Attention
On June 2, 2017 the Zoo will close early at 2 p.m. in preparation for Jazzoo the Zoo's largest fundraiser. Only Africa will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Helzberg Penguin Plaza will be open from 8:00 a.m. to noon. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
| Weekdays | 8:00 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Weekends | 8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
The African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world. The black and white quills along the head and back of this spiny mammal can be raised into a crest, hence its common name of crested porcupine. These sturdy, sharp quills, which are about 12 inches long and marked with alternating light and dark bands, provide highly effective protection against predators. You can find our two porcupines in the Tropics at the Zoo.
The African Crowned Crane is a beautiful bird famous for its golden crown of feathers.
Perhaps one of the world’s most iconic animals, the African elephant is the largest living land mammal, with the largest recorded individual reaching a massive 12 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing an impressive twenty thousand pounds. 96 elephants are poached each day to fuel the trade in ivory; the Kansas City Zoo is partnered with 96elephants.org to help bring an end to the decimation of these incredible animals. You can find our seven elephants near the gateway to Africa.
Known as the voice of Africa these majestic fish eagles resemble the American Bald Eagle superficially. You can find Chaka our African Fish eagle in the WOW Wings of Wonder bird show.
The African ground hornbill is a large, black, flighted yet ground dwelling species native to the plains regions of the African continent. Traveling in large family groups these prehistoric looking birds scour the ground in search of large insects, reptiles and small rodents to feed upon. You can find our ground hornbills in Africa near the lagoon.
The African Lion is the second largest living cat, native to the grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa, these enigmatic felines are also the only truly social cat. Living in groups called prides, the African lion is distinctive in behavior and appearance. Facing many threats in the wild, African lions are classified as vulnerable to extinction. Visit our lions in the Africa section of the Zoo.
Uniquely patterned, the African Painted Dog is one of the world’s most beautiful canines. Living in large, gregarious groups these wild dogs are among the most successful predators in the world. Painted Dogs are among the most endangered canines, with a wild population of around 5,500, and face challenges such as habitat loss and human conflict. You can find our two African Painted Dogs in Africa near the baboons.
True giants, the Aldabra tortoise can reach over four feet in length and top 500 pounds when mature. These tortoises are very long lived and adapted to the harsh life of the Seychelles and Aldabran islands. You can find our tortoises in Africa near the plains exhibits.
An American symbol, the once endangered bald eagle is a very large raptor native to All of North America. These birds were once threatened by DDT poisoning but have rebounded in numbers and can be seen in great numbers near large lakes and rivers in the winter. You can find our bald eagle in the WOW Wings of Wonder bird show.
Possibly the most critically endangered big cat, the Amur leopard is estimated to only number around 35 wild animals. Native to the Amur River basin in the Russian Far East, these mountain dwelling felines have nearly been hunted to extinction. You can visit Natalia in the Africa section of the Zoo, across the Swinging Bridge, near the gorillas.
