Sedgwick County Zoo

Stephanie and Cinda were imported together from South Africa to Michigan in August 1972. They were then sold the next month to the Sedgwick County Zoo where they still reside together. The elephants are managed in free contact.

In February 2010, the Sedgwick County Zoo announced they would be building an eight foot tall cable and post fence to protect their two aging elephants from falling into the moat surrounding the 19,000 square foot exhibit yard. Both elephants were approaching forty years of age. The plans to build an improved and larger facility were postponed due to economic problems.

Cinda and Stephanie, mid-1970s.
Photo Courtesy of Friends of Stephanie and Cinda on Facebook

Cinda and Stephanie, mid-1970s.
Photo Courtesy of Friends of Stephanie and Cinda on Facebook

Cinda and Stephanie, July 1994.
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

"Stephanie, although the smaller of the two, has always been the dominant elephant. She is generally the first to enter or leave the outdoor yard and gets first choice of food. Stephanie seems to respond to tactile praise more than food rewards. Stephanie's favorite food item seems to be carrots as she will occasionally leave bananas, oranges and white potatoes behind. She also seems to enjoy walking backwards." //SCZ.org

Stephanie, September 2008.
Photo Courtesy of J Sentel

"Cinda is taller than Stephanie but has always been the submissive elephant of the two. She generally follows Stephanie when the elephants are called, allowing Stephanie to survey different situations first. Cinda enjoys food rewards and almost seems to rush through training so she can eat. Cinda spends more time than Stephanie using the exhibit pool and toys. Cinda doesn't really have any favorite food items as she enjoys eating everything." //SCZ.org

Cinda, September 2008.
Photo Courtesy of J Sentel

Records
Cinda (Cynda, Mzuri), Female African, SB 117
1971 - Birth, South Africa
Aug 1972 - International Animal Exchange, Ferndale, Michigan
03 Sep 1972 - Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, Kansas

Stephanie, Female African, SB 118
1971 - Birth, South Africa
Aug 1972 - International Animal Exchange, Ferndale, Michigan
03 Sep 1972 - Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, Kansas

Additional Information
Sedgwick County Zoo Official Website:
>> http://www.scz.org/

Friends of Stephanie and Cinda on Facebook:
>> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Stephanie-and-Cinda/117717444918185

"Zoo adding safety barrier to protect aging elephants," 02/12/2010
>> http://www.kansas.com/2010/02/12/1177596/adding-safety-barrier-to-protect.html

"Sedgwick County Zoo considers new elephant exhibit," 03/20/2010
>> http://www.kansas.com/2010/03/20/1233715/rights-group-may-target-county.html

Update 05/07/2012
Jackson Byrd recently posted an analysis of two Kansas zoos, Sedgwick County and Topeka, in relation to the changes necessary the two facilities need to make to meet compliance with standards of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. His post can be found at his site 'Gorgeous in Gray.'

>> "Decisions, Decisions. Kansas has gotta make em’ (as well as the rest of the country)," GorgeousInGray.wordpress.com, 02/10/2012

Sedgwick County Zoo elephant herd
Photo Courtesy of gorgeousingray

"Knoxville Zoo worker dies after elephant pushes her into stall"

By Lydia X. McCoy
Knoxville News Sentinel
Posted January 14, 2011 at 6:49 p.m., updated January 15, 2011 at 9:29 a.m.

"Stephanie James loved animals - whether it was the horses she used to take care of as a child, her dog she rescued from being euthanized or the elephants that she cared for daily at the Knoxville Zoo.

"That was her life," her father, Ron James, said by telephone Friday evening. "It was just her goal in life to take care of animals and be around them."

On Friday, Stephanie James, 33, was killed when one of the elephants she was working with pushed her into a stall. James, who had worked at the zoo for two years, died as a result of internal injuries after being rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center."

>> http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jan/14/knoxville-zoo-elephant-keeper-injured/

Ryan and Edie, October 2009.

For Additional "ShowMe Elephants" Articles:
>> Knoxville Zoo

The Week in Pictures

Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake feeds Ringling elephant

Ringling Brothers elephant walk in Baltimore

African elephant Ruby dies at PAWS

Asian elephants perform with Kelly Miller Circus in Arkansas

African elephants perform with Circul Orlando in Romania

Circus elephant Anne retired to Longleat Safari Park

42 year old Zitta dies at Budapest Zoo

Photographs From the Son - Sedgwick County Zoo

The following photographs were taken in April 2009 during a visit to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas.

Sedgwick County Zoo, 04/2009
Courtesy of R Easley