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PA I D
KANSAS CITY, MO
#4831
Kansas City Zoo | 6800 Zoo Drive | Kansas City, MO 64132
Open daily, year round, closed only on
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
www.KansasCityZoo.org
Please note new phone number
for the Zoo is 816.595.1234
Chuck Caisley, Chairperson – KCP&L
Todd LaSala, Secretary
Stinson, Leonard, Street LLP
Sal Montalbano, Treasurer
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
The Kansas City Zoo is a non-smoking environment
except in designated areas which are indicated on the
Zoo Map and on grounds with signs and ash trays.
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 Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Get Your FOTZ Membership Today!
Joining FOTZ is easy!
FOTZ Members who are
renewing their memberships
receive a $5 discount
through March 31, 2015.
Are you a current FOTZ member renewing your membership?
Yes, ID number?____________________________________
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Individual Plus Level
$32
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$109
Family Level
$44
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Non-Zoological District pricing
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of dependent children or grandchildren under the age of 18:______
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If this membership is a gift, please list the gift recipient information to the above with
your payment information and your contact information below:
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Sign up online at kansascityzoo.org, call 816-595-1234 or fill out the form below and return it to:
Kansas City Zoo FOTZ Memberships, 6800 Zoo Drive, Kansas City, MO 64132.
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Payment:
Sustaining Level
Non-Zoological District pricing Gorilla Adventurer $500
Elephant Conservationist $1000
Penguin Patron
$2500
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(if yes, deduct $5)
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2015 Memberships are valid through March 31, 2016.
The earlier you purchase, the more FREE visits to the Zoo you can enjoy.
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Please send membership to:
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Karen Begelfer, Sprint
Mark Bryant, White Goss Bowers March
Schulte & Weisenfels
David Chavez, Latin Point Communications
Sharon Cleaver, Boys & Girls Clubs
of Greater Kansas City
Rod Crawford, Glazer’s
Thelma Crawford, Community Volunteer
Jackie DeSouza, Research Medical Center
Wes Dixon, Keywest Technologies
Chris Egan, SMG Services
Wesley Fields, Bryan Cave LLP
Howard Jacobson, Paragon Capital Mgmt, LLC
Mark Killen, American Century Investments
Gayle Krigel, Community Volunteer
Todd LaSala, Stinson, Leonard, Street LLP
Yvette Miceli, Construction Broker, Inc.
Pat Murphy, Robert E. Miller Group
Nikki Newton, Waddell & Reed
Joe Reardon, McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, P.A.
Jim Rine, UMB Bank
Dean Rodenbough, Hallmark Cards
Melissa Roe, Congressman Sam Graves
CiCi Rojas, Central Exchange
Mary Sallee, Community Volunteer
Carla Sanders, AMC Theaters
Trish Sexton, Polsinelli
Kathy Smith, Community Volunteer
Tom Waggoner, 360 Architecture
David Yeamans, Burns & McDonnell
Representing the City of Kansas City
Cindy Circo, Councilwomen, Fifth District-at-Large
Allen Dillingham, Commissioner,
Board of Parks and Recreation
Mark McHenry, Director Parks and Recreation
Jan Marcason, Councilwomen, Fourth District
Troy Schulte, City Manager
Zoological District Commissioners
Additional Contribution to Conservation
Joining before March 31?
City/State/Zip
1st Quarter 2015
2015 Friends of the Zoo
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tax Deductible—Your donation is tax deductible. Please consult with your professional tax
advisor as to the specific deductibility of your gift based on your personal financial situation.
Pam Mason, Clay County
Dan Tarwater III, Jackson County
Mark McHenry, KC Parks and
Recreation Representative
Ray Brock, Clay County
Kevin Pistilli, Jackson County
Randy Wisthoff, KC Zoo Representative
Published Quarterly
You Too Can Act
Like an Orangutan
O
rangutans have amazing agility, strength and intelligence.
All of these characteristics are used for survival in their
native habitats and will be used in their new home
at Orangutan Canopy. Many enrichment items have been
built into their indoor and outdoor areas that will encourage
their natural behaviors. Guests will also be able to test their
orangutan abilities on our Orangutan Agility Course.
Making the transition from the upper outdoor canopy
area to the lower forest floor and indoor University will be a guest trail full of interactive orangutan
encounters, the Orangutan Agility Course. “Sliding” down to the forest floor, guests will see how
orangutan poo helps the plants and fruits that they eat grow.
Speaking of fruits, almost 90% of an orangutan’s diet is fruit. Orangutans can hold, eat and
manipulate food easily using their opposable thumbs and big toes. Since primates have fingernails and
toenails rather than claws, they are used for opening, scraping and cleaning fruits. Orangutan’s arms
are twice as long as their legs and can stretch far for that yummy treat. Along the Agility Course, see if
you can reach the tempting fruits on the “stretch” exercise.
The hips of orangutans are highly mobile and have full rotation along their legs to move at almost
any angle. This is similar to how our shoulder joints have full range of motion, allowing our arms to
move freely. This flexibility is also found in their knee and ankle joints that enable them to jump, twist,
grip and balance all at the same time. Try out the “sway” exercise on the trail — how easy is it for you
to balance?
“Swinging” is graceful as orangutan arms are one and half times longer than their legs and their
long curved toes and fingers help hold and quickly release branches. Moving around one mile a day
through the treetops, they are quick when among branches but lack swiftness when moving on the
ground. How fast can you swing on the monkey bars — or should we call them “ape”-bars?
See what enrichment items you can spot throughout Orangutan Canopy; they will change daily.
On your way, you can be enriched by mimicking an orangutan swinging, swaying, stretching and
sliding. Orangutan Canopy will be open soon. Watch the Zoo’s web site for details.
Onward
The mission of the Kansas City Zoo is to conserve and provide access to wildlife to entertain and educate our visitors in order to instill a respect for nature.
Asian Apes
The rainforests in the Southeast Asian countries
of Borneo and Sumatra are among the most
biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. These
huge islands are the only wild home for critically
endangered animals like the Sumatran tiger,
Sumatran rhino, pygmy elephant and the largest
arboreal mammal and Asia’s only great ape—
orangutans—nicknamed “the people of the forest.”
