The Kansas City Zoo is booming and the beloved institution is doing what it can to keep the momentum going.
“We’re coming out of one of our most successful quarters,” says Sean Putney, the zoo’s executive director. “March was our best month ever with 154,000 visitors.”
There are many reasons to credit the zoo’s success, Putney says, not the least being the new aquarium and an emphasis on zoo renovation and upkeep so that coming to the zoo is an enjoyable experience.
Putney has been with the Kansas City Zoo for more than 16 years, starting as an animal curator and working his way up the ladder to Chief Zoological Officer. In that role, Putney oversaw the zoo’s animal collection, animal care staff, conservation program, veterinary health department and facilities. He was named the zoo’s executive director in 2022, replacing longtime director Randy Wisthoff.
What is making the zoo strong? Putney credits many programs and initiatives, but the backbone of all these programs is really the community support, he says.
The KC Zoo, which opened in 1909 in Swope Park, was the vision of a group of community activists who decided a world class zoo was something the city needed. Known at the time as the Kansas City Zoological Gardens, its initial inhabitants were four lions, three monkeys, a wolf, a fox, a coyote, a badger, a lynx, an eagle and a multitude of other birds. It has since evolved with more than 1,700 animals.
In the last 20 years, the zoo has invested more than $85 million in capital projects, including the Zoo Learning Center, river otters, Polar Bear Passage, the African Safari, Tiger Terrace, the Helzberg Penguin Plaza and, of course, the new Sobela Ocean Aquarium. The new aquarium, partially funded by the Helzberg family, has proven to be a blockbuster. It opened in September 2023 and it was so popular that reservations were required during the first four months.
The zoo is governed by a private non-profit organization and is operated with an agreement with the Kansas City Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and is partially funded by the Zoological District. The district is made up of Jackson and Clay Counties and supports the zoo through a 1/8th sales tax, which also allows residents of these counties reduced zoo admissions along with other perks.
Party Animals
The best community and zoo partnership, paws down, is the highly anticipated annual fundraising event Jazzoo. This “creative black tie” event not only helps keep the zoo alive and thriving, but has proven to be a great way to keep the community actively involved and interested. Thousands descend on the after-hours zoo event to eat, drink and party like animals. This year’s Jazzoo proves to be no different, with food and drink vendors from around the metro and six bands and a DJ providing live entertainment.
GO: June 7. 7:30 pm.
