HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Things are slowly improving at the Hutchinson Zoo. The zoo reopened on a limited basis July 4 and continues to dry out from more than a month of flooding.

Hutchinson Parks Director Justin Combs says most of the west half of the zoo is open, but anything from the playground area east is still flooded. Combs says the service building is still in about six inches of water so they’ve not assessed the damage there.

Zoo officials were forced to relocate the animals to other areas of the zoo after persistent rainfall forced the pond on the grounds out of its banks. The visitors center also suffered continuous flooding in the basement. No animals were lost in the event and Combs says the water is slowly retreating.

Friends of the Zoo recently raised more than $10,000 to help in the recovery efforts.