The Hamill Family Play Zoo is once again closed as result of the rising covid cases.
Brookfield Zoo Brookfield Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter pachyderm pro
- Start date
Every day, or just their regular closed days? When I was at the zoo a few days ago, I spoke with a keeper who works in the area and mentioned they were still only open on Fridays and Saturdays.
Not sure, but the zoos website now lists it as closed when it was listed as open previously.
Inb4 all other close contact exhibits close
Nonetheless it’s all safety precautions for both the guests and animals, since they don’t want more than a few to catch the virus unlike last year. This is how I’m wondering if any new construction is possible with this new wave.
Nonetheless it’s all safety precautions for both the guests and animals, since they don’t want more than a few to catch the virus unlike last year. This is how I’m wondering if any new construction is possible with this new wave.
Two male and four female Asian small-clawed otter pups were born on November 18.
I was at the zoo yesterday and can confirm this (originally they were only open on Friday's and Saturday’s).
I am confused here. Can someone please explain to me what exactly the former Reptile House was made into? My father and I were talking about it the other day and we recalled walking in before Covid started and feeling...super awkward. We weren't even sure if the public was supposed to be in there because it was just...empty. Aside from some photography of animals on the walls there wasn't much to see that we could tell as we hurried out of there because we felt like we were somewhere we weren't supposed to be. So...what is this place now? Just another convention area? Like we needed more? I am just very confused about this.
It's pretty much just a convention area, yeah.
That's super unfortunate. It seems like a big waste of space, considering how bland it was inside and that there are a bunch of other more interesting convention areas throughout the rest of the zoo. Choices were made. Maybe in the future this can be rectified and turned into something more interesting.
The old reptile house is now an education center. The main lobby is still accessible to the public, but otherwise the rest of the building has been turned into classrooms, conference spaces and staff areas. The zoo deemed it was unfit to exhibit animals any longer and didn't want to demolish it since it's a historical building. Prior to it being redone the staff areas were spread out all over the park and it's much more convenient to have them condensed into one building. It may no longer be an animal exhibit, but it was a necessary and helpful change for management.
Well. That does make sense then. I can't fault them for that. Since we have that then can we finally do something cool with the Discovery Center? lol
This is probably something more suited to the master plan discussion thread, but this is an interesting idea so I'll bite. There is room for expansion on the north side of the building. The strahl-era master plan proposed adding a restaurant connected to the the building and realistically there isn't any reason why the center can't be retrofitted with some small animal exhibits and some additional event space as well.
Tropic World has once again reopened in its entirety.
And that leaves only the Hamil Play Zoo to be reopened. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Just in time, going in two weeks, so fingers crossed it'll stay this way.
The Hamil Family Play Zoo will be reopening with a modified schedule on February 18th.
In the newest issue of the zoos member magazine, an interview and Q&A was conducted with new president and CEO Dr. Micheal Adkesson. Various questions were asked regarding his background, experience, and most importantly his vision for the zoo. Pay attention to the last sentence of this excerpt