The Topeka Zoo has had a lot on their plate. A USDA inspection report (issued August 29) regarding concerns with the recent animal deaths (4 in the past 3 years) has caused the zoo to make some changes.
“We’re concerned. We take it very seriously. We’re going to be working with USDA. We are setting up a meeting to sit down with them and look through this,” says Mike Coker, Zoo Director.
According to the USDA preliminary reports these are the immediate actions the zoo is taking:
1. Pest control – including getting rodents out of the rain forest.
2. Lids on all trash cans
3. Observation of animals in the rain forest – daily inventory of all animals in the rain forest
4. Expired medications – all expired medications for animals have been replaced.
5. Enrichment foods – processes have been implemented to ensure the animals are not fed expired enrichment foods.
6. Separation of animals – 2 two-toed sloths which were housed in a multi-species exhibit with prehensile tailed porcupines were moved apart.
“Our most important goal is to make sure these animals are taken care of, they’re healthy and the public enjoy them,” says Coker.
The Topeka Zoo is not only bustling with new exhibits (the mountain lion and river otter exhibit opens October 10!) and fun activities, but continuing on improvements, and resolving problems.