Topeka Zoo Welcomes Hoofstock, Part of the Growing Giraffe & Friends Experience
The Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center is excited to announce the arrival of three antelope to join Giraffe and Friends, the new expansion scheduled to open on March 10. Monty the Bontebok and two Thomson’s Gazelles, Tsavo and Haraka, are currently in quarantine and preparing for introduction to their new habitat. They will be joining resident giraffe, Sergeant Peppers, Hope, and Liz, as well as Karen the ostrich who arrived in early February.
“We are very excited that the antelope are here, but calm is the key word aroundthe barn right now,” says Wrylie Guffey, Animal Curator. “Working with hoofstock, orantelope, can be a sensitive process as they are prey animals in the wild. Currentlywe are focusing on getting Monty, Tssavo, and Haraka used to the noises we makeso that they are not spooked when they see or hear us.”
The residents of Giraffe & Friends will be introduced to their new habitat in waves.This acclimation process is taking into account both the Kansas weather, and thespecific needs of each animal and species.
Guests should expect to see gradual introductions beginning this March, withadditional “friends” arriving later this spring to complete the experience. Once thefinal introductions take place later this year, Giraffe & Friends will boast an excitingrepresentation of African wildlife, all interacting in one habitat: Reticulated giraffe,Ostrich, Bontebok, Thomson’s gazelle, Lesser Kudu, and Grey-crowned Crane.
“We are just as excited as our guests to see these animals in their new habitat,”said Brendan Wiley, Topeka Zoo CEO. “This year presents a unique opportunity towatch the animals become acclimated into their new environment. Our giraffehave not shared space with antelope before, so we’re aware that there will be an
adjustment period. Guests have an opportunity to watch this experience evolveover time, and observe the natural behaviors take place between all the animals,just like you would see in the wild.”
The Bontebok is a rare antelope species that is native to South Africa, and its population is declining in the wild due to habitat loss and hunting. A juvenile bontebok, Monty is currently a light brown but will darken as he matures.
The Thomson's Gazelle is a small and graceful antelope that is found in eastern Africa. They are known for their incredible speed and agility, which helps them avoid predators like lions and cheetahs. Haraka is around a year old and Tsavo is about seven months old. As they get older, their horns will get larger and curve backwards slightly. Though Thomson’s Gazelles are notoriously skittish, they are doing really well in their new home.
March 10, 2023, the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center will open the largest habitat in its history. Giraffe & Friends will serve as the year-round home to the Reticulated Giraffe, and new “friends,” Lesser Kudu, Ostrich, Grey Crowned Crane, and Thomson’s Gazelle. The habitat will interact with the Zoo’s African safari-themed project, Camp Cowabunga, opened in 2018.
