The Garden City Telegram
NEW E-Edition!
Subscription
Required
Add Your Comment | Read (0) Comments
Lee Richardson Zoo celebrates 85th anniversary
Published 1/28/2012 in Local News
By SHAJIA AHMAD
sahmad@gctelegram.com
From the black-footed ferret to the barred tiger salamander, several Lee Richardson Zoo animals came out to join the party.
1
Brad Nading/Telegram Silas Lobmeyer, 4, checks out the differences between the skulls of a prairies dog and black footed ferret through a magnifier Friday at the Finnup Center for Conservation Education. The center and Lee Richardson Zoo are celebrating the zoo's 85th year with activities at various times through the year.
The party, that is, that was held Friday to commemorate the city zoo's 85th birthday.
Zoo staff and volunteers — better known as docents — were on hand at the Finnup Center for Conservation Education much of Friday afternoon, hosting an afternoon full of show-and-tell-style programs for the many families and kids in attendance.
This year marks a milestone for the city zoo that was first established in Finnup Park in 1927. To celebrate, zoo officials are hosting a "celebration for each season," with future birthday-related programs for kids and families that are planned for the spring, summer and fall, as well.
At Friday's birthday celebrations at the nature conservation center, 312 E. Finnup Drive, guests were greeted by two of Kansas' native creatures: the barred tiger salamander, which is the state amphibian, and the ornate box turtle, the state reptile.
Several kids were able to get close-up looks at the two animals that live at the conservation center and touch and hold the creatures, including 6-year-old Rylan Anderson.
Anderson said his favorite part of Friday's program was getting to see the snakes at the center.
Is he afraid of them?
"Only one," the 6-year old said. "Just rattlesnakes."
Rylan's grandmother, Pansy Fryman, said she heard about Friday's activities because she is zoo docent.
"We try to participate in as many programs as we can," she said.
Judy Chanay, who has been a zoo docent since 1999, helped show the two Kansas state animals that greeted guests, as part of a host of events in and around the zoo. In addition to the chats with zookeepers and volunteers, guests also were able to observe some of the zoo's animals receive enrichment from their caretakers, including items like toys, food treats and new scents that make them more active and fun to observe, according to zoo officials.
Chanay explained that while salamanders are found all over the state, the barred tiger salamander is specific to western Kansas and thrives in warm and moist environments.
"Any animal that lives in Kansas has to be adapted to temperature extremes due to our weather," she said.
Mike Lake, another zoo docent helping Chanay, showcased the ornate box turtle, and explained that the 4- to 5-inch long reptile can burrow into moist soil deep into the ground and come back up at night to feed.
Chris Lobmeyer, father of four, said he brought along his kids and two of their friends to Friday's program to see and learn what the zoo had to offer.
"It's Kansas weekend, and it's also my oldest son's birthday," he said. "They were having friends over and we thought this would be fun to do."
Sunday marks Kansas Day, a commemorative event marking the admission of the state as the 34th state in the Union on Jan. 29, 1861.
Other dates for the zoo's 85th birthday celebrations include March 18, July 4 and Nov. 10. Future seasonal celebrations will feature kid-oriented and family-friendly programs.
In 1919, George Finnup donated 105 acres of land for a park in memory of his father, Frederick Finnup. Lee Richardson Zoo, which is housed inside Finnup Park, was established eight years later by the local chapter of the Izaack Walton League in conjunction with the city, according to the zoo's website. The first animals were two skunks brought in by Lee Richardson, who was then chief of police and park and zoo superintendent.
Found 0 comment(s)!