ZOO to YOU
Catch up with the latest news at LRZ with articles, press releases, and other fun updates
written and created by Zoo Staff.
International Primate Day
- Emily Sexson, Communication Specialist
A red ruffed lemur rests on a stump in its habitat at Primate Forest - Lemurs!
International Primate Day is celebrated annually on September 1st. The day was established in 2005 by Animal Defenders International to bring awareness to threats against primates. A primate is any mammal belonging to the biological order Primates. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than a third of primates are considered critically endangered, endangered, or threatened. The Lee Richardson Zoo is currently home to six different species of primate which includes 21 individuals. This, of course, does not include the human primates that make up our staff.
This very diverse order includes over 500 species, including lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans. When compared to other mammals, a primate’s brain is larger in relative size to their body. Primates also have a unique fissure, the Calcarine sulcus, that separates the visual areas in the brain. Unlike other mammals, most primates have flat nails instead of hooves or claws and can grip objects with their hands and feet. Primates also have specialized nerve endings (Meissner’s corpuscles) in their hands and feet that increase tactile sensitivity.
Populations of primates are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation from logging, mining, urban sprawl, and the conversion of natural areas for agriculture and livestock. Other threats include hunting and poaching, the illegal pet trade, and illegal trade of primate body parts. To help conserve wildlife, it is important that we join in a commitment to purchase sustainable goods. The Rainforest Alliance is just one example of a conservation group working to help wildlife. Look for the green frog logo on packaging to find out if your favorite brand is sustainable. Visit their website www.rainforest-alliance.org for more info!
At the Zoo, you can visit Northern white-cheeked gibbons “Jian” and “Tangra” as well as pygmy slow lorises “Sinh” and “Romano” in Wild Asia. Northern white-cheeked gibbons are a critically endangered species native to Southeast Asia. Gibbons are primates that lesser are apes and belong to the family Hylobatidae. Pygmy slow lorises are endangered and are native to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and China. These small primates are threatened due to the illegal pet trade. You can learn more about them in the nocturnal building in Wild Asia.
Primate Forest – Lemurs! is home to three different species of lemur; red ruffed, black and white ruffed, and ring-tailed. There are over 100 species of lemurs, and they’re all native to the island of Madagascar. The two ruffed species in our care are critically endangered while the ring-tailed species is considered endangered. Conservation efforts for Lemurs and other wildlife in Madagascar are in place thanks to the Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group. Learn more by visiting Primate Forest at the Zoo or visiting their website www.madagascarfaunaflora.org.
Neighboring Primate Forest is the Marie Osterbuhr Aviary, inside the building you’ll find two Goeldi’s monkeys named “Peach” and “J.B.”. The average weight of a male of this species in human care is 553 grams or about 1.2 pounds. For comparison, a can of soup is about 350 grams. This species is native to the upper Amazonian rainforest and is considered “Vulnerable” by the IUCN. They communicate with high-pitched whistles and shrill screeches.
No matter how cute or charismatic they can be, primates are not pets; they are wild animals. “The personal possession of primates has negative implications for animal wellbeing, human health, and safety. Not only are these wild animals that can inflict significant injury, but there is also a significant disease risk when living in close proximity to primates. Sustained contact with wild animals will increase the chance of disease transfer,” said Sara Walker, senior advisor on wildlife trafficking for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more about wildlife trafficking and to take the pledge to be an Advocate for Wildlife, visit www.notapet.net.
Employee Recognition
Congratulations to Veterinary Assistant Abigail Adams for being awarded as the Employee of the 2nd Quarter for 2026!
Thank you Abigail for everything you do!
The Value of Darkness
- Kristi Newland, Zoo Director
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"Romano" the pygmy slow loris is a resident of the Zoo's nocturnal building in Wild Asia.
If you’ve ever enjoyed stargazing or wishing on a star you’ve benefitted from the darkness of night. The more artificial light there is at night, the less the stars are visible. Light pollution, which is the man-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally, has more negative impacts than just reducing the stars you can see. The issue is also called ALAN, or Artificial Light at Night, and has become a bigger problem as human development spreads. Worldwide, ALAN disrupts circadian rhythms, ecosystems, and wildlife behaviors. Admittedly, artificial light has value at night. It helps us extend our activity past sunset. It helps us see in the dark, helping us feel safer on our streets, in our businesses, and in our homes. But left unchecked, artificial light can have negative impacts on our lives, the lives of wildlife, and entire ecosystems.