Two genetically distinct species of orangutan
remain in all of Southeast Asia, the Sumatran
(Pongo abelii) and the Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus).
Both species are familiar with long, shaggy
reddish-orange coats, but they have distinct
qualities that set them apart. There are 215
orangutans of both species currently housed
in 55 institutions accredited by the AZA
(Association of Zoos and Aquariums) in
Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Sumatran Orangutans are only found on their namesake island and number around
6,000 individuals. Managed as a separate species in AZA accredited zoos, the Sumatran
Orangutan is generally lighter in color with a longer beard, and are seen to have thinner,
more elongated faces. Like their relatives the Bornean Orangutans, though, they are
frugivorous, meaning they eat primarily fruit such as figs and the famously stinky durian.
As arboreal great apes they spend their days moving slowly through the forest canopy,
rarely touching the ground while searching for fruiting trees to feed from. Both species
construct sleeping nests each night high in the branches, far from the grasp of predators.
Bornean Orangutans, also found only on their namesake island, are more numerous with
a population estimated at around 45,000 wild animals. Like their Sumatran relatives,
dominant male orangutans develop cheek pads at maturity which make them easily
identifiable and highly sexually dimorphic (males and females are different in appearance).
In some adult male orangutans these features are less developed or take much longer
to appear. It’s theorized that this arrested development is caused by the presence of a
dominant male. Even though they may not have cheek pads, these males are still fully
capable of fathering young.
Summer
Day Camps
The Zoo’s highly anticipated and
professionally taught Summer Day Camps
begin on June 1. Week-long sessions are
offered through the first week of August.
Whether you are an animal enthusiast
who wants to have fun this summer, or an
explorer who craves the inside scoop about
the Zoo’s amazing creatures, there is a
camp just purr-fect for you.
Topics vary from week to week and there are
½ day and full day camps. Check out these
awesome opportunities and register online
at www.kansascityzoo.org.
Zoofari Adventures Day Camp
4–12 year olds
Topics include: Home Sweet Home,
Zoocieties: Animal Groups and
Order Up: Diets and Food Webs.
Junior Zoologist Day Camp
13–15 year olds
Career activities will help you learn
what it takes to work at the zoo from
those who know. Explore the world
of animal keeping, education, creating
an animal show and much more. The
animals are only ONE part of what
makes your zoo special.
Penguin Endoscopy
As with all animals at the zoo, our penguins
are examined during quarantine, rounds, or at
the time of illness. Part of the exam commonly
employs radiographs to ensure they haven’t
swallowed anything that could impact their health.
Unfortunately, we have had several penguins that
were found to have materials that they shouldn’t
have eaten! In some cases, the birds are not showing
any illness at all. Due to the nature of the material
and the potential for causing or complicating
illness, we need to anesthetize the bird. We utilize
a flexible endoscope to slide down into the stomach
to retrieve the item. It is amazing what they will
eat!—wire, plastic, glass, and metal items have all
been found, but fortunately we have been able to
remove them all! Penguin anesthesia is difficult; you
have to keep them cold under anesthesia so they don’t
overheat, and you must be very careful not to damage
the lining of the esophagous or stomach with the
endoscope. Fortunately, we haven’t found any ingested
items recently, and all birds are doing well! Come see
all the penguins at out Helzberg Penguin Plaza!
WANTED: Volunteers
If you like people and like being outdoors,
consider joining our Zoo volunteer team.
There are plenty of opportunities to help
at the Kansas City Zoo! You can become
a Guest Guide Volunteer, Team Habitat
Volunteer or a Special Events Volunteer.
One thing is clear: without adequate protection and habitat preservation orangutans may
be extinct in the wild within 20 years. Deforestation for agriculture and the illegal pet trade
are the two main culprits responsible for the orangutan’s precipitous decline. Palm oil, the
most common food oil in the world, is a highly lucrative crop and grown extensively on
Borneo and Sumatra. Orangutans are displaced when the land is cleared to farm and they
have been known to be killed when they are found on palm oil plantations.
Team Habitat and ZooScaper
Volunteers assist with projects for
The Kansas City Zoo is home to six Bornean Orangutans, two males and four females.
The two easiest individuals to recognize here at the Zoo are Kalijon, the youngest and
most playful of our group and Rufus, the largest male with fully developed male cheek pads
and long dredlocked fur. With the opening of Orangutan Canopy this summer, getting a
better look at these amazing apes will be much easier.
2
location. Guest Guides help make every
visit to the Zoo a fabulous experience for
our guests; they make recommendations
to visitors that provide a rewarding
and satisfying visit. Guest Guides
deliver excellent customer service to
our Zoo visitors, whether it is their
first visit or 50th.
Guest Guides spend their time providing
personal attention to guests while roaming
the Zoo or standing at a high traffic
Expeditions — First Quarter 2015
www.kansascityzoo.org
all the departments at the Zoo. Projects
range from light physical duty such as
planting bulbs and painting doors, to more
physically challenging projects such as
moving deadfall, cleaning/reorganizing
zoo areas after big special events, pruning
and clearing brush. Team Habitat
volunteers meet one Saturday
per month from March to November.
Earth Day
Every Day
Climate change is our most pressing issue as it
affects everything—biodiversity, health, safety and
the economy. Take steps as an individual to cut
your energy waste (and waste generally), switch to
renewable energy sources, talk with your elected
officials and put your environmental goals front
and center when you vote.
Here are some other positive changes you
can make: control your contribution to using
pesticides and create a wildlife habitat in your
own yard (with native plants and non-toxic
gardening methods). Also, stop using plastic bags,
which endanger birds and marine mammals.
Recycle any you do use at a grocery or drug store
that takes them. Use non-toxic cleansers and
cosmetics, control pests with natural methods
instead of synthetic pesticides and buy organic.
Most importantly, enjoy the outdoors (and the
Zoo), challenge the consumerist culture and
don’t be afraid to be different.
