is in the 'double-wide' habitat. Does that sound correct?

This is correct.

 

[SeaOtterHQ]

Trip Report 9/25 and 9/26:

• A Lady Ross' Turaco is being introduced to the Africa aviary but is not yet signed. After receiving food from a keeper, mostly stayed hidden in a tree.

The zoo has officially announced the addition of Lady Ross's turaco to the Birds of Africa aviary:

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "Meet the newest resident of the Birds of Africa aviary! Blue is an 18-month-old Lady Ross’s turaco, a species native to the central and southern regions of Africa and is known for "canopy hopping" in the trees rather than having long, sustained flights. He recently transferred to the KCZoo from the @scovillzoo in Illinois and is easing into to his new home. This turaco species is quite vocal, and Blue is already demonstrating his communicative skills. These birds are primarily frugivorous, with Blue being particularly fond of grapes. In the wild, the Lady Ross's turaco species is unfortunately threatened due to issues like deforestation. The next time you're at the Zoo, stop by the Birds of Africa aviary to visit Blue along with other species like the hamerkop, hadada ibis, and taveta golden weaver! Photo by advanced animal care specialist Danielle"

 

[JVM]

This bird has been in here for around two years now.

Ah, the keeper I spoke with made it sound more recent/temporary, interesting!

The zoo has officially announced the addition of Lady Ross's turaco to the Birds of Africa aviary:

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "Meet the newest resident of the Birds of Africa aviary! Blue is an 18-month-old Lady Ross’s turaco, a species native to the central and southern regions of Africa and is known for "canopy hopping" in the trees rather than having long, sustained flights. He recently transferred to the KCZoo from the @scovillzoo in Illinois and is easing into to his new home. This turaco species is quite vocal, and Blue is already demonstrating his communicative skills. These birds are primarily frugivorous, with Blue being particularly fond of grapes. In the wild, the Lady Ross's turaco species is unfortunately threatened due to issues like deforestation. The next time you're at the Zoo, stop by the Birds of Africa aviary to visit Blue along with other species like the hamerkop, hadada ibis, and taveta golden weaver! Photo by advanced animal care specialist Danielle"

Awh, "Blue", what a cute name! Seems like a great addition to the aviary, quite distinct from the other species present!

 

[Haliaeetus]

A Bennett's wallaby was born back in February.
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "Betty Blue is a mom! This 11-year-old Bennett’s wallaby gave birth to a joey on approximately February 7, and the young one is now visible in the habitat. We think you’ll love its name: Bubba Blue! The proud papa is 7-year-old Zeek. At birth, a wallaby joey is about the size of a jellybean, naked and blind. The joey will then crawl into its mom's pouch, attach to a nipple, and continue to develop and grow fur. The eyes don’t open until after they are four months old. At around five months of age, the baby will start to poke its head out, but its body hair won't be totally grown until after seven months old. The joeys of Bennett's wallabies typically become independent of the pouch around nine months of age. Bubba Blue is nearly seven months old, so he will still be in the pouch for a bit longer. On your next visit, see if you can spot this new wallaby addition in the Australia section of the Zoo! Each birth announcement this year is part of our Wild Beginnings program, which is sponsored by @saintlukeskc and celebrates the “zooborns” at the KCZoo. Photos by Jinger Steven, animal care manager Sara, and animal care volunteer Barb"

It has been called (curiously) Bubba Blue.
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "A fabulous fall portrait session with Bubba Blue! This 8-month-old Bennett’s wallaby is starting to have adventures out of the pouch, and his care team tells us that he often begins his day by hopping out of mom Betty’s pouch to enjoy some zoomies. Bubba is also starting to enjoy big boy wallaby foods like lettuce and browse! Thank you to @saintlukeskc for sponsoring this year's Wild Beginnings program, which celebrates our zooborns. Learn more about the newest Zoo babies at kansascityzoo.org/wild-beginnings Photo by advanced animal care specialist Jared"

 

[Zoofan15]

Lois the African elephant has died:

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium mourns loss of 47-year-old elephant

Lois recently began experiencing issues with mobility and did not respond to treatment options. The zoo said it made the decision to euthanize her Tuesday due to her diminished quality of life.

