KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - On Wednesday, the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium announced its giraffes are next on the list for an upgraded living “spot.”

KCZoo said the new habitat will be better for everyone—the giraffes will have an upgraded home and guests will be able to visit them year-round.

The current giraffe habitat is weather-dependent, limiting the number of days guests can see them. With the animals’ current barn being a quarter mile from the savannah habitat, it can be a “slow process for the herd to navigate the corridor between them,” the zoo said.

In the new enclosure, the giraffes will have an indoor area attached directly to the outdoor yards, giving them free rein to choose where they want to be. Both parts are viewable to visitors.

For guests, the new complex will have indoor and outdoor feeding stations, allowing them to be closer to the giraffes than ever before. The restrooms will be ADA-accessible and family-friendly, plus there will be a new concessions area.

The zoo currently cares for five Masai giraffes, one of whom was born over the summer.

Sean Putney, KCZoo’s executive director and CEO, said they’re excited to be upgrading the enclosure for the first time in its 30-year history.

“They are such unique animals, and we want as many guests as possible to be able to see them, so we are thrilled to upgrade this area to offer viewing all year,” Putney said. “This will be the largest project that has been done in the Africa section since it opened in 1994.”

Construction begins in February 2025, with the habitat expected to open in May 2026. There is a $10 million fundraising goal, you can learn more about it and the project here.