Special Event Volunteers help
primarily on weekends with our special
events such as Superhero weekend, Kiss
and Tail, annual FOTZ member events
and holiday special events like Mother’s
Day and Holiday Wild. These volunteers
assist with the set up/tear down,
decorating, greeting guests, distributing
promotional items, assisting mascot
characters and crowd control.
No long term commitment or
experience necessary!
To learn more about how to become a Guest
Guide, Team Habitat, ZooScaper, or Special
Events volunteer, you can go to our website for
more information at www.kansascityzoo.org/
get-involved/volunteer.
15
Calendar of Events
Kansas City Zoo Calendar of Events
SUNDAY
3
MONDAY
4
MAY
6
10
11
12
13
Mom’s Day of Fun
17
19
20
Science Adventure Club
Goodnight Zoo
2
Junior Scout Workshop
Polar Bear Overnight
FRIDAY
8
Science Adventure Club
14
Science Adventure Club
18
1
7
Science Adventure Club
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
TUESDAY
5
For more information please call 816.595.1234 or visit www.kansascityzoo.org
9
Polar Bear PJ Party
Zootastik Learning Fest
Daisy Scout Workshop
16
15
Science Adventure Club
21
Science Adventure Club
Cheetah Run
22
23
25
26
27
Science Adventure Club
31
29
28
Science Adventure Club
Kansas City Zoo’s Vision Statement
To always be known as one of the best zoos in the nation.
MONDAY
1
SUNDAY
7
MONDAY
8
14
Summer Camp
2
Summer Camp
15
9
28
23
29
Summer Camp
Science Adventure Club
4
Species Spotlight
Summer Camp
Science Adventure Club
10
Summer Camp
Science Adventure Club
Summer Camp
Science Adventure Club
24
Summer Camp
30
Summer Camp
JAZZOO
FACEBOOK
kansas city zoo
Share with us!
Nocturnal Overnight
@KansasCityZoo
Ask us a question!
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
5
kansascityzoo
6
YOU TUBE
Kansas City Zoo
Watch our videos!
Gorilla Gorilla
Critically endangered, Western Lowland
Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are the largest
of the great apes, vegetarians and extremely
social. The Kansas City Zoo is home to
a four-member breeding group of these
impressive apes.
Two half-brothers, Ntondo and Mbuni,
recently joined breeding groups of their own
at other Zoos as part of the Gorilla SSP
(Species Survival Plan), which manages the
population of around 360 gorillas in AZA accredited Zoos. Radi, our resident thirtyone-year-old silverback, lives with three female companions, Tufani (23), Makena (16)
and Makari (27). We have very high hopes for the
future successful breeding of this troop as Makari and
Tufani are previously experienced mothers. Gorillas
have gestation period of eight and a half months and
mothers care for their young for up to five years. This
slow reproduction rate contributes to the gorilla’s
vulnerability to extinction.
Western Lowland Gorillas populations have become
drastically reduced in recent years due to logging,
the trade in bushmeat, and the Ebola virus. These
incredible animals now number far less than 100,000
wild individuals, while the Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla
gorilla diehli), the most critically endangered, numbers
less than 300.
FRIDAY
17
Summer Camp
Summer Camp
Summer Camp
14
Summer Camp
16
22
Dad’s Day of Fun
3
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
JUNE
TUESDAY
Summer Camp
21
Summer Camp
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
TUESDAY
30
Stay in touch with the Zoo! Social media
connects the Zoo to you, reach out and share
online. We love to share photos on Instagram
and Facebook, ask us a question on Twitter
or view and share our videos on YouTube
and Vine.
Check out our photos!
Open at 8 a.m.
through Labor Day
24
Share Your
Zoo Story
Summer Camp
Science Adventure Club
11
12
Summer Camp
Science Adventure Club
18
Summer Camp
Science Adventure Club
25
Summer Camp
Science Adventure Club
Summer Camp
Polar Bear PJ Party
13
Zootastik Learning Fest
VINE
Kansas City Zoo
Share your videos!
20
19
Cheetah Run
Summer Camp
FOTZ Exclusive Evening
26
The
h
he
27
Summer Camp
Species Spotlight
Science Adventure Club 3–5 year olds
When Science Attacks Homeschool programs
Goodnight Zoo 3–5 year olds
Zootastik Learning Fest 2nd Saturday, Animal Themed activities for children ages 3–12
Species Spotlight 4th Saturday, Animal Conservation Family Fun
Yoga Zoo 3–6 year olds
Kansas City Zoo’s Mission The mission of the Kansas City Zoo is to conserve and provide access to wildlife
to entertain and educate our visitors in order to instill a respect for nature.
Expeditions — First Quarter 2015
KC
KC ZOO
Z O
ZO
sHOW
ssHO
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HOW
HO
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Watch or DVR
The KCZoo Show
every Saturday at
10 a.m. on KCTV5
www.kansascityzoo.org
Quarters for Conservation
It starts with just a quarter and continues to build. Kansas City Zoo’s ongoing commitment
to conservation will be shown in dollars and cents in 2015. This year a portion
of each admission ticket and membership purchase will directly benefit
KCZoo-sponsored conservation programs.
Twenty-five cents of each general admission ticket sold will be
allocated to preserving species at home and around the globe.
Additionally, from each FOTZ Membership purchased, a
minimum of two dollars will be apportioned; Sustaining level FOTZ
Memberships and above contribute even more with a five or ten dollar
designation. These funds will allow the KCZoo to continue to make a real
impact in wildlife conservation locally, regionally and globally. See page 4 for information
on our conservation strategies and stay tuned for more updates on our conservation plan.
3
AZA Accreditation
It’s an official seal of approval. In the AZA
(Association of Zoos and Aquariums),
accreditation is the
official recognition
and approval of a
zoo or aquarium by
a group of experts. These experts, the AZA
Accreditation Commission, carefully examine
each zoo or aquarium that applies for AZA
membership. Each zoo and aquarium is reaccredited and evaluated every five years to
ensure that all standards are met or exceeded.