The dark of night helps set our circadian rhythms and those of the wildlife we share the planet with. Light pollution suppresses melatonin production in humans and animals. That alters sleep cycles, hormone balances, and metabolic functions. Plants have circadian rhythms that are also affected by light pollution. The negative impacts of light pollution on plants can lengthen and intensify pollen and allergy seasons. Since humans can control their light exposure indoors, the direct impact of outdoor light pollution on human health, such as disrupting circadian rhythms, is still a complex question.
Artificial light at night has negative and even deadly impacts on fauna and flora. Prey species use the darkness of night as cover for foraging and safety. That cover is reduced by ALAN, disrupting their behaviors. Artificial light can disrupt the nighttime croaking of frogs and toads which is part of their breeding ritual, thereby leading to reduced populations and negatively impacting the wetland ecosystem. Sea turtle hatchlings find the safety of the ocean by going towards the bright horizon over the ocean. Artificial lights can lead them away from the ocean. Bright lights can stop fireflies from flashing altogether. Since they rely on bioluminescent flashes to find their mates, this leads to population decline. It can also attract and exhaust nocturnal pollinators (i.e., moths) and disorient birds migrating or hunting at night.
ALAN can alter life-cycle cues such as bud break and dormancy for plants. It can disrupt pollination. Trees near sources of artificial light at night may have delayed leaf drop in the fall or premature flowering in the spring, possibly negatively impacting reproductive efforts.
Common sources of such artificial light are streetlights, building lights, and vehicle headlights. Components of light pollution include: skyglow – brightening the night sky over inhabited areas caused by light scattered in the atmosphere; light trespass – unwanted light falling where it is not intended, such as streetlamps shining directly into a bedroom; glare – excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort; and clutter – bright, confusing, and excessive groupings of light sources.
Unnecessary or excessive lighting is a waste of energy, and that has economic and environmental consequences. But it doesn’t have to be a yes or no situation. It’s not have light or have dark. There are ways to reduce light pollution at night. Use fully shielded light fixtures that are directed downward rather than ones that spill light upwards or sideways. Switch to warmer, amber-toned spectra rather than harsh blue-white LEDs that scatter further and impact wildlife more severely. Use motion sensors, timers, and dimming protocols to ensure lights are active only when necessary.
If you’d like to learn more about light pollution/ALAN, visit Dark Sky International at darksky.org. You can keep up with Zoo happenings via the Zoo website (leerichardsonzoo.org) and our Facebook page. There’s always something going on at the Zoo!
Sleep at the Zoo
- Alice Nelson, Conservation Awareness Manager
A Wild Affair
When most people think of zoos, they think of family days with children, animals, and fun. But did you know the Lee Richardson Zoo hosts an evening, adult-focused event on Zoo grounds? The Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo’s “A Wild Affair” a special event is for adults 21 years or older. At this event, adults can enjoy complimentary drinks and delicious food samples from a variety of the region’s restaurants and caterers. There will be live music as you enjoy the evening in the Zoo. There will also be unique items at the auctions to bid on, all to benefit improvements at Lee Richardson Zoo.
To prepare for this amazing evening, the Lee Richardson Zoo will be closed during regular Zoo hours on August 29, 2026. Once the setup is complete, the Finnup Center for Conservation Education will open at 6 p.m. for the event. As you enter the Zoo, you could be met by one of our Animal Ambassadors. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with food sampling ending at 8 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the event. Guests 21 years or older may purchase all-inclusive tickets for $85 online at www.folrz.com/a-wild-affair or in person at the FOLRZ office near the Safari Shoppe, the Zoo Office in the Finnup Center for Conservation Education building, or Ward’s Garden Center. Tickets will be sold at the Finnup Center for Conservation Education until 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 29th.
The current fundraising campaign that the proceeds from this night will go towards is the “Feathers Forever” campaign. The money raised for “Feathers Forever” at “A Wild Affair” and other FOLRZ events will be used to create a new habitat that will allow guests to continue viewing certain birds even during the colder months here in Kansas. This new building, with its new habitats, will not only benefit the visitors to the Lee Richardson Zoo but will also allow some of the aviary birds to have a new home for the winter!
The Lee Richardson Zoo is not just a place for children and families, for when the evening comes, adult guests can participate in special events like “A Wild Affair”. No matter if you join us for the food, drinks, music, auctions, or animals, Saturday, August 29th will be an evening to remember!
