KTKA

"Even some of the organizations that are supported by endowments, some of those took a hit because of the economics," Director of the Topeka Zoo, Mike Coker, said. Many zoos are taking a hit, but the Topeka zoo is safe for right now. "I think all of us are very mindful of the economic times that are going on, and making good thoughtful use of the resource we have," Coker said.

Watching their resources, has the staff working full time, but there isn't a plan in the works to cut the zoos budget. "We get about 76 percent of our budget, there's property tax, transit gas tax, and some other taxes that come in, and then about 24 percent of that budget is earned revenue," Coker said.

The zoos budget for the year is about 2.3 million dollars, but director Mike Coker says they often have to shift money to make things work. And if they have to make cuts, it won't be taken away from the exhibits or the animals. "It means we will be watching our budget like we always are, and we will watch and see how things go," Coker said. Some zoos are looking for places to send their animals they can't afford, but the Topeka Zoo hasn't had phone calls yet. "We haven't been approached about that, but if someone were to ask us, the staff would definitely sit down and look at what are needs are, whether we can fit it into our collection plan, whether we have adequate space," Coker said.

Coker says even though the economy is struggling the Topeka zoo is continuing to expand. "The Kansas carnivores, and allied river waters, that's privately funded, and that project, I think the contractor will be in a week or so to start on that," Coker said. The exhibits are privately funded, and he hopes people keep seeing the need to give to the zoo, to add to the 380 animals the zoo already has.