This is the year for the Kansas City Zoo.
Only those zoos and aquariums that meet
these high standards can become members of
AZA. Fewer than 10% of the approximately
2,800 animal exhibitors licensed by the
United States Department of Agriculture are
AZA accredited! Being accredited signifies
excellence in and a commitment to animal
care, conservation and education, just to
name a few.
Party for
the Planet
Celebrate all of Earth’s
gifts to us – land,
air and water –
during Party for
the Planet on
Saturday, April 11
from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. Are you already
reducing, reusing and
recycling your impact on Earth’s resources?
If so, thank you! Share your stories with
Zoo Keepers and Volunteers and find out
even more ways you can make a difference.
Did you know that eating sustainable
seafood helps sea lions, or that planting a tree
helps polar bears? Find out the latest green
tips that are “all the buzz” this year. Honoring
all things living at the Zoo, artists will share
their talents by creating the life of an animal
on canvas as you watch.
4
Creating a Strong
Conservation Plan
We envision a world in which the KCZoo contributes
significantly to the preservation of the diversity
of species and the conservation of resources on
earth while influencing others to do the same.
This conservation vision was carefully crafted by the Kansas City Zoo senior staff
to be the Zoo’s guiding statement for involvement in local, regional and global
conservation programs. Under the consultation of two seasoned professionals from
the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, the staff is creating a solid conservation
plan. A series of workshops has been performed to reaffirm the Zoo’s commitment to
conservation, to develop a process and criteria for prioritizing conservation projects,
and to identify specific actions that will be taken to achieve these goals and objectives.
Over the next several months the goals, objectives and actions of the plan will be
organized to reflect the three themes in the vision: influencing others, protecting
species and conserving resources.
In 2015, the Postcard to Adventure will arrive in mailboxes during mid-March.
Free admission will again be randomly assigned to a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
or Thursday and will be valid in April, July, September and November. For more
information please consult kansascityzoo.org/postcardtoadventure.
Work For Us!
Are you ready to work on the
wild side? The Zoo is among
the most unique employers in
Kansas City and we’re looking for
passionate individuals to join our
flock. Dozens of full-time, parttime and seasonal positions are
awaiting the right candidate, from
Zoo Keepers to Grounds Keepers
and everything in between.
Calendar of Events
Kansas City Zoo Calendar of Events
SUNDAY
MONDAY
1
2
SUNDAY
9
4
Science Adventure Club
When Science Attacks
5
Science Adventure Club
When Science Attacks
Family Science Night
10
11
12
Yoga Zoo
13
Science Adventure Club
18
19
Safari Day Camp
Mini Zoo Keeper for a Day
Pathfinder Day Camp
Mini Zoo Keeper for a Day
Science Adventure Club
When Science Attacks
Pathfinder Day Camp
Mini Zoo Keeper for a Day
Science Adventure Club
When Science Attacks
22
23
24
25
26
29
30
31
Junior Zoo Keeper for a Day
Pathfinder Day Camp
Mini Zoo Keeper for a Day
Science Adventure Club 3–5 year olds
When Science Attacks Homeschool programs
Goodnight Zoo 3–5 year olds
Zootastik Learning Fest 2nd Saturday, Animal Themed activities for children ages 3–12
Species Spotlight 4th Saturday, Animal Conservation Family Fun
Yoga Zoo 3–6 year olds
SUNDAY
5
MONDAY
6
7
Science Adventure Club
TUESDAY
Pathfinder Day Camp
Mini Zoo Keeper for a Day
Science Adventure Club
When Science Attacks
8
Science Adventure Club
12
13
14
15
Science Adventure Club
When Science Attacks
2 Pathfinder Day Camp
Mini Zoo Keeper for a Day
Science Adventure Club
When Science Attacks
Family Science Night
9
16
21
22
23
If you or someone you know would like to apply, visit our website or apply in person today!
26
27
28
29
30
Friends of the Zoo, Inc., (FOTZ) of Kansas City is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants without regard
to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability
that does not preclude performance of essential job duties, or any other status protected by law. FOTZ supports and promotes
workforce diversity and strives to foster a work environment of respect and inclusiveness where the contributions of all workers
are valued and recognized.
www.kansascityzoo.org
Yoga Zoo
Cheetah Run
Superhero Weekend
28
3
Junior Zoo Keeper for a Day
Penguin Pole-looza Overnight
Goodnight Zoo
Safari Day Camp
Science Adventure Club
Species Spotlight
FOTZ Exclusive
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
4
Brownie Scout Workshop
Teacher Appreciation Day
FRIDAY
10
11
Polar Bear PJ Party
17
Zootastik Learning Fest
Daisy Scout Workshop
Party for the Planet
Scraps to Sculpture
18
Science Adventure Club
When Science Attacks
20
Science Adventure Club
27
Science Adventure Club
19
Science Adventure Club
Yoga Zoo
Pathfinder Day Camp
Elephant Overnight
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
1
20
Science Adventure Club
Zootastik Learning Fest–
Butterfly Bonanza
Daisy Scout Workshop
Polar Bear Overnight
21
17
APRIL
7
Sustainable Seafood Soirée
Junior Scout Workshop
14
Yoga Zoo
Polar Bear PJ Party
Goodnight Zoo
Safari Day Camp
Junior Zoo Keeper for a Day
You could make our gardens more beautiful by joining our Horticulture team. Keep our
equipment and machinery in tip-top shape on our Maintenance team. Or care for our
critters on our Living Collections crew. All positions at the Zoo are extremely important to
our success.
Expeditions — First Quarter 2015
6
16
Superhero Weekend
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
FRIDAY
Science Adventure Club
15
THURSDAY
TUESDAY
MONDAY
8
MARCH
WEDNESDAY
TUESDAY
3
For more information please call 816.595.1234 or visit www.kansascityzoo.org
Scout Day
Cheetah Run
24
25
Species Spotlight
Science Adventure Club
13
Yoga Zoo
Relax and strike a
pose! Make your trip
to the zoo a relaxing
one and join us for our
brand new preschool
program. Work on
your flexibility while
we imitate our animal
friends in a variety of
interesting and fun
poses. Bring your
yoga mat and water
bottle. And don’t forget your favorite stuffed
animals. They can help us focus! 45-minute
Classes are available every Friday in
March at 10:00 am for kids ages 3–6 yrs.
