Chahinkapa Zoo — Attraction in Wahpeton

The variety and the different species was very impressive, I did check it out on line before so a reason why we went there. 5 stars because for size and effort in care for so many different animals needs to be a fresh management, it seems as if ones in charge are comfortable, attention to many things seems overlooked or just perhaps under funded... They need more visitors to fund it or someone fundraising, so much possibly I see.. Very much worth it for adults to go in and enjoy, everyone say kids but just as much for adults as well! The real treat for way up here I would say for me was the seeing the southern white rhinos, they were amazing, so thanks. Price more then fair for the costs to properly care for all the animals and to try to maintain the property that has to be kept up, Entry fee for adults was around $14. Fun and affordable camping on sight and even to small cabines at great price, deffanatly great for the beginning want to take the family camping but never done it before. Now for comments on short falls of the day, shops were all closed when there supost to be open, short staffed. The person doing the tickets was not knowledgable on much about zoo or anything but she was friendly, New or present staff beed to job shadow all the different positions a day with each field for a few hours say first the first week or two so the know and really understand the facility more before working there, who knows you might even have more options and intrests for future staff nembers, people to cover jobs. Yes as people say habitat areas for many animals is way to small in some cases and I found most big animals to be pacing back and forth around there cages, made me feel sad for many of them, some how some of the habits have to be enlarged, but this is totaly possible with the right board of people. A new marketing and fund raising team would be a blessing. Some how the community and surrounding area needs to be included. Contributors need to be found and a wall needs to be stared with different tear levels. Deffanatly do more fund raising to improve on this, to bad there is a golf course right next to the zoo, they sure could use the space like that for future expansion, we know golfers love, lol oh well. Last zoo keepers you need to rotate and ad more toys of different types on a rotation for stimulation and overall health of the minds of the cats, bears and others, you know the ones, rhinos will play to, this is a must! We sat for a while and watch the Tigers, they were playing with a canvas like bag they were so board, they stocked each other and interacted with us just like our cats at home, was alot of fun with them. We spend the last two hours before close and had the whole place to ourselfs, wonderful time. Hope you look into more things for each group, be creative, one can make many kinds of cheap toys if you know the animals, but thank you so much for all your hard work and...

I'm torn... writing this review. This is a 1 star zoo, I don't wish to hurt the funding of this zoo, but maybe I could raise awareness for the animals so I'll give it a 3 star rating. Here is why

First, We travel to a lot and zoos, nature reserves, and even wildlife habitats are among our favorite places to visit. This particular road trip we had already visited 7 other diffrent parks. This was the only one we walked away from feeling terrible.

It started with the entryway. A young lady sold us our tickets and never even took her feet off the countertop. I had to ask for a map. As we walked we started to realize that the enclosures were in need of repairs, the animals seem to be doing OK. We tried to convince ourselves that it was cold and windy so that's why we didn't like what we saw but the more we explored the more we saw that displeased us. It seemed that we were the only visitors until we met 2 youbg "zoo keepers" we had to stop them to ask questions. They were polite enough but briskly brushed us off. All the enclosures seemed quite small for the relative size of each animal type. In the bison/elk enclosures there were downed gates. The ox was in poor condition with matted fur hanging all around its body, the eagles were pulling feathers from each other. The 2 grisly bear paced in a circle in what seems like just enough room for one.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not sure I've ever witnessed an animal at the zoo that was elated to be there. But at least they looked comfortable and well cared for. This place is either underfunded or mismanaged. I would have asked for our money back but I didn't want to take away from the place that looked like it could use...

Amazing zoo. All the animals are extremely well cared for. Have plenty of space and all look so happy and healthy. My 7 year old and I did the Rhino encounter(must make arrangements prior to venturing to zoo. Preferably a week) where we received so much amazing information from the a imal keeper. Some I knew, but so much more I didn't. She was so patient and fun. We met and fed the amazing 5 year old Rhino brothers Gideon and Gunner. Both so friendly and amazing. Although I have to say Gideon was my fave. He spent the most time letting us feed and let him. Support zoos, because they are giving so much amazing care to their animals and it's because if zoos like them that so many threatened and endangered beauties are still existing. The care, study, captive reproduction of animals like the rhinos( which are dissapearing at enormouse rates because of poaching and deforestation)is helping to keep these wonderful animals on our planet. Please go visit and support. I drive an hour to get there and it's so worth...