Kansas City Zoological Park
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| Kansas City Zoological Park | |
| Date opened | December 13, 1909 |
| Location |   Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri, USA |
| Land area | 202 acres (0.82 km²) |
| Number of Animals | 1,300+ |
| Accreditations/ Memberships |
AZA |
| Website | |
Kansas City Zoological Park (Kansas City Zoo) is the 10th largest zoo in the United States. It is located in Swope Park at 6800 Zoo Drive Kansas City, Missouri. The zoo has a Friends Of The Zoo program.
Contents |
[edit] History
Planning for the zoo started in 1907, and its gates opened on December 13, 1909. The zoo evolved slowly during its first 40 years, while it added exhibits such as the Bear Pit in 1912. It gained more momentum when it added Monkey Island (1945), Children's Zoo 'Touchtown' (1948), Sea Lion Pool (1951), African Veldt (1954), Giraffe House (1955), and Flamingos (1957). In 1959, the Friends of the Zoo program began. The zoo added an Otter Pool (1961), Elephant House (1962), Great Ape House (1966), Dairy Barn (1971), Great Catwalk (1972), and Gibbon Islands (1973). In 1991, after voting and financed from a grant, the zoo expanded to the current size of 202 acres (0.82 km²) adding Australia (1993), International Festival (1994), and Africa (1995). Opening of the Africa section drew in approximately 40,000 visitors in first 2 days. A new building was added for the first IMAX in a zoo, the Sprint IMAX Theater. The improvements resulted in record attendance of 700,000 zoo guests, and 400,000 IMAX visitors, in 1998. The zoo has grown from a small building and 60 acres to a large, 202-acre (0.82 km²) zoo with over 1,300 animals. The new Orangutan Primadome opened in 2002 as a part of new management. A 20-year plan plots the zoo's future, including new improvements. The Discovery Barn opened in 2006. The Zoo closed the Sprint IMAX Theater on September 4, 2007[1].
[edit] Zoo Guide
The zoo, which was founded in 1909, is 202 acres (0.82 km²) and is home to more than 1,300 animals. It is located in Swope Park, the 29th-largest municipal park in the United States. The zoo is divided into 5 areas of the following themes: Australia, Tiger Trail, Africa, The Valley, and KidZone.
Africa
The Africa section is broken up into Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, the Congolese Rainforest, and Uganda. The Botswana section contains African Elephants in a 4 and a half acre exhibit with a water pool at one end. The elephants do paintings and demos during weekends. The Kansas City Zoo was also chosen out of several zoos for elephant breeding, as well as baboon breeding. Kenya have cheetahs with a lookout building, Warthogs, and a dock with a view of some Lesser Kudu, Rhim Gazelle, Common Eland, waterbuck, and some rare Scimitar-horned oryx that roam across an African plain. There are ground hornbill and saddle-billed stork in wetland-themed exhibits on the opposite side. There is a bomas area, with huts to simulate a Kenyan village and some Lappet-faced Vulture, aldabra tortoise, and blue duiker. There is Scrubland Aviary with several species of birds, Red Ruffed Lemur and dik-dik. In Tanzania, there is a lion exhibit with a lookout building. There are small exhibits that appear carved or surrounded by rock to simulate a natural kopje. These include: serval, bushbaby, rock hyrax, black-footed cat, three species of lovebird, gold-breasted waxbill and bat-eared fox. There is then a log-themed bridge across the black rhino exhibit. A top chimpanzee enclosure is next, with an very large area for a troop of 26 chimps to play and explore, and a lookout building. On the other side of the African plains, there are Masai giraffe, Grey Crowned Crane, Grant's Zebra, and ostrich. Nearby are some ground birds, the Kori Bustard and secretary bird. There is a crocodile house, and a hippo pool. The Uganda section has a stage with seating an exhibit with African Wild Dog in it, which alternates with jackal, depending on the temperature. The last exhibit is a family of Guinea baboon. The Congolese Rainforest is across a swinging bridge in Kenya with Grey-cheeked Mangabey and Collared Mangabey exhibits. There is a leopard exhibit, with an overhead area. There are Bongo, Red River Hog, Yellow-backed Duiker exhibits, and two bachelor groups of lowland gorillas. Several snack bars are located throughout Africa, the Rafiki Restaurant, and a gift shop.
Australia
Australia lies in the northernmost part of the zoo. There you can find the Australian walk-through Woodland Aviary, which includes black swans, scarlet ibis, and many other bird species. Afterwards is an exhibit containing emu. A pair of Singing dogs live nearby. There is a large field in the middle of Australia, where numerous kangaroos are able to roam freely. Nearby is an exhibit exhibit with two species of wallaby. Further down the path is a tree-kangaroo house, and another emu exhibit that formerly was home to cassowary. The last area recreates an Australian sheep farm, featuring a farmers home, a building with various animal hides and preserves, snakes, an a pair of Kookabura, and a hands-on sheep pen. The last exhibit in Australia is home to Dromedary Camel. The area has a train station and snack bar with a patio overlooking the kangaroo field.