Pre-registration is highly suggested. Cost
is $12 per class per Adult/Child pair;
FOTZ members get an additional 10% off.
Scout Day
The Zoo is jam-packed
with fun at Scout Day on
Saturday, April 18. Whether
you visit with your family,
with the whole troop, or
with just a Scout Leader, find
out what the Zoo offers for
badge requirements, group
fun, overnight adventures,
programs and workshops. It’s your day at the
Zoo! All Scouts wearing their uniforms as
well as their immediate family members
will enjoy a discounted admission.
New for 2015!
FOTZ members now get a
10% DISCOUNT
12
on Food and Beverage
at restaurants.
FOTZ Exclusive Sneak Peek
Curious about the construction of Orangutan Canopy? FOTZ Members will be treated
to an exclusive sneak peek on Saturday, March 28 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Progress on
this exhibit is swinging along, literally, from the tree branches, sway poles and vines —
it’s turning into an orangutan paradise.
Meet Executive Director/CEO Randy
Wisthoff at 10 a.m. in Tuxedo Grill as he
shares his dream for the future of the Zoo
and possible projects for 2016. Tuxedo Grill
will have Zoo breakfast favorites just for you.
After all this fun, stick around to
watch performances by members of
the Kansas City Ballet at select animal
exhibits. Dancers will be interpreting the
similarities in movements by animals and how they relate to ballet poses.
Sustainable Seafood Soiree
Spine-Tingling
SUPER
Weekend
Smoooooth, cooooool, likable and
entertaining, your favorite Superhero
swoops into the Zoo on Saturday, March 21
and Sunday, March 22 from 10 am to 3 pm.
Meet Spiderman, Thor, Captain America
and Iron Man as they share their worldsaving techniques. TM & © 2015 MARVEL
Check your “spidey” senses at the entrance to
enjoy a SUPER fun weekend at the Kansas
City Zoo! Bring your camera and autograph
books to create a memory with your favorite
comic sensation!
Did you know choosing the correct seafood can be good for you
and good for the planet? When purchasing seafood do you ask:
what is the current population of that fish, how was it caught, or
was raised on a farm with no environmental impact? Let the Zoo’s
experts help you make the best choice that helps the oceans at our
interactive dinner, Sustainable Seafood Soiree.
Expeditions — First Quarter 2015
Like other anemones, they are a part
of the cnidarian family that includes corals, sea pens, and jellies. All of these animals
have stinging cells that help to reel in prey items for food as well as ward off potential
predators. While they are somewhat simple animals, they still have the ability to move
around on their “foot” if they desire to find a better place to live. Bubbletip anemones come
in a few varieties, but ours have pink tips at the end of the tentacles. They are relatively
small at this point but may reach a foot in diameter when fully grown.
Even though they are small you can see that they are comfortable in their new home, as
each has found a place that seems to fit it best. A couple have even started their symbiotic
relationship (both animals benefit) with some of the tomato clownfish. It looks a little odd
right now as the clownfish are nearly as big as the anemones they hang out in.
Second Saturdays at the Zoo
Sosland & KCK
Due to its success and continued support from the Sosland Foundation, the Kansas City
Zoo has been able to expand the program to include children from the Kansas City Kansas
School District. Hopefully, Spring 2015 will prove to be just as fruitful as we reach out to
yet another 1700 Pre-K children.
In December, the Kansas City Zoo
received six new invertebrates that were
raised at the New York Aquarium.
Though they may look like plants to
some, these bubbletip anemones are
distant relatives of jellyfish. They can
be seen in their new aquatic reef home
inside the Helzberg Penguin Plaza
every day.
The anemones are fed a variety of fish and
invertebrate foods and will continue to grow
as they age. Some bubbletip anemones have
been known to live for as long as 80 years!
So, it is possible that each generation of zoo
visitors can come back and tell their children
and grandchildren about the time when they
first saw these at the Kansas City Zoo.
Join us on Saturday, March 7 for the third annual Sustainable
Seafood Soiree! This adult-only event will include cooking
demonstrations from the executive chefs at Jax Fish House, HyVee and McGonigles. From 5 – 8 p.m. enjoy seafood bites, light appetizers and great
drinks while learning how to purchase and prepare sustainable seafood. Tickets are on
sale now and are $35 for FOTZ members and $45 for non-FOTZ members. For more
information about this tasty event, visit our website www.kansascityzoo.org.
Beginning last year, the Kansas City Zoo has provided preschool programming to over
500 kids from 14 different preschool and Head Start sites throughout the metro area.
Through the Zoo’s partnership with the Sosland Foundation, these children took part in
our Science Adventure Club program, which focuses on instilling an understanding and
love for the natural world.
Bubbletip Anemones
Support the Zoo and
receive a discount on
your membership
with a Zoo Visa.
kansascityzoo.org/fotz for details
www.kansascityzoo.org
Join us for Zootastik Learning Fest (ZLF) on the second Saturday of every month. Each
month will feature a different animal or animal-related topic. Children of all ages connect
with animals and learn fascinating animal facts through
interactive activities, games and crafts. Find out how you
can become caretakers of our planet and discover what
small actions you can take at the Zoo, at home, and in
your neighborhood to help animals and their habitats.
There is plenty of adventure and always something new.
All of these activities are free with Zoo admission
thanks to the support of the Zoo Learning Fund. Some
of the second Saturday topics for 2015 are butterflies,
endangered species, elephants, migratory birds, red
pandas and caribou. Check our website for specific topics and times.
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M.O.M. Awareness Day
Orangutan mothers and babies have an incredibly close relationship. Baby orangutans
don’t have a support network around to give them the many lessons of finding food,
building nests and other survival skills. Their mothers teach them everything about
survival in the forest before they set out on their own. Because of the growing demand
for palm oil, though, more and
more orangutan mothers are
being killed every year on the
islands of Borneo and Sumatra.
