Trio of wandering farm animals in Kansas will finally get their live nativity scene
After becoming international celebrities because of a viral Facebook post of them wandering in search of a possible nativity scene, a trio of local livestock has been booked for a last-minute nativity engagement at Tanganyika Wildlife Park this weekend.
Sully the camel, Gus the donkey and Rufus the cow will be the celebrity guests during Tanganyika’s first off-season holiday event, Happy Hoof-i-days from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Admission for the special event is $8, free to kids 2 and younger. The park, located at 1000 S. Hawkins Lane in Goddard, is usually closed to visitors from about mid-November through about mid-March during the winter season.
While Sully, Gus and Rufus aren’t part of the park’s stable, they do belong to the park’s hoofstock supervisor, Robert Olmstead, who lives nearby, said Matt Fouts, Tanganyika’s assistant director.
The trio became an international sensation around mid-November after getting out of their enclosure on Olmstead’s property. The Goddard Police Department posted a photo of them along with the comments: “Does anyone know the owners of these three friends traveling together (towards a Northern star) just East of Goddard? If we cannot locate the owner, we may be halfway towards a live nativity this Christmas season. Please call 911 if you can help. Tanganyika Wildlife Park have any idea?”
The post got 1,000 responses and more than 1,000 shares and made Sully, Gus and Rufus instant celebrities. The park fielded calls from Paris, London and other international locales, and the trio earned spots in People magazine and the TV show, “Inside Edition,” Matt Fouts said.
“They live together and hang out together all the time,” Fouts said.
Park officials capitalized on their ties to the three and created Happy Hoof-i-days, a one-night-only event to give the three the nativity scene they may have been searching for.
Some of the park’s animals will also make appearances for photos and interactions with visitors. An antler-wearing llama will be alongside the Grinch character for photos, while Santa will have the park’s sloth named Sydney as a companion in his photos. Animal ambassadors will bring around other animals, including penguins and an African-crested porcupine, too, Fouts said.
There will be crafts and activities as well, including making reindeer food, ornaments and dream catchers. Hot chocolate and popcorn will be available for sale and the park’s gift shop will be open for shopping.
Happy Hoof-i-days
What: special one-night-only live nativity event
Where: Tanganyika Wildlife Park, 1000 S. Hawkins Lane, Goddard (near west edge of Wichita)
When: 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Admission: $8, children 2 and younger free. Tickets can be purchased online or at the park.
More information: 316-794-8954 or twpark.com/events/default-event-category/happy-hoof-i-days
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 5:03 AM.