Shelley Beatty

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The Kansas City Zoo

August 15, 2013 by shelley

The Kansas City Zoo is the perfect place to visit on a summer day before school starts.  Before everyone left to head home  we decided to visit the zoo.  We started the day early since it can get hot in the summer in Kansas City.  The Zoo is open at 8:00 am and closes at 4:00 p.m. during the week but stays open until 5:00 p.m. on weekends.

Close to the front entrance is the polar bear exhibit and it did not disappoint.  You can get up close and personal with a polar bear with only a few inches of acrylic glass separating you and the bear.

Polar Bear Exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo.

Polar Bear Exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo.

Our group near the front entrance heading to the polar bear exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo.

Our group near the front entrance heading to the polar bear exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo.

The polar bear exhibit has recreated glaciers, a large sandbox and open spaces along the banks which create a Polar BearEnvironment of Fun for digging, plunging and napping. This awesome Arctic adventure creates an interactive public connection to these magnificent northern species through above and below water viewing in the 140,000 gallon pool and a climate controlled viewing area with multiple viewing angles.

Polar Bear Exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo

Polar Bear Exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo

Everyone was mesmerized watching Nikita, the 6 year old polar bear, do his flip turns in front of the public viewing area.

Nakita, the polar bear at the Kansas City Zoo does his flip turn in front of the public viewing area.

Nakita, the polar bear at the Kansas City Zoo does his flip turn in front of the public viewing area.

 

Polar Bear Exhibit Kansas City Zoo

Polar Bear Exhibit Kansas City Zoo

Polar Bear Exhibit Kansas City Zoo

Polar Bear Exhibit Kansas City Zoo

One can actually check out the polar bears  24/7 with a webcam.
KCTV5

The Kansas City Zoo started as a dream in 1907.   City activists declared ”An idea to create the largest zoological garden in the United States. There will be nothing better in the world.  Swope Park is an admirable site for this purpose…” An affluent real estate speculator, Thomas Swope, donated land to Kansas City in 1896 for the park. Barron Fradenburg, a wealthy businessman and leading member of the Chamber of Commerce, made a plea that “Kansas City cannot be a metropolitan without a zoological garden.” A Zoological Society was formed.

100- years later, the zoo has  expanded to include more than 200 acres of beautifully landscaped park, the Kansas City Zoo, a private non-profit, is home to 1,000 animals from around the world and has hosted over 2.1 million guests in just the last five years.

 

A beautiful view at the Kansas City Zoo.

A beautiful view at the Kansas City Zoo.

Flowers

Flowers

The carousel was a big hit.  The Kansas City zoo carousel is an Endangered Species Carousel. Thirty-six, hand-carved wooden animals grace the traditionally-styled carousel. Most depict an endangered species. (The carousel is adjacent to the Lorikeet Exhibit, just off the new promenade that runs through the center of the Zoo. )
Carousel animals include a rhino, hippo, chimpanzee, cheetah, koala, dart frog and many more. Plus there are some not-so-endangered – but certainly fun – critters, such as the Mizzou Tiger, Kansas City Royals Lion and UMKC Kangaroo.

Henry, Adam and Caroline

Henry, Adam and Caroline

Miriam and Nial

Miriam and Nial

Becca

Becca

Aalia

Aalia

Jack and B.J.

Jack and B.J.

Close Encounters of the Animal Kind in Lobby Auditorium

Henry and Becca get up close and personal after show to touch the reptiles.

Henry and Becca get up close and personal after show to touch the reptiles.

Aalia stars in animal show

Aalia stars in animal show

The Kansas City Zoo was ranked number one in the nation for “African Animals and Exhibits.”
We took the tram to see the Africa exhibit.

Aalia, Jack and Becca waiting for tram.

Aalia, Jack and Becca waiting for tram.

Zain and Henry waiting for tram

Zain and Henry waiting for tram

Adam, Nial, Jen, Caroline and Miriam

Adam, Nial, Jen, Caroline and Miriam

Waiting for tram; Aalia, Becca, Zain, and Henry

Waiting for tram; Aalia, Becca, Zain, and Henry

Jen, Caroline and Miriam

Nial

Nial

Becca on tram

Lions, hippos, cheetah, chimps and more live in Africa, the largest themed exhibit area at the Zoo. Visitor’s will see acres of plains animals, such as zebra, giraffe, gazelles and more.
Next door, lions play along a grassy hillside, and cheetahs run along a ridge. Farther into the exhibit, gorillas cool themselves under shady trees, and hippos dip and dive in a water pool.

Chimpanzees climb in a forest of trees. Baboons scavenge the ground looking for treats, while rhinos cover themselves in mud.

A herd of five African elephants roam the acreage on the way to the Africa exhibit.

Elephant in Africa exhibit of the Kansas City Zoo

Elephant in Africa exhibit of the Kansas City Zoo

Elephants in Africa exhibit of the Kansas City Zoo

Elephants in Africa exhibit of the Kansas City Zoo

Jack

Jack

Becca

Becca

Henry

Henry

Zain, Henry, Nial, Becca, Aalia

Zain, Henry, Nial, Becca, Aalia

Lion exhibit

Lion exhibit

Henry and the Lions

Henry and the Lions

Caroline and Jen

Caroline and Jen

Becca and the Lions

Becca and the Lions

Giraffe

Giraffe

Zain

Zain

Hippo

Hippo

 

Snack shop was our last stop with a ride on the coin operated zoo car.

Becca also takes a ride.

Becca also takes a ride.

Henry

Henry riding on coin operated zoo car.

Henry riding on coin operated zoo car.

2013 KCZoo Map

Filed Under: Family, Kansas City Tagged With: Elephants, Kansas City Zoo, Lions, Polar Bears, Summer day

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I'm Shelley. Mom of three and grandma of eight... living right in the middle of the country, Kansas City! I'm happy to be alive and enjoy sharing exciting goodies that I find and make. Here you will find ideas for LDS Young Women's activities, family updates, and a compilation of all things wonderful.

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