The M.O.M. (Missing
Orangutan Moms) Campaign
is a positive way to bring
attention to the crisis facing
these beautiful red apes
by encouraging people to
help protect them. The
orangutans’ rainforest home
is literally being wiped out to make way for oil palm plantations– leaving hundreds
of helpless orangutans with nowhere to go. Some of the lucky ones end up at rescue
and rehabilitation centers and are cared for by a trained, professional staff. We are
celebrating Mom’s and orangutan on Saturday, May 9 during Zootastik Learning Fest.
Check out the Zoo’s web site for details.
Mother’s Day at the Zoo!
Celebrate Mom with a day at the Zoo on Sunday, May 10.
Mom will receive FREE admission and a special gift.
What is a Docent?
Docents are education volunteers who spend most
of their time on Zoo grounds interacting with
guests, using educational conservation messages
that share concern and respect for the natural
world. Docents also give tours, assist with Scout
programs and Zoo camps, and conduct classroom
presentations at the Zoo and away from the Zoo.
The Docent Program is intense and requires
60 hours of direct contact with our guests each year.
The 13-week training course is held each Spring.
For more information, please visit our volunteer link: www.kansascityzoo.org/getinvolved/volunteer or send an e-mail to: volunteer@fotzkc.org.
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Create Your
Own Zoo Art
Use your creativity to make a treasure out of
your trash or discarded materials. The more
eclectic the more charm! Scraps to Sculpture
is an art display during the Zoo’s Earth Day
celebration,
Party for the
Planet, on
Saturday,
April 11.
Zoo Guests
vote on
the most
unique and
outlandish uses of all things found in the
trash or landfill. Demonstrating a heart for
the environment and an eye for the wild,
Scraps to Sculpture is a great opportunity
for families, classrooms, neighbors and
friends to get together for affordable fun.
Bring your best trash treasure to share with
all Zoo guests and win animal-riffic prizes.
View guidelines on the Zoo’s website,
kansascityzoo.org.
Pathfinder Camp
It’s a Spring Break Camp! This three-day
camp will focus on Animal Grossology!
Sign up and find out all
the disgusting things
our animal friends do.
Poop, puke, snot and
slime — we will discuss
and investigate it all and
much more! Designed
for children ages 7-12,
Pathfinder Camp uses science,
animals and just plain fun
to keep your animal lovers
engaged and entertained.
Plus the theme continues with crafts, tours,
experiments and animal encounters.
New this year, there are two sessions:
March 18–20 and March 31–April 2.
Choose your three days of fun at the Zoo.
Expeditions — First Quarter 2015
Wild Jordan
In our continuing efforts to initiate and participate in conservation programs around the
world, the Kansas City Zoo was invited to train ecologists in the inception of a striped
hyena project in Jordan this fall. Because of our work with brown hyenas in Namibia,
the Zoo was asked to travel to the Dana reserve in Jordan by The Royal Society for the
Conservation of Nature
(RSCN) that manages all
the nature reserves and
parks in Jordan. The project
hopes to determine the
reason why striped hyenas
leave the reserve, whereupon
they are shot as vermin.
Striped hyenas have been
persecuted for thousands
of years and are extremely
wary of changes in the environment. Placing tracking collars on these hyenas will help
assess where and when the hyenas leave the reserve and strategies can be formulated for
minimizing these occurrences. In addition, as with the brown hyenas, health assessments
would be performed to have a better understanding of their physiology.
After a 14 hour flight, Dr. Suedmeyer, the Zoo’s Director of Animal Health, arrived in
Jordan and began to train ecologists in how to immobilize, monitor, and place tracking
collars on the animals. Several days of workshops and fieldwork focused on mathematical
calculations, blow darting techniques and practice. At night, the bait was set and we sat
patiently waiting for hyenas, or more unlikely, Arabian
wolves to appear. Unfortunately after 10 straight nights
of patiently waiting for hyenas to appear, none were
encountered and we ceased operations.
We did, however, immobilize a male striped hyena
at the Princess Alia’s New Hope Centre, a wildlife
sanctuary. The hyena needed to have a health
assessment and be transferred to a new enclosure.
We were able to perform a full assessment and
practice collaring, monitoring anesthesia and recovery.
The staff of RSCN were very appreciative of these efforts and the project is off to a good
start!! The Jordanians are a peaceful, knowledgeable people and the staff at RSCN have a
deep, abiding respect for nature, mirroring our commitment here at the Kansas City Zoo.
Host your company
picnic at the Zoo!
Contact Events@FOTZKC.org or visit
our website for more information.
www.kansascityzoo.org
Bowling
for Rhinos
Unfortunately,
2014 was a
record year for
rhinos in the
wild. A record
number of
rhinoceros were
illegally poached
in South Africa,
and the loss
of two Northern White Rhino individuals
has lowered the total population of this
dynamic animal to only five in the entire
world. However, 2014 did have several
bright moments. Bowling for Rhinos (BFR),
an annual national fundraiser hosted by
the American Association of Zoo Keepers
(AAZK) raised over $580,000 to help wild
rhinos. This is the highest dollar amount ever
raised. The Kansas City AAZK Chapter
hosted one of their most successful bowling
events ever. Best of all, conservation areas and
sanctuaries funded by Bowling for Rhinos
saw ZERO poaching in 2014!
Bowling for Rhinos began almost 30 years
ago right here in Kansas City. The local
AAZK Chapter is dedicated to protecting all
animals and the habitat of wild rhinos. The
chapter is gearing up for their annual
event and would like
to invite friends
and fans of the
Kansas City
Zoo to attend
the Bowling
for Rhinos
fundraiser on
Sunday, March 22, 2015 at Premier
Bowl in Raytown, MO. For more
information or to obtain your
bowling registration form please
contact the Kansas City AAZK
chapter at: kcaazk@yahoo.com.
