Great Bend Zoological Society members and staff at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo welcomed Chamber of Commerce members on Thursday to talk about what’s been going on at the zoo.

Ashley Burdick, the zoo director, said between 30,000 and 40,000 people visit the free zoo each year. A recent animal addition was a red tailed hawk, added to the North America section of the zoo. This year the zoo also acquired Helen, a tortoise that will be part of its education program.

“Our plan moving forward is to continue focusing on improvements, and that’s where our Zoological Society comes in.”

Zoo Society President Grady Bolding said their goal is to support the zoo’s ongoing improvements, including the quality of life of the animals. The nonprofit organization helped the zoo add a second lion enclosure and a winter house for the alligators. 

Recent projects at the zoo include new fencing and adding a cement walkway to the gazebo that overlooks a goldfish pond.

“There’s always something new, something improved,” Bolding said, although the improvements may be details that aren’t always noticed. New fencing “doesn’t sound like a big deal, but compared to the dated wooden fencing, it just makes everything look so good and nice.”

Hillary Emerson, a Zoo Society board member, agreed that the public won’t always see how the group has helped. For example, they recently purchased an air mattress for the occasions when a keeper needs to spend the night at the zoo.

“This place attracts visitors from around the world,” Bolding said. “We’re a gem.”

Emerson said the things that most surprise visitors are that the zoo is free and the types of animals the small zoo houses, such as African lions, mountain lions, grizzly bears and a rare pileated gibbon.

Zoo Society membership for a family or individual is $25 a year. Forms are available at the zoo. Memberships include perks such as discounts at the zoo gift shop and members-only events.