Some big recognition for the Sedgwick County Zoo, USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Awards named SCZ the 10th best zoo in the U.S. USA TODAY assembled a panel of experts who nominated their top picks for the best zoos in the United States. After that readers voted on the nominees to determine the winners.
In a social media post following the announcement, zoo officials said "Being recognized among the top zoos in the nation is a meaningful honor and reflects the dedication of our staff, the support of our community, and the important work happening here every day."
The panel of experts were impressed by the zoo's Safari Express train and Conservation Cruise. They also highlighted SCZ's more than 3,000 animals and 400 different species to observe. Of special interest were Amur tigers, Sumatran orangutans, chimpanzees, and Asian forest scorpions. And SCZ's wildlife encounters like feeding a giant Aldabra tortoise or even a rhino.
