The Topeka Zoo Wishes a Fond Farewell to Their African Painted Dogs

Exciting changes are ahead for the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center’s African Painted Dogs! Both males will soon be moving to new facilities where they have important breeding recommendations, contributing to the future of their species. This transition also aligns with the Zoo’s upcoming renovations, ensuring the best possible environment for all its animals. These moves, carefully planned with the dogs’ social dynamics in mind, will take place by early March.

African painted dogs Kellan and Takoda are two littermates born September 11, 2016, at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana. They arrived at the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center in 2018 for the opening of the Camp Cowabunga exhibit. While the exact dates of their transport still need to be determined, they are approaching rapidly.

Both Kellan and Takoda have already begun their pre-transfer requirements in an area behind-the-scenes and are off-exhibit.

African painted dogs are listed as Endangered on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. To help combat their decreasing population, multiple accredited Zoos within the Association of Zoos & Aquariums participate in the African Painted Dog SSP (Species Survival Plan) as well as the S.A.F.E. (Saving Animals from Extinction) African Painted Dog program to ensure the species’ survival in Zoos and the wild. Both dogs have received breeding recommendations from the African Painted Dog SSP to two separate females, at two separate facilities.

“We are so proud to be a part of the Species Survival Plan with other AZA accredited Zoos, which will ensure we have these animal species in Zoos for years to come” stated animal curator, Shanna Simpson. “Kellan and Takoda are very valuable to the African Painted Dog population, and they are leaving Topeka to be paired with females for breeding. We are so excited for them to be introduced to females, hopefully have a litter of pups, and help raise those pups.”

While Zoo staff are excited to see how Kellan and Takoda contribute to the future populations of painted dogs, they will certainly be missed. “Kellan and Takoda have been a wonderful part of our Topeka Zoo family for 7 years now,” Simpson continued.

“They have helped educate thousands of people about how incredible African Painted Dogs are. From watching them jump to eat the meat hanging on their zip line, to watching them sleep in the Camp Cowabunga window den- we know it’s not just the animal care staff who will miss them…our community will too.”

The Topeka Zoo will keep community members updated via social media as the transportation dates become more solidified and will share where Kellan & Takoda make their travels to once the receiving organizations have a chance to announce their arrival at their facilities.

Stay tuned for more announcements on the exciting upcoming changes to Topeka Zoo!

Anyone with questions or inquiries will be directed to Fawn Moser, Deputy Director at fmoser@topekazoo.org.