The Sedwick Zoo has gotten many rave reviews here on Zoochat. How is their elephant exhibit? Does it compare well to the new wave of African elephant exhibits at other zoos (Dallas, Reid Park, etc.)?
The Sedwick Zoo has gotten many rave reviews here on Zoochat. How is their elephant exhibit? Does it compare well to the new wave of African elephant exhibits at other zoos (Dallas, Reid Park, etc.)?
Sedgwick County Zoo is loved by many ZooChatters partly because there are very few poor exhibits in the entire zoo. I would say that the African elephant enclosure is the weakest part of the zoo and there are long-gestating plans for a multi-acre, modern, naturalistic elephant exhibit but the issue has been funding as it will supposedly cost a tremendous amount of money. It is incredible to think that one of the very best zoos in the United States has 4 years (until Sept. 2016) to come up with a solution or they will lose their AZA-accreditation.
The Sedgwick county zoo intends to keep its two elephants which it has had for nearly 40 years. If they can not construct the new elephant complex they will spend $1 million to re-fit the black rhino stall adjacent to the current elephant stall into holding for a third elephant. I assume that also means they would expand the elephant yard into the black rhinoceros yard.
The zoo has also tweaked its designs from a $60 million price tag to something more realistic for these economic times. The barn WAS supposed to be behind the gorilla complex so the elephants would get a considerable amount of exercise going on exhibit. That was shelved in the new design as well as the multi acre holding yards behind the scenes.
According to a zoo keeper I spoke to the community completely supports the expansion, but it is the city of Wichita creating the delay. Since the city still owns the zoo, and is having to lay off keepers/staff, it is not the best time to create a multi-million dollar elephant complex.
Just know that regardless of what happens, the zoo will keep elephants and the third elephant will probably be sourced from the other major AZA zoo in Kansas.
Well Joyce was owned by six flags in the first place... The brookfield zoo sought a companion animal for her following the death of Christie. But to no avail.
I think both cows at the Sedgwick county zoo will live into their early 50's at least. They (as corny as it sounds) have the bodies of a 20 year old elephant. The exercise program at the SCZ is truly impressive.
