The Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo will celebrate World Bear Day later this month with a keeper chat near the grizzly bears’ exhibit, Zoo Curator and Supervisor Ashley Burdick said.
The program will run from 2-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26.
“Hopefully they’re awake by then,” Burdick said. The bears started to stay inside and sleep on Dec. 7, 2021.
The three younger bears, who turned 9 years old in January, have spent the winter inside, even on warmer days. The older bear, Max, goes out in the large yard on nice days but he gets pretty tired, pretty quickly, due to his advanced age.
With weather like we’ve seen this week, it’s easy to realize that spring is almost here. But even on cold days, there are several small animals on exhibit indoors at the Raptor Center, the main building that is also the entrance to the zoo. A few weeks ago, the zoo acquired a blue tongue skink and it is now on exhibit for public viewing in the Raptor Center.
A buddy for Rerun
The zoo also has plans to get a companion animal for Rerun, the lar gibbon. Efforts to find another lar gibbon began after Rerun’s companion Zito died in November of 2020. This week, Burdick said they are getting a lar gibon from another zoo. Pre-shipment tests were scheduled for last week.
“When we receive new animals from other facilities, typically they run various tests that are required either by the state or by our veterinarians,” Burdkick explained. “These can range from simple fecal tests, to bloodwork, to specific tests for diseases like Tuberculosis or Leptospirosis. All animals are also required to have an overall physical before shipment or travel, done by a veterinarian. Hopefully, we can drive down to pick him up in the next couple of months.”
Earth Day
Looking ahead, the zoo will have an Earth Day event on Saturday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Great Bend Earth Day Celebration is being sponsored by Rosewood E-cycle, Dairy Queen and the Great Bend Zoo. Groups participating so far are Rosewood E-cycle, Kansas Wetlands Education Center, Women for Kansas, Heartland Farms, Smoky Hills PBS, the Great Bend Zoological Society and the Great Bend Zoo staff. Each group will have tables set up around the zoo with various activities for the whole family.
“We will have keeper chats, animal meet-and-greets, contests, giveaways and more!” Burdick said.
