The concrete has been laid with plans of expanding the cougars’ exhibit area at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo.
Once the concrete has cured, construction will begin on the rest of the exhibit, said Zoo Curator and Supervisor Ashley Burdick. She hopes that will take place in the next few weeks.
Coming up is the annual meeting of the Great Bend Zoological Society at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, starting with a meal. Zoo Society members should RSVP by the end of the week for the meal. They will conduct their annual business meeting and zookeepers will lead guests on some behind-the-scenes experiences after the meal.
To become a Zoo Society member visit the zoo at 2123 Main Street or join online at greatbendzoo.com. Annual membership is $25 and entitles supporters to a “first look” welcome of each new animal to the zoo, “Zoo News” emails and quarterly newsletters, a 20% discount at the gift shop, free wagon rentals for kids, $1 mobility cart rental, and involvement in the annual meeting where members elect Zoo Society directors. Additionally, the Zoo Society membership card is often good for discounts at other zoos.
World Lemur Day
The zoo will observe World Lemur Day on Saturday, Oct. 29, with a keeper cat at 1:30 p.m.
The Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo has two ring-tailed lemurs, a primate species native to the island of Madagascar.
Did you know a female lemur carries her newborn in her mouth until the baby is able to cling to the fur on the mother’s stomach or back? Another fun fact: lemurs have special teeth called a “dental comb” which they use to groom their (and other lemurs’) hair.
Some zoos promote physical encounters between humans and lemurs, but the Great Bend Zoo does not. The reason: these encounters can put both the animals and the visitors at risk for zoonotic diseases – which are any disease that can spread between animals and humans. Humans and non-humans share many anatomical and physiological similarities so there are many zoonotic diseases that can pass from one to the other, such as tuberculosis, or TB.
Special hours
Normal zoo hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This month there are a couple of exceptions. The zoo will close at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, as the staff prepares for the Zoo Society Annual Meeting later that evening. And on Thursday, Sept. 20, the zoo will open at noon instead of 9 a.m. due to a citywide safety training.
