Sedgwick County commissioners have given unanimous approval to an application to the U.S. Department of the Interior for a federal grant that would be used for a project to build an elephant barn at the Sedgwick County Zoo.

The grant is for almost $5 million from the National Park Service for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program.

Commissioner David Dennis said the Zoo is expecting five baby elephants and this will be an opportunity for the Zoo to be at the forefront of efforts to have a breeding program to protect the elephant herd in the United States.   He said “If we want our future generations to see these magnificent animals in the United States, we’re going to have to have a breeding program.”

If the application is successful, Sedgwick County and the Sedgwick County Zoological Society would provide $2.5 million each as matching funds for the grant, which is expected to be awarded in the summer or fall.

The funding would be used for a $10 million project to expand the elephant habitat at the Zoo, and a new family barn will provide an additional 19,500 sq. ft. for the elephants.  One elephant calf will be born in early 2025, and with four more elephant calves expected later next year, the additional space this project will provide will give this growing herd more bonding space and give Animal Management Staff additional options to keep the herd comfortable as it grows. This new space will also allow the community to watch the elephant herd grow and mature for years to come.