Meet Rosie, Science City’s Tokay Gecko

Meet Rosie, Science City’s Tokay gecko. Rosie loves to strike her classic “gecko pose” when she sees a camera. Perfect for today’s feature as our Nature Works ambassador!

Rosie came to Science City’s Nature Works as an adult in 2016, so we are not sure of her age, but their life expectancy in captivity is 10 years or more. She resides in our biomimicry area, where she loves to show off her ability to “hang out” vertically on her front glass window. This allows guests to see her famous feet that allow her to form a molecular “hug” with the surface of the glass. This produces a strong bond with a gripping force that could hold up to 450 pounds of weight! This ability to grip any surface makes her the star of biomimicry and the model for so many applications in science and space travel!

The Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) is a true gecko and one of the largest species. They are from South to Southeast Asia with Rosie’s particular color patterning found in a widespread area, including Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and the Indo-Australian Archipelago.

They are quite adept at living with the human population and are welcome in homes to help with undesirable insect populations, which is their main diet. They are a mostly nocturnal animal, and their huge eyes allow for keen night vision. They also have a third eye, known as a parietal eye, on top of their head, which sees shadows and helps “watch” and sense predators in different lighting. They do smell with their nose, but they also use their tongue for smelling, like a snake. They have visible ear holes on either side of their head, and you can peer straight through their heads from one ear hole, out the other! They have the ability to drop sections of their tail for defense, but if cornered, they can inflict a vicious bite.

Did you know, these geckos are one of the few reptiles that can emit sound? They have different vocalizations and hisses they do for mating and for defense, sometimes sounding like a dog’s squeaky toy, saying “toe-kay”. Hence the name Tokay gecko!

Care for our Critters! Donate now to help feed and care for our Nature Works Family!

Science City’s Nature Works presents some of the most fascinating animals around. Caring for these critters is a daily privilege and ongoing expense. Annually, we invest over $36,000 to feed and maintain their optimal health. That’s roughly $98 per day. With dozens of animals in our care, we do a great job of stretching our budget.

During this COVID-19 closure, we have no revenue coming in to cover this and many other critical expenses. WE NEED YOUR HELP! If you have a heart for animals and love what they teach us, consider making a gift today to our “CARE For Our CRITTERS” campaign. Give what you can. It ALL matters and is appreciated more than you can imagine.

Rest assured that Joseph, Henri, Clyde and all our Nature Works animals are well cared for during this temporary closure, but they are mighty anxious to see you again soon, as is our entire Science City staff.

A gift of $98 feeds and cares for our Nature Works animal family for one full day. $49 cares for half of the family for one day. And so on. From all of us, thank you for whatever you can do. And don’t forget, we’re a 501 (c)3 organization, making your gift 100% tax-deductible!*

Union Station – including Science City and all of our vital offerings – is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, with an operating budget that is sustained through donations. Your support ensures that Union Station continues to serve our Kansas City community through these unprecedented times.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation in support of our mission, operations, volunteers and staff. Visit >> unionstation.org/donate

You can also support us by becoming or renewing a Membership >> unionstation.org/membership

By joining the Volunteer Team >> unionstation.org/volunteer

Or by booking an event for later this year and into 2021 >> unionstation.org/event-spaces

* Any funds raised above what is needed to care for our critters will be used to support other vital Science City programs and educators.