For more information, visit the FOLRZ’s website or the Lee Richardson Zoo’s website and look under events. Or call 620-276-1250. And for our families, don’t worry; the Lee Richardson Zoo will reopen to the public on Sunday, August 30th, at 8:00 a.m.
July's Staff Pic of the Month
July's Staff Pic of the Month Winner was Communication Specialist, Emily with their submission of this photo
of ornate box turtle, "Buck".
The Pic of the Month winners are selected by the Zoo's Advisory Board during their monthly meetings.
Congratulations Emily!
Questions for Keepers
- Emily Sexson, Communication Specialist
A group photo of current Animal Care Staff.
In last week’s Zoo to You column, Zoo Director Kristi Newland shared some insight into what it takes to become a Zoo Keeper, a truly unique career full of passionate and dedicated individuals. Last week was also National Zoo Keeper Week, during which Animal Care Curator Carrie Thurman asked staff members to voluntarily answer questions related to their careers in the zoo field. Here are just a few examples of those questions and answers to get some personal insight from members of the Lee Richardson Zoo Staff.
When did you know that you wanted to work in the Zoo/Animal Care field? Was there a person, place, or thing that inspired you to do so? “Both were in second grade. I had to do a project on an animal. It was randomly selected, and I got a cougar (my favorite animal because of this). Since that project, I had an incredible love for animals, and the next year, in third grade, I had another project. This project was what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote that I wanted to be a zoo keeper, and from that point on, I worked towards that goal,” answered Keeper Conner Risley.
“As a former zoo camper, a reptile nerd, and a farm kid, I always loved animals. I was two semesters away from a high school biology teaching degree when I got a summer job as a camp counselor at my hometown Zoo (Peoria Zoo). I fell in love with the behind-the-scenes at the Zoo, and seeing everything that went into their Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) inspection that summer made me appreciate just how much work goes into making a good experience for both guests and animals. So, I changed my major to conservation biology and dove headfirst into zoos! Many people at Peoria had been there or at other zoos for twenty-plus years, so I had some incredible mentors,” was Keeper Erin Hanley’s response.
If you were an animal, which would you be and why? “I’d be a capybara,” said Keeper Logan Schmidt, “they seem like very go-with-the-flow animals.” Keeper Abigail Wiiest stated, “I’d be a duck, they’re my special interest, they just sleep, and hang out, and eat their snacks all day.” “Being a dhole seems like it’d be really fun. They’ve got a strong pack unit, are strategic hunters, so hunting seems like it’d be fun with them, and, of course, they whistle! Plus, I mean, they’re just super cute,” answered Keeper Megan Mann. “A sea otter. I love the ocean, I love to swim, I love the west coast, and I love to eat shellfish,” said Deputy Director Joe Knobbe.
What animal that has crossed the “rainbow bridge” has had an impact on you and why? “I would say the animal that had a significant impact on me was ‘Clive’, the burrowing owl. He was just one of the most social, silly, and sweet birds I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He loved ‘Fergie’ (burrowing owl) so very, very, much and would always bring her mouse to her before grabbing his. Truly just a delight to work with,” responded Keeper Abby Basile. Lead Keeper Cameron Albus answered, “Jose, the golden-headed lion tamarin. Such a silly guy with such a curious personality. He loved TV, especially the ‘Minions’, and his blankets. He really instilled a love of small primates into me.” “Kaya the jaguar. Most of my experience has been with hoof stock, who are typically very accepting and sweet. She (Kaya) was the first animal to challenge me, and it was so rewarding when she would show those small moments of sweetness once we got to know each other,” said Lead Keeper Victoria Ortiz.
Because so much of their hard work is performed behind the scenes, you may miss the chance to interact with a member of Zoo staff during your visit. However, day in and day out, rain or shine, through holidays, and more, our dedicated staff provide world-class care 365 days a year. A great way to get to know our staff and learn about what it takes to be a zoo keeper is to catch a “Keeper Chat” during your Zoo visit, where you can ask Zoo staff all about their experience and get special insight into some of your favorite animals. Currently, Keeper Chats are running daily with a variety of times and topics. Check out our website www.leerichardsonzoo.org for the detailed schedule; look under the “events” tab for more info.
Three Swan Cygnets Hatch
Trumpeter swan mom "Abigail" looks down on her three cygnets from the left as father "Will" is on the right while the family floats out on the pond.
