There's a lot of great news coming from the Sedgwick County Zoo, highlighted by their second largest annual attendance ever.
Over 702,000 people visited the facility in 2025, helped in part by the births of four elephants and a chimpanzee. The Zoo also passed their latest five-year AZA accreditation, according to Zoo President and CEO Scott Newland.
The news wasn't all roses. Last September's hail storm impacted over seventy structures there, including the tropics building, whose roof will likely be replaced again. Two acrylic panels at the Penguin Cove failed, costing around $385 thousand to replace.
There are more big happenings in 2026. A $10 million elephant barn expansion project should be completed in May. More babies are due, including a gorilla this summer and another chimpanzee in the fall.
Commissioner Stephanie Wise is happy with the direction the Zoo is headed.
Several new animals will be transported to the facility as well, including a new young male tiger.