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Spiders of the
8-Legged Kind
Missouri is home to more than 300 kinds of
spiders. Some are the size of a pinhead and
others are surprisingly large, with a leg span
of 4 or more inches. Of the two potentially
harmful spiders found in Missouri, you are
more likely to encounter the brown recluse
than the black widow.
Spiders, along with ticks, mites, harvestmen
and scorpions, belong to the class Arachnida.
Unlike insects, which have six legs, spiders
have eight. They have no antennae and
two-piece bodies. A spider has silk-spinning
structures called spinnerets at the back end of
its abdomen, and it usually has eight eyes of
various sizes and shapes grace its face.
All spiders have silk glands, although not all
use silk in spinning webs. When drawn and
stretched from the spinnerets, the liquid silk
solidifies into tiny strands that are both strong
and elastic. Spider silk is stronger (greater
tensile strength) than a thread of steel of the
same weight. The silk is used for web building,
for capturing prey, for sperm transfer, for
lining hibernating, molting or living chambers
and constructing egg cases, for draglines and
mating bowers. Young spiders, spiderlings, use
silk for wind-borne travel.
Spiders have been residents of the earth for
400 million years. Primitive spiders found
preserved in amber look remarkably similar
to our present-day species. Whether the
prospect of observing these eight-legged
creatures excites you or not, one thing is
certain—spiders are here to stay.
RENEW FOTZ BEFORE
MARCH 31 AND
SAVE $5!
Membership form is on
the back cover or go to
kansascityzoo.org
to sign up today!
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They Eat How Much?
What is your family’s grocery budget each
year? You may be surprised to learn that
the cost of feeding and caring for the Zoo’s
animal approaches a million dollars. With
over 1,200 animals that have appetites of
all sizes, it quickly adds up.
Right Priority, Wise Investment
Randy Wisthoff,
Kansas City Zoo
Executive Director/
CEO, has spent his
entire professional
career within the
zoo community. A
zoo career, however,
was not his original
plan. Fortunately—
for Kansas City
especially—plans
change.
Produce is the most expensive as not all
items are readily available year round in
the Midwest. Animals need their fresh
fruit and vegetables every day, to the tune
of about $88,000 per year. Nikita and
Berlin, for example, love cantaloupe and
watermelon.
If you think your kids are picky eaters, try designing a diet for 1,200 individual animals.
Each and every one of them has its own specific meal plan. Keeping our animals healthy
is our first priority. The health of their immune system, coat, attitude, behavior and body
condition all start with proper diet. Zoo Keepers monitor the daily intake for each animal
and the volume of food consumed is astounding.
The Zoo’s six ELEPHANTS collectively eat 800 pounds of hay mixed in
with grain, fruit and vegetables per day! This adds up to 21 tons of hay,
11 tons of grain and 7,800 vegetables per year, just for
the elephants.
TIGERS and LIONS have a meat-based diet. In one year, those
It’s pretty fishy in Helzberg Penguin Plaza! Our 59 PENGUINS
consume 5 pounds of herring, capelin, trout and smelt
per day. Every day, our penguins eat 295 pounds of fish, totaling 55 tons
per year. Special Note: Zoo Keepers hand feed them!!!
BERLIN and NIKITA love lard and consume more than 15 pounds
big cats consume 13½ tons of
meat, costing nearly $50,000 yearly.
of it each week, that’s 800 pounds of lard per year. They also ingest
1,700 pounds of chow and 2¼ tons of vegetables annually,
including their daily carrots!
While you may not have a shopping cart that would
carry all this food, if you are interested in helping us
with our grocery bill, please check out our Adopt
A Wild Child program or other opportunities on
the donate page of the Zoo’s web site.
Expeditions — First Quarter 2015
Randy first drove a trash truck. After graduating from college with
a biology degree in December of 1978, Randy decided to wait until
the following fall to accept a junior high school teaching assignment.
To productively fill the next few months he applied for work at the
Omaha Zoo. Though Randy’s initial interest was in working as a
zoo keeper, there were no openings at the time. Instead he accepted
a position that was available, hauling trash. As we now know, Randy
definitely worked his way up.
After helping to establish the reputation of the zoo in Omaha,
Randy has spent the past eleven years at the helm of our own
Kansas City Zoo. The years have been good ones. Through his fiscal
guidance and stewardship of key initiatives such as the Zoological
Tax District, the Zoo’s finances are stable and secure. New exhibits
awe and inspire guests from around the country. Ideas for innovation
continue to emerge as reality.
Yet, through all the success and accomplishments, Randy’s most
pressing priorities have always been the animals within his care. “They
are 100% dependent on us,” Randy explains. “When temperatures drop
we need to keep them warm. When it rains for weeks and attendance
is sparse, our animals are still waiting to be fed.”
As the Kansas City Zoo continues to build a reputation as one
of the country’s leading zoological parks, the need to secure the
Zoo’s financial security has become more important than ever. “The
stability of an ongoing endowment fund should now be one of
our most pressing priorities,” Randy continues. “Such a fund takes
years to become established. It takes commitment. As caretakers of
animals—many now endangered and dependent on zoos for survival
as a species—we need to be absolutely certain that funds to ensure
their care will be available for decades, not years. An endowment
fund for the Kansas City Zoo is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.”
Randy, and his wife, Barb, have expressed their personal commitment
to the Zoo’s future with a designated bequest from their estate.
They encourage everyone who cares about the Zoo’s future to join
them. According to Barb, “I truly believe that it is our responsibility
to leave the world a better place than we found it. We can plant a
tree. Encourage a passion for African elephants. Recycle. And, most
importantly, we can help support the necessary work of our Kansas
City Zoo through a planned gift.”
“Some things in life take care of themselves,” Barb continues. “Others
are our responsibility. Because ensuring the future of our animals—and
educating the community about why this is important—is up to us.”
Randy affirms Barb’s commitment and concludes, “It is zoos such as
ours that makes the future of our animals possible.”
For more information about planned giving contact Dustin Prockish
at (816) 595-1216 or dustinprockish@fotzkc.org.