Earlier this week, the trumpeter swan couple “Abigail” and “Will” at the Lee Richardson Zoo hatched three cygnets. This makes a total of seven successful cygnet hatchings since the pair was matched together in 2022.
Trumpeter swans were once an endangered species due to overhunting for skins and feathers but have since recovered thanks to conservation efforts. Three out of four of the pair’s previous hatchlings have since been reintroduced to the wild in Oregon as part of a reintroduction project between the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and participating zoos, Zoo Idaho, AZA’s Trumpeter Swan Species Survival Plan (SSP), the Trumpeter Swan Society, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. As part of the SSP, the fourth hatchling has found a new home at the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina, Kansas. The program’s goal is to continue to restore trumpeter swan populations in their native habitat.
Once they reach the appropriate age, this year’s hatchlings will follow similar paths as their older siblings and parents, each playing a significant role for their species, furthering the SSP goals. Until then, you can visit the swan family on the “Duck Pond” located near the flamingo habitat and along the Zoo’s drive-through route.
Zoo Mourns Passing of Bactrian Camel
Small but Mighty Primate
- Joe Knobbe, Deputy Director
Two adult goeldi's monkeys sit in a basket of enrichment in the aviary at the Zoo.
Tucked away in the Tropical habitat in the Marie Osterbuhr Aviary is a tiny species of monkey.
In fact, it’s the only species of monkey at Lee Richardson Zoo. Goeldi’s monkeys, also known as callimicos, are New World monkeys found primarily in the Amazon of Peru, as well as in some regions of Colombia, Bolivia, and Brazil.
Unfortunately, these countries represent four of the world’s top seven nations in terms of forest loss due to human expansion, timber harvesting, and agriculture. Less than half the forests where they are found are protected.
Since the species is so patchily distributed across its range because of its need for particular habitats and food sources, Goeldi’s monkey populations are especially sensitive to these human activities. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the species as Vulnerable.
Due to their elusive nature, there are no good estimates of the world’s overall population, but loss of historical habitat and less frequent sightings indicate that their numbers are declining.
The other primates found at the zoo are classified as prosimians or as lesser apes. Prosimians retain ancestral traits, such as being nocturnal or having the capability to scent-mark. Lesser apes are characterized by their lack of tails and higher intelligence.
The zoo’s prosimians include the ring-tailed, black and white, and red ruffed lemurs, and the pygmy slow lorises. The lemurs are found at the zoo’s Primate Forest Lemurs!, and the slow lorises in the zoo’s nocturnal building in Wild Asia. The representative lesser apes are the white-cheeked gibbons, who also reside in Wild Asia.
Goeldi’s monkeys are unique primates in many ways. Like their close cousins, the tamarins and marmosets, Goeldi’s are very diminutive. They weigh just about a pound and are less than 10 inches in length, with a tail just as long. They move about the tropical forest much like squirrels because of their claw-like nails. This is different from larger-bodied primates.
These claws allow them to escape predators quickly and help them extract certain foods. They prefer fruits, flowers, insects and spiders, mollusks, and small vertebrates such as lizards, snakes, and frogs. Goeldi’s monkeys have a unique adaptation: they can feed on fungi to sustain themselves during dry seasons. This dietary trait is found in no other tropical primate.
Like other small New World monkeys, baby Goeldi’s are initially carried by their mother’s, but are gradually handed off to fathers and other members of a troop as the infants grow. This is especially important in marmosets and tamarins, which typically have twins or even triplets that collectively weigh 15 – 25% of the mother’s weight. Those mothers must share rearing responsibilities so they can provide for their own nutritional and energy needs while lactating.
Goeldi’s monkeys, however, give birth to a single infant who weighs just about 10% of the mother’s weight. This allows mothers to carry their single infants a little longer before sharing the role and to delay weaning.
With this strategy of concentrated effort, Goeldi’s monkeys grow faster and become independent much earlier than others. By four weeks, Goeldi’s infants can be seen begging or robbing food from others who readily provide it to them. By three months of age, they are rarely carried at all.
On your next visit to the zoo, don’t mistake our pair of Goeldi’s monkeys, “Peach” and “JB,” as baby monkeys. They’re fully grown and among the world’s most unique primates.
To learn more about what’s happening at the Zoo, visit www.leerichardsonzoo.org or the Zoo’s social media pages. The zoo is currently open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with drive-through access from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.