The Sedgwick County Zoo has launched a capital campaign that will be looking to raise $10 million for an expansion project.
The Zoo has developed plans to expand the existing Elephant Boma within the Reed Family Elephants of the Zambezi River Valley Habitat. The campaign is called “Our Growing Herd.”
With five female elephants currently pregnant and all calves expected to arrive in the spring and summer of 2025, the Zoo has identified a critical need for increased indoor space for the herd. The expansion will provide more bonding space and allow additional options to keep the herd comfortable as it grows, offering them room to roam, play, and socialize especially during the winter months when temperatures are too cold for young elephants.
This new space will also allow the public to watch the elephant herd grow and mature for years to come, in an environment that will continue to closely mirror the elephants’ natural social structure. The expansion will ensure the best possible care for the multigenerational herd, promoting their physical and social well-being.
The initial timeline for the campaign involves community fundraising engagement through next year and a ground-breaking in the fall of 2025 following the delivery of all of the calves. Completion of the project is expected in the fall of 2026, in time for the winter season.
Donations for the campaign can be made through the zoo’s website at scz.org
[ image shows rendering of indoor expansion of the Elephant Boma, provided by the Sedgwick County Zoo ]