Accessible Bears on Their Way
Thanks to the Dixon Family Foundation
a group of bronze wrestling bears will
find a home at the Kansas City Zoo.
This past summer the bears entertained
guests during Gardens Gone Wild,
a four-month exhibit at the Powell
Gardens. The bear was one of 26 bronze
sculptures by nationally-acclaimed artist
Dan Ostermiller.
www.kansascityzoo.org
The bears frolicking near a hollow log
help make the art accessible and fun
for all ages. According to Karen Dixon,
“They are fun and climbable.” A final
location for the sculpture is still to be
determined, but expectation is that
the bears will be on display before the
weather warms up this spring as if they
were coming out of hibernation.
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Butterfly
Bonanza
Celebrate butterflies and their amazing
attributes at Butterfly Bonanza. Did you
know butterflies can be found on every
continent except
for Antarctica?
Some butterflies
travel over 2,000
miles to live in the
warm climate they
need to survive!
For 2015, our
Butterfly Bonanza
will be held in the spring on the second
Saturday in March as our featured topic for
Zootastik Learning Fest (ZLF). Find out
how to plant flowers and bushes that will
attract butterflies to your own backyard, and
make “seed flower bombs” to plant in your
own backyard or school. Flutter on in to
Butterfly Bonanza on March 14.
Goodnight Zoo
Parents of preschoolers,
we’ve designed a program
just for you and your
little ones. Ever wondered
what happens at the Zoo
when it is closed? Here’s
your chance to find out
at Goodnight Zoo. Goodnight Zoo is a
two-hour Friday night class from 6 to 8 p.m.
that is sure to pique your little animal lover’s
interest. Enjoy a night of exploration stations,
songs, educational games and crafts, a themed
lesson and an animal encounter. The evening
includes a snack and best yet, preschoolers can
wear their jammies and bring their favorite
stuffed animal with them. All activities are
designed for children ages 3–5 and are loads
of fun. This Spring’s topics include Dino-mite
Dinosaurs on March 6, Who’s Hatching on
April 3 and The Scoop on Poop on May 1.
8
Lion’s Pride Trip
The Kansas City Zoo’s 1909 Lion’s Pride Society is pleased to offer a day trip to the
Topeka Zoo and Kansas History Museum in Topeka, Kansas. Hear from the experts
the ins and outs of managing a non-profit. Find out why you play an important part in
the success of these organizations. This trip is open to all ages.
24/7 Operations
and good old fashioned foot patrol.
This allows for more direct contact
with guests. Zoo security assists
guests as needed, answering questions
or giving directions. Security also
assists EMS staff with locating lost
children and first aid calls.
Transportation will be provided from the Kansas City Zoo. The package includes
transportation, admission to the Topeka Zoo, admission to the Museum, lunch and
refreshments on the bus. Sit back, relax and let us do the driving. Don’t miss out on
this great opportunity!
When: Tuesday, April 21st
Depart Kansas City Zoo: 8:30am
Return to Kansas City Zoo: 5:00pm
Cost: $50 per person
Seats are limited and will be filled
on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Links to Topeka attractions: www.kshs.org/museum http://topekazoo.org/
For more information and to make reservations please contact Dustin Prockish
at 816-595-1216 or email dustinprockish@fotzkc.org.
Black Bear Confiscation
Did you know the Zoo has a security team
on duty 24/7? The Zoo’s Security Manager
oversees the Security and Emergency Medical
Services (EMS) departments and is tasked
with ensuring that all visitors have a safe and
enjoyable experience while at the Kansas
City Zoo.
When the Zoo is open, Security Officers
patrol the Zoo utilizing golf carts, bicycles,
After hours, Officers continue to keep
the Zoo secure while they assist other
departments with a variety of tasks.
While Officers are on patrol, they
keep an eye on campers who spend the
night in the Zoo. They assist animal
keepers by checking the nightly temperatures
in buildings where our animals spend the
night. After all, Nikita doesn’t want to be too
hot, and George the giraffe doesn’t want to be
too cold.
One of the favorite duties of our overnight
officers is “Baby Watch.” If one of the Zoo’s
animals is due to give birth, Officers check in
on the Mom to make sure all is well and alert
the animal staff if a new little one has arrived.
Security Officers have been the first humans
to see many of the Zoo’s newborns, including
one of our Giraffes and a Rhino.
The Security and EMS teams love their jobs.
After all, they get to come to the Zoo every
day! As with all Zoo team members, our
number one goal is ensuring that all visitors
have a great day at the Kansas City Zoo.
One suggestion from our security team for
parents visiting with children: when you visit
the Zoo, or any large entertainment venue,
take a quick photo of your child with your
smartphone. If your child becomes separated
from you, ask any Zoo employee for
assistance and we will respond to assist you.
Show us the photo of your child and we will
act quickly to reunite you with each other.
The Kansas City Zoo is a community resource for local, national and international
conservation issues. We have partnered with several organizations to help animals in need
of our expertise. We recently helped the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
with the confiscation of an illegally-owned black bear in Kansas.
Zoo staff members traveled
to the location in Kansas
where they immobilized and
performed a health assessment
on the young male black bear.
Although he was well cared
for, it is illegal to own a black
bear in the state of Kansas and
exotic animals do not make
good pets. He was examined,
microchipped, neutered, and
vaccinated, and his blood was
sampled to assess any evidence
of infectious disease.
Next, he was placed in a reinforced animal crate and transferred to a sanctuary in Texas
that provides life-long care for confiscated exotic animals. At last update, he has integrated
well with several other bears. The Zoo appreciates the opportunity to help our colleagues
in these endeavors. Visit the Zoo to see the black bears’ relatives, Nikita and Berlin, the
Zoo’s polar bears.
Expeditions — First Quarter 2015
SWING AMONG THE
TREETOPS AT JAZZOO
JUNE 5, 2015
GET YOUR JAZZOO TICKETS TODAY!
816.595.1234 | FACEBOOK.COM/JAZZOOKC
KANSASCITYZOO.ORG/EVENTS/JAZZOO
www.kansascityzoo.org
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