Lee Richardson Zoo

Lee Richardson Zoo
Map
37°57′33″N 100°52′20″W / 37.9591°N 100.8722°W / 37.9591; -100.8722
LocationGarden City, Kansas, United States
Land area47 acres (19 ha)
No. of animals300[1]
No. of species110[1]
Annual visitors200,000[1]
MembershipsAZA[2]
Public transit accessBus interchange Finney County Transit
Websitewww.leerichardsonzoo.org

The Lee Richardson Zoo is an AZA accredited zoo in Garden City, Kansas. The zoo has more than 100 species of animals located on 47 acres (19 ha) inside Finnup Park and includes many animals that are non-native to southwest Kansas. Admission is free for pedestrians or $10 per car.

History

Finnup Park was established by a donation of 105 acres (42 ha) of land to the city by George Finnup. The zoo was started in 1927 by the city and the local chapter of the Izaak Walton League, with two skunks brought in by Lee Richardson, who was Chief of Police and Park and founder and Zoo Superintendent at the time.[3] The zoo was formally named for Lee Richardson in 1950, just a year before he died.[4]

The Lee Richardson Zoo is a department of the City of Garden City.

Exhibits

Flamingos
North American Plains
This section of the zoo includes "Kansas Waters" with its river otters and the "Swift Fox" exhibit, which both opened in 2005, as well as pronghorn, elk, and bison.
South American Pampas
The South American Pampas exhibit includes maned wolf, anteater, alpaca, and rhea. Flamingos are housed next to this exhibit.[5]
Aviary
The "Marie Osterbuhr Aviary" was opened in 1985. It includes a large open air flight cage that is home to the kookaburras, Mandarin ducks, doves, as well as four indoor displays that are home to species including Bearded barbets.
Cat Canyon

Cat Canyon opened in 2012 and houses the zoo's cougars, jaguars, and bobcats.

Rhinoceros
Pachyderms
The Pachyderm exhibit housed African bush elephants. The two elephants currently at the zoo arrived in 2006. The elephants were moved to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs in 2015.
Down Under
Down Under is home to the zoos Australian animals, including emus and a breeding herd of red kangaroo.
African Plains
The African Plains area consists of two large open yards designed to look like the African Savannah, and includes addax, and East African crowned cranes. This section also includes reticulated giraffes, an eastern black rhinoceros crash, and lions.
Wild Asia
The Wild Asia exhibit opened in 1998, and includes siamangs, red pandas, Bactrian camels, snow leopards, Amur leopards, goral, takin, a pair of sloth bears, along with an Asian farm that includes sheep, and chickens.[5]
Locomotive
An old Garden City Western Railway steam locomotive is on static display behind the Snack/Gift Shop and across the Drive-In Entrance/Kiosk.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Lee Richardson Zoo". leerichardsonzoo.org. Lee Richardson Zoo. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  2. ^ "List of Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  3. ^ "History of Lee Richardson Zoo". leerichardsonzoo.org. Lee Richardson Zoo. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Lee Richardson Zoo - Garden City, Kansas". city-data.com. City-Data. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Zoo Map". garden-city.org. Lee Richardson Zoo. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Garden City Western Railway". Legends of Kansas. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
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