It was a first.
I have known about zoo animal encounters but had yet to sign up for one until I visited Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas.
SCZ offers behind-the-scenes experiences with an elephant, rhino, Ectotherm (think slimy, creepy, and scaley), equine, Giant Aldabra Tortoises, and Humboldt Penguins. I chose the penguins.
Upon reporting to the enclosure, my friend Sharon and I are escorted behind the exhibit. We receive a lesson in feeding the birds, like providing them the fish head first, not getting our fingers in their mouth (although they don't have teeth, their jaws are powerful), and staying behind the barrier.
When we enter the habitat, several penguins line up.
"They know when the barrier goes up, it's time for a few extra treats," one of the penguin keepers says.
It is also interesting to learn what this zoo is doing to help the penguins in the wild.
After putting on rubber gloves, we are handed a bowl of fish in varying sizes. Penguin personality traits are apparent almost immediately. Some tuxedo-clad birds approach the barrier repeatedly, while others hold back and are timid about seeking this snack.
Once, I accidentally gave a penguin a fishtail first, and with its beak, it turned it around to ensure it was head first before swallowing. This behavior is because of the way the scales are on the fish. Head first is necessary.
All too soon, our encounter is over.
We thank the two expert employees for this excellent experience and head out to explore more of the zoo.
The zoo features more than 3,000 animals of nearly 400 species. It is the number one outdoor tourist attraction in the state.
Zoo residents are grouped geographically and in settings that duplicate their natural habitats. Exhibits include Africa, North America, Tropics, Children's Farms, Amphibians and Reptiles, Koch Orangutan Chimpanzee Habitat, Cessna Penguin Cove, Downing Gorilla Forest, Slawson Family Asian Big Cat Trek, and South America/Australia, which is among the largest walk-through aviaries in the United States.
If you go:
The zoo is located at 5555 W Zoo Blvd, Wichita. For more information, call
(316) 660-9453 or check the website here,
An excellent hotel located centrally in the city is the Fairfield Inn & Suites Wichita Downtown, 525 South Main Street, Wichita. For more information, click here.
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