Sunset Zoo, also known as Sunset Zoological Park, is the city zoo of Manhattan, Kansas and houses over 300 animals representing more than 100 species.
History In 1929, the city of Manhattan purchased a land called Sunset Cemetery. A part of the land was not used to bury people because of rocky soil. This area was converted into the Sunset Zoo by the government. Until 1934, the zoo was not chartered as a park, but there were animals at the zoo as since 1930. The zoo was officially founded in 1933.
Dr. E.J. Frick, founder of the zoo and a former Head of Surgery and Medicine at the Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine, volunteered to acquire, provide care for, and display animals for 43 years. The city received its original funding from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) for the initial construction of animal exhibits, buildings and walkways. Much of this original native limestone work has been preserved, serving as educational examples of social history, and remains part of the zoo's Master Plan.In 1980, the citizens of Manhattan encouraged the City Commission to build a modern zoo. This led to the development of a Zoo Master Plan and city approval to charge a small admission fee. The revenue generated from admissions is used for new construction, renovations, improvements, and maintenance. Sunset Zoo applied for and received, accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) in 1989.
Animals and exhibits
African Trail Eastern black-and-white colobus Chimpanzee Violet turaco Cheetah Spotted hyena Okapi
Australian Walk-About Emu Black swan Cattle egret Chestnut teal Laughing kookaburra Silver gull Straw-necked ibis Parma wallaby Red-necked wallaby
Kansas Plains Raccoon Swift fox Bald eagle Bobcat American kestrel Turkey vulture Black-tailed prairie dog
Trails of South America Maned wolf Giant anteater American flamingo Chacoan peccary American white pelican Canada goose Crested screamer Indian peafowl Ruddy duck White-faced whistling duck Red-eared slider Red-footed tortoise Cuvier's dwarf caiman Reed titi monkey Geoffrey's marmoset Green and black poison dart frog Yellow and blue poison dart frog Llama Nigerian Dwarf goat Pot-bellied pig
Expedition Asia Malayan tiger Sloth bear Red-crowned crane Western tufted deer Amur leopard Cinereous vulture Chukar partridge Golden pheasant Asian small-clawed otter Red panda Lar gibbon
Notes
References Manhattan Mercury Article
External links
Friends of Sunset Zoo