Lois was born in 1978 and arrived at the Kansas City Zoo on Sept. 17, 1982.

 

[Haliaeetus]

Birth of 1 White-cheeked Gibbon.
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "Exciting news! We are welcoming an adorable white-cheeked gibbon baby, born to mother Kit and father Smithers on Saturday, October 18. The yet-to-be-named little one is doing great. Keep your eyes peeled when you visit this sweet baby in the Tropics as you’ll most likely see them holding on to mom. We ask that the area near the gibbon habitat stays quiet as baby gets acclimated to its surroundings. Stay tuned for more information on the name and sex of the baby gibbon in the coming weeks! We would like to thank @saintlukeskc for sponsoring our Wild Beginnings program, which celebrates “zooborns” at the KCZoo. Saint Luke’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered maternity care has helped local families flourish for more than 140 years and is a perfect sponsor for the Zoo’s growing animal families. #gibbon #whitecheekedgibbon"

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Lois the African elephant has died:

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium mourns loss of 47-year-old elephant

Lois recently began experiencing issues with mobility and did not respond to treatment options. The zoo said it made the decision to euthanize her Tuesday due to her diminished quality of life.

Lois was born in 1978 and arrived at the Kansas City Zoo on Sept. 17, 1982.

Whereas I understand that the mourning of Lois's passing is self-evident and needs to find its place in the psyche and emotional attachment to ..., one must also observe that she did attain a good age for an African elephant.

Further, the best part of the herd is constituted of quite elderly as well as senescent elephants. This includes the grand dame, female Lady who wa estimated born in 1968, so 57 years old right now!.

 

[Smaggledagle]

Other October 2025 News Not Mentioned:

Birth of 1 Squirrel Monkey.
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "The baby boom continues! The next time you’re at the Discovery Barn, see if you can spot the Zoo’s newest precious squirrel monkey. Born to mom Marley and dad Quentin, the yet-to-be-named little one was born on Sunday and is doing wonderfully. You can visit this sweet family on the upper level of the Discovery Barn. We ask that this is a quiet area as baby gets acclimated to its surroundings. Stay tuned for more information on the name and sex of the new squirrel monkey in the coming weeks! Each birth announcement this year is part of our Wild Beginnings program, which is sponsored by @saintlukeskc and celebrates “zooborns” at the KCZoo. Saint Luke’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered maternity care has helped local families flourish for more than 140 years and is a perfect sponsor for the Zoo’s growing animal families."

On October 14th, the zoo announced they named the squirrel monkey MJ.

13K views · 468 reactions | NAME ANNOUNCEMENT: We are thrilled to share that the baby of squirrel monkey Marley has a name! Meet MJ, which is short for Marley Jr. The team says the sex of the 1 1/2-month-old baby has not been determined yet, but we will keep you posted. In the meantime, you can visit MJ on the top level of the Discovery Barn! Each birth announcement this year is part of our Wild Beginnings program, which is sponsored by Saint Luke's Health System and celebrates “zooborns” at the KCZoo. Saint Luke’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered maternity care has helped local families flourish for more than 140 years and is a perfect sponsor for the Zoo’s growing animal families. Video by team marketing and animal care team lead Kayleigh | Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Also on October 21st, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1f) green iguana named Durga, which will become an ambassador animal in the future.

12K views · 407 reactions | Today is Reptile Awareness Day, which is the perfect time to meet green iguana Durga! A recent arrival to the KCZoo, this 7-year-old lizard will be one of the animal ambassadors in our education programming that visits schools, libraries, assisted living facilities, and more. Her species is native to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. One of the most important adaptations is its tail, which provides balance, movement, and protection. The name Durga comes from a Hindu goddess who is known for strength and being invincible. Durga is truly invincible, having lost an arm at a previous facility, but she is as strong as ever and able to climb and move just as any iguana can. Durga enjoys sunning and receiving head scratches from her trainers. Keep an eye out for Durga, as she will also occasionally make pop-up appearances with her care team around the Zoo! | Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

On October 23rd, the zoo announced they received a shipment of 46 native/non-native trees to plant throughout the facility.

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

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On November 2nd, it was announced they transferred a (1m.0) silvery-cheeked hornbill to North Florida Wildlife Center in Florida.

North Florida Wildlife Center

On November 12th, the zoo announced that a (1m.0) Masai giraffe was born on November 4th.

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

 

[Haliaeetus]

Other October 2025 News Not Mentioned:


On October 14th, the zoo announced they named the squirrel monkey MJ.

13K views · 468 reactions | NAME ANNOUNCEMENT: We are thrilled to share that the baby of squirrel monkey Marley has a name! Meet MJ, which is short for Marley Jr. The team says the sex of the 1 1/2-month-old baby has not been determined yet, but we will keep you posted. In the meantime, you can visit MJ on the top level of the Discovery Barn! Each birth announcement this year is part of our Wild Beginnings program, which is sponsored by Saint Luke's Health System and celebrates “zooborns” at the KCZoo. Saint Luke’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered maternity care has helped local families flourish for more than 140 years and is a perfect sponsor for the Zoo’s growing animal families. Video by team marketing and animal care team lead Kayleigh | Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Also on October 21st, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1f) green iguana named Durga, which will become an ambassador animal in the future.

12K views · 407 reactions | Today is Reptile Awareness Day, which is the perfect time to meet green iguana Durga! A recent arrival to the KCZoo, this 7-year-old lizard will be one of the animal ambassadors in our education programming that visits schools, libraries, assisted living facilities, and more. Her species is native to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. One of the most important adaptations is its tail, which provides balance, movement, and protection. The name Durga comes from a Hindu goddess who is known for strength and being invincible. Durga is truly invincible, having lost an arm at a previous facility, but she is as strong as ever and able to climb and move just as any iguana can. Durga enjoys sunning and receiving head scratches from her trainers. Keep an eye out for Durga, as she will also occasionally make pop-up appearances with her care team around the Zoo! | Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

On October 23rd, the zoo announced they received a shipment of 46 native/non-native trees to plant throughout the facility.

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On November 2nd, it was announced they transferred a (1m.0) silvery-cheeked hornbill to North Florida Wildlife Center in Florida.

North Florida Wildlife Center

On November 12th, the zoo announced that a (1m.0) Masai giraffe was born on November 4th.

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

The Giraffe calf has been called BENI
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "Thank you to everyone who voted on the name of the new giraffe calf! After tallying the 14,374 votes submitted, we are thrilled to announce the winning name (drum roll, please)…Beni! Many of you noted that this family unit will now be the ABCs of the herd: dad Aidan, baby Beni, and mom Chandy. Born on Tuesday, November 4, Beni is flourishing under the watchful care of first-time mom Chandy. While the Zoo’s entire giraffe herd remains behind the scenes due to construction on their new habitat, Zoo guests can view them on a live camera of their behind-the-scenes area available near the chimpanzee habitat. The new giraffe complex is slated to open by summer 2026. Each birth announcement this year is part of our Wild Beginnings program presented by @saintlukeskc, which celebrates “zooborns” at the KCZoo!"

 

[Haliaeetus]

Birth of 1 White-cheeked Gibbon.
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "Exciting news! We are welcoming an adorable white-cheeked gibbon baby, born to mother Kit and father Smithers on Saturday, October 18. The yet-to-be-named little one is doing great. Keep your eyes peeled when you visit this sweet baby in the Tropics as you’ll most likely see them holding on to mom. We ask that the area near the gibbon habitat stays quiet as baby gets acclimated to its surroundings. Stay tuned for more information on the name and sex of the baby gibbon in the coming weeks! We would like to thank @saintlukeskc for sponsoring our Wild Beginnings program, which celebrates “zooborns” at the KCZoo. Saint Luke’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered maternity care has helped local families flourish for more than 140 years and is a perfect sponsor for the Zoo’s growing animal families. #gibbon #whitecheekedgibbon"

The baby Gibbon is a boy.
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "IT’S A BOY! We are thrilled to announce that Kit’s one-month-old white-cheeked gibbon baby is a boy and officially has a name. A list of names was chosen by the animal care specialists in Tropics, then the Zoo's dedicated staff and volunteers were given the opportunity to vote. The name Koa was selected, which translates to warrior. The birth of Koa provides hope for the white-cheeked gibbon species, which is critically endangered due to issues like the illegal pet trade and habitat loss. We hope you’ll support the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Wildlife Trafficking Alliance and spread the word that certain animals are simply #NotAPet. We would like to thank @saintlukeskc for sponsoring our Wild Beginnings program, which celebrates Koa and the other “zooborns” at the KCZoo this year."

 

[Smaggledagle]

The baby Gibbon is a boy.
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "IT’S A BOY! We are thrilled to announce that Kit’s one-month-old white-cheeked gibbon baby is a boy and officially has a name. A list of names was chosen by the animal care specialists in Tropics, then the Zoo's dedicated staff and volunteers were given the opportunity to vote. The name Koa was selected, which translates to warrior. The birth of Koa provides hope for the white-cheeked gibbon species, which is critically endangered due to issues like the illegal pet trade and habitat loss. We hope you’ll support the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Wildlife Trafficking Alliance and spread the word that certain animals are simply #NotAPet. We would like to thank @saintlukeskc for sponsoring our Wild Beginnings program, which celebrates Koa and the other “zooborns” at the KCZoo this year."

The zoo also announced they named the gibbon Koa.

 

[Haliaeetus]

Arrival of 2 Capybaras from Abilene, they are housed in the Tropics Habitat with other Neotropical species.
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Instagram: "Get ready for double the capy cuteness! We can’t wait for you to visit the Zoo’s new capybara residents, Yoshi and Luigi. This duo came to us from the @abilenezoo, and today the 3-year-old brothers were introduced to the Tropics habitat. Yoshi is the bigger of the two, but Luigi tends to be bolder and braver. Luigi is usually the first one to try something, and then Yoshi will follow suit! As they become acclimated, Yoshi and Luigi will also have access to a behind-the-scenes habitat and may not always be visible in the first few weeks. Introductions have begun slowly with the saki monkeys and prehensile-tailed porcupine, and in the coming weeks, the capybaras will meet crested screamer Louie. The largest rodent in the world, the capybara species is native to Central and South America and can weigh over 145 pounds. Capybaras in the wild reside near riverbanks, ponds, and marshy areas, and their webbed feet give them adept swimming abilities. The next time you visit the Zoo, you will find the capybaras in the Tropics section. Stop by the Tropics each day at 12:30 pm for an informational chat with the animal care specialists. Stay tuned for more clips of the boys’ first swim at the KCZoo! #capybara"

 

[RandomZooVisitorYT]

According to the zoo's Expeditions Magazine they have a rough outline for a masterplan (no renderings nor guarantees) that is set to be completed by 2033:

2026- New Giraffe Exhibit and Barn
2027- Expanded learning center with additional exhibits between entrance and tram ride.
(Maybe for some of their ambassador species)
2028- Renovated Flamingo Exhibit
2029- New Bear (unspecified species) Exhibit between Polar bears and orangutans.
2030- Koalas briefly return
2031- Complete Tiger Trail Renovation (Multispecies)
2032- New Hyena Exhibit
2033- Upgraded spaces for Nile Hippos and Dwarf Crocodiles with the addition of pygmy hippos and Nile crocodiles.

Overall, I am excited for some parts of this plan (assuming it all goes into fruition), but am upset that The Sea Lion Pool, Tropics, and West Africa are being ignored.

The Sea Lion Pool is... an eyesore that I am shocked people don't talk about more.
Idea- Do a new sea lion exhibit and outdoor sea otter space outside of the aquarium.

Tropics- Is simply way too small for every species in the building, especially since they plan to house capybaras further
Idea- Just adding outdoor spaces would go so far.

West Africa- This mainly addresses the leopard exhibit, among some cosmetic flaws.
Idea- Convert leopard space into a new monkey exhibit and add a gorilla dayroom.

 

[RandomZooVisitorYT]

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Some exciting plans for a Midwest Zoo!

 

[JVM]

According to the zoo's Expeditions Magazine they have a rough outline for a masterplan (no renderings nor guarantees) that is set to be completed by 2033:

2026- New Giraffe Exhibit and Barn
2027- Expanded learning center with additional exhibits between entrance and tram ride.
(Maybe for some of their ambassador species)
2028- Renovated Flamingo Exhibit
2029- New Bear (unspecified species) Exhibit between Polar bears and orangutans.
2030- Koalas briefly return
2031- Complete Tiger Trail Renovation (Multispecies)
2032- New Hyena Exhibit
2033- Upgraded spaces for Nile Hippos and Dwarf Crocodiles with the addition of pygmy hippos and Nile crocodiles.

This was mentioned on the first page, but I really appreciate that you brought up and shared a screenshot of the zoo's Expeditions article so we know things word for word.

It's a pretty great plan in terms of additions. Tiger Trail and flamingos could use the renovation, pygmy hippos, nile crocodiles and hyenas are great additions to the already spectacular Africa section, more bears are always good.

The Sea Lion Pool is... an eyesore that I am shocked people don't talk about more.
Idea- Do a new sea lion exhibit and outdoor sea otter space outside of the aquarium.

I would totally agree that the Sea Lion Pool is very unattractive and that I was surprised by that myself. A new sea lion exhibit would be a great addition to the zoo.

Tropics- Is simply way too small for every species in the building, especially since they plan to house capybaras further
Idea- Just adding outdoor spaces would go so far.

I'm not as surprised by them holding off on this as I suspect work on the Tiger Trail renovation may involve new exhibits for the gibbons and/or otters currently housed there, which would open up their options for renovating the Tropics building much more without the potential loss of some popular species, and it would reduce the building's focus by removing one continent. If they could move out the African species as well (Blue monkey/Cape porcupine, hornbill) then they could refocus the building entirely on the South American species, which would make for a much more exciting project than an updated rainforest building by itself.

Interestingly, press reports from the Tropics building opening suggest that during that renovation work, it was designed with consideration to adding outdoor sections in the future, so I'm a little surprised this hasn't already been done. It would be great to give the Saki/screamer/capybara mix some outdoor access, or if there is room add some additional species outside.

The whole flamingo/elephant/tropics/aquarium section of the zoo feels particularly odd to me, with the elephant and flamingo exhibits feeling very out of the way and distant from the two buildings, and no real unifying theme. I think a South America theming would work pretty well given the aquarium has the toucan/tamarin/mangrove tank, Tropics has a likely future focus there, and the flamingos are Chilean, but I think it would take some additional work to tie the area together neatly.

Shame the elephant exhibit can't be 'stretched' closer to the Africa section, huh?

West Africa- This mainly addresses the leopard exhibit, among some cosmetic flaws.
Idea- Convert leopard space into a new monkey exhibit and add a gorilla dayroom.

I don't think they will add a gorilla dayroom and indeed with the exception of the giraffe renovation, the Kansas City Zoo does not seem overall to be interested in adding indoor spaces for animals with outdoor viewing.

I think with the loss of red-crowned mangabey it wouldn't be a bad idea to expand the leopard habitat over the mangabey space, although they could also take the opportunity to move the Blue monkeys out from the Tropics building to the former mangabey enclosure as well, since they are also an African species, though they are more eastern.

I would still consider West Africa a pretty strong part of the zoo despite the leopard and antelope exhibits being somewhat smaller than they could be though.