A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday for a new attraction at the Sedgwick County Zoo.
The Martha C. Buford Safari Express will take Zoo visitors on a 1.3 mile trip, offering never-before seen views from behind the scenes. The Zoo’s president and chief executive officer, Scott Newland, said there are two C.P. Huntington Electric Trains that will provide the trip. He said riders will hear recordings from animal care staff on the conservation efforts going on at the Zoo.
Sedgwick County Commission Chairman David Dennis, who is a board member for the Zoo, said the train has been on the wish list for many years. He said it was made possible by the generosity of the Buford family and the community. Dennis said the train is part of a 25-year master plan for the future of the Zoo, and he said recent improvements at the Zoo are just scratching the surface on the exceptional growth that is in store for the future.
The train is named for the late Martha C. Buford, who was a longtime supporter and board member for the Zoo. Members of Buford’s family were present for the ribbon-cutting.
