Living Local - Manhattan’s Sunset Zoo
Tamara Burton
Have you ever visited Manhattan’s Sunset Zoo? The zoo is near and dear to my heart. From the ages of 2 and 4, my daughters grew up enjoying the zoo. It was a frequent family outing for us. Although one daughter loved all things animals, and the other may have enjoyed the climbing structures on the playground and picnic-ing among the animals more than the animals themselves, it was an easy decision for me to join the Friends of Sunset Zoo Board and eventually hold a position on the Zoo Trust’s Executive Committee. Those opportunities have allowed me to learn much more about the zoo as well as have a better understanding of what is required to keep it running. (I have to give credit to Greg McCune, Sunset Zoo Trust, for the historical facts/timeline below.)
I know some people are a bit soured on zoos and feel it is cruel to keep animals in this manner. If the zoo is un-accredited, I couldn’t agree more. Accredited zoos provide conservation efforts, education and awareness, research opportunities, animal welfare – ensuring that zoos meet high standards of animal care, community engagement, and support for field conservation.
I am proud to be able to say that the Sunset Zoo is an accredited zoo from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the gold standard. However, it has not always been accredited, and some major changes had to be made from its inception in the 1960s. In 1979, The Humane Society criticized the zoo, telling the Manhattan City Commission that the zoo was grossly understaffed, underfunded and had major infrastructure issues (such as drainage). The city responded with a master plan for development of the zoo, including much-needed maintenance and upgrades to facilities.
Throughout the 1980s, the zoo was given stability under its leadership of then Director Steve Mathews. He sought accreditation from the AZA. It is hard to overstate the importance of AZA accreditation to the Sunset Zoo. The AZA focused the Sunset Zoo on conservation of endangered species and the highest standard of exhibits in natural and enriching surroundings. The AZA accreditation ushered in a period of expansion at the zoo under it’s current zoo director (since 1996) Scott Shoemaker.
In 2016, The Sunset Zoo received the “Quarter Century Award” as one of 119 zoos across the country that have been continuously accredited by the AZA for 25 years. The Sunset Zoo also has the long advantage from its close relationship with the K-State veterinary program. It has a formal contract with K-State offering animal care while giving veterinary interns practical experience.
The Sunset Zoo is now held in such high regard that when the USDA seized some animals in 2020 from an animal park (that may have been the focus of a popular TV show involving a “King” of sorts.) The zoo was asked to care for two lemurs (a species similar to monkeys) that are now on exhibit in the tropical building across from the waterfowl pond. The Sunset Zoo has benefited from the AZA’s management of species and participates in programs that trade animals among zoos for breeding, based on careful genetic selection.
The zoo’s newest expansion is Exhibition Asia that opened in 2022 thanks to City funding and generous private donations. Exhibition Asia helps preserve three endangered species – Amur Leopards, Sloth Bears and Malayan Tigers. Malayan Tigers are critically endangered with only around 150 left in the wild and 72 in captivity. In fact, as of August, the zoo is now home to two adorable and thriving tiger cubs which was only made possible by the new facilities. These cubs can be viewed via cameras installed in the Tiger's den (with footage shared on social media). If all continues to go well, they should be able to be viewed in person early next Spring.
The Zoo Trust is currently working on a plan for further expansion/beautification while trying to balance current and future maintenance costs. As my previous newsletters have addressed, new improvements likely won’t have the benefit of city funding, and therefore will rely solely on private donors. Feel free to consider this a shameless pitch for the next time the zoo announces a funding campaign. Unofficially I can say we are hoping this expansion includes a petting zoo and an even happier home for our endangered lemurs.
I believe that The Sunset Zoo is a wonderful and unique asset to our community and I hope it continues to thrive for many years to come!
Tamara Burton l tamara@thealmsgroup.com l 913-484-0808
