The Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo will celebrate Bison Day with a keeper chat at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. A seating/viewing station is located on the northwest side of the bison exhibit. There will be a craft activity available for the first 20 children.
The Brit Spaugh Zoo bison exhibit opened in June of 2020, when the zoo introduced Breeze and Gus, who arrived from the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita.
Work in progress
The first phase of a fencing project is done, according to Zoo Supervisor and Curator Ashley Burdick. New fencing has been added from the lemur enclosure to the African serval exhibit by the kitchen.
“The keepers and Park Department employee Richard Bodine did all the work,” Burdick said. “We went with a black chain link as it will last for a long time and it looks nicer than standard chain link. It is also easier for small children to see through and more difficult for people to climb, which makes a safer environment for everyone.”
The ground work for the addition of a second lion yard is done. Once the project is complete, the female lions and the male lion will no longer have to take turns being in the outdoor exhibit area as there will be two yards instead of one.
“This is being funded primarily by the Zoological Society,” Burdick noted. “The second yard will make it so all the lions can be outside all day. This will give them more activity and be safer for keepers who currently clean the building while there are lions inside.”
Where are the clouded leopards?
The clouded leopards, Harry and Ping, are still settling in, which means the are not on exhibit as of Wednesday.
Harry has the choice to go outside and may potentially be viewed when driving around the park in the morning. Otherwise, that area is still closed, likely through the end of the year, Burdick said.
“We apologize for the inconvenience to the visitors but we want them completely comfortable.”
Ping, the female, is still healing from an injury that zookeepers believe was caused by Harry attempting to breed with her during their second week here. “Clouded leopards are, unfortunately, notorious for being aggressive during breeding,” Burdick said.
“Harry has access to the yard but he chooses to be inside still. Because we are treating her, they have to be in separate stalls for now, which is why he is still not comfortable alone in the yard. Ping has gotten more comfortable with keepers, but she is not ready to go back with him yet.”
Fun frogs
This year the zoo saw several tadpoles grow up to become dart frogs. In October, Burdick reported the zoo currently has 10 young frogs from the tadpole stage to juvenile frogs. They can be seen in multiple exhibits in the Raptor Center. Fun fact: Male dart frogs will carry their tadpoles to a water source.