Tiger Trail
The Tiger Trail was home to many types of animals, and has had many names. Originally, it was the Cat Walk, and was home to many species of Feline. Afterwards, it was renamed Amazonia, and featured South American creatures. Recently, the area has renovated as the Tiger trail, and is themed around Asia. The entire trek is filled with Oriental Plants, lanterns, statues, and various pictures of animals. The first exhibit is home to the Francois Langur. The path leads to a tunnel with the endangered Bali Mynah and Red Panda. Note that the langurs and the pandas swap exhibits according to outdoor conditions ( Pandas are outside in fall & winter, while in tunnel during spring and summer). The next area is home to a small family of Orangutan, and their large outdoor "primadome". The focal point of the Tiger Trail is the critically endangered Sumatran Tiger exhibit, which is home to two male tigers. Other animals on exhibit are the Tufted Deer, Wreathed Hornbill , Demoiselle Crane, Golden Pheasent, and the Binturong.
KidZone
Like the Tiger Trail, KidZone has changed its name many times. From Farmland USA & International Festival, to Blue River Farmland & International Festival, and then to finally combining the two and making KidZone. The KidZone features a cage for lories and lorikeets, with feedings that guests can participate in (first 25). There is a large sea lion pool, which has many shows and it attracts a lot of viewers. The Zooville building, next to the sea lions is the original 1909 building, which was basically the original zoo! This building later became a housing for spoonbill, flamingo, and other birds, but it was closed and renovated for a few years. The building then became Zooville, which is a reptilian house, featuring many types of snakes, frogs, and lizards. The Zooville building is closed and is to be reopened in 2008 as a Tropical House. A wetland area near the former ape house holds Red Crowned Crane. There is a lot of farm animals in the KidZone, including pot-bellied pig, llama and alpaca, and many types of chicken. It also features a Bird Show Stage and a Birthday Bungalow. Recently, the Red Barn closed and is now reopened as the Discovery Barn. The Discovery Barn houses Scarlet Macaw, squirrel monkey, meerkat, and ring-tailed lemur. The pony rides are now reopen next door to the Discovery Barn, as well as the sheep and pygmy goats, which are located behind the pony rides. There is a camel ride near the sea lion pool. At Christmas time, there is sometimes reindeer on exhibit. Within KidZone there is a birthday bungalow, Peacock Place Restaurant, and a snack bar.
The Valley
The Valley is the area in between Botswana and KidZone. It is a big valley with a huge lake in the middle, containing numerous ducks and swan species. There is an old rock aviary row, which contains golden eagle, bald eagle, Andean condor, and formerly the binturong. It also housed the red panda and maned wolf. The binturong and red panda moved to Tiger Trail. The Valley is currently closed for renovations, so the maned wolf, and birds are off-display. The opposite side of the rock aviary row, is a newer aviary row, and it is still on display because it is not down the hill in the actual valley. It contains barn owl, golden pheasant, red bourbon turkey, and others. A stage for plays and demonstrations is located behind the Maned wolf's enclosure.
[edit] Transportation
- Zebra Trams
A zebra-themed tram takes zoo guests along the African elephants and flamingos, from the World Gate to the African section of the zoo known as "Nanyuki Market".
- Zoo Train Ride
A mini train takes visitors around the main area of the zoo, the camels, and Kangaroos.
- Lake Nakuru Boat Ride
(Memorial Day thru Labor Day) A boat takes visitors for an up-close view of the African savannah animals, such as the greater kudu and scimitar-horned oryx.
[edit] Renovations
Extensive renovations of the zoo begain in late 2007[2]. The Discovery Barn just opened, formerly the Red Barn. It contains many exhibits, and slides for children. Outside, there is a Peek-a-Boo Tree, that is fun for children to play in and get a sky-high view at the top of the tree, and like the Discovery Barn, it also contains a slide. The Promenade is finished, which is a wide path straight to the African elephants exhibit. The Promenade makes getting to Africa much faster. Also, the Valley area, which previously housed the Red pandas, maned wolf, and other animals, is closed for renovations. There will be a large polar bear exhibit, right by the World Gate, including a massive waterfall, this is planned for 2009. Another new addition will be a ski-lift from the World Gate, down the hill to the Nanyuki Market in Africa. Many more additions will be coming to the zoo as well, including an aquarium, proposed to be added to the zoo in the future. The new entrance admission gates opened in May of 2008, with an educational center and a North American river otter/trumpeter swan pool. In late 2008, the Tropics House will open, and the polar bear exhibit will begin for 2009.
Completed Projects
- Discovery Barn/Peek-A-Boo Tree
- Promenade
- Carousel Cafe
- Endangered Species Carousel
- New Admission Gate & Entrance
Current
- Ski-Lift
- Polar Bear
- Penguins
- Aquarium
- The Valley
- Tropics House
[edit] Zoo Events & Shows
Shows and events:
- Zooper Snapshots Photo Contest
- Do The Zoo Family Get-A-Way Weekend Contest
- Bird Show: located at the Bird Show Theatre, in KidZone
- Reptile Show: located in Zooville, near the Sea Lion Pool
- Sea Lion Show: located at the Sea Lion Pool
- Lorikeet Feeding: located in KidZone, at Lorikeet cage
- Chimp Chat: located at Chimpanzee exhibit, in Tanzania (Africa)
- Elephant Demo: located in the elephant exhibit, Botswana (Africa)
- Elephant Painting: located in the elephant exhibit, Botswana (Africa)
- Find Detailed Info Here!
[edit] Tours
Golf Cart Tours - Info (Golf-Cart)
Wild Safari Tours - Info (Wild-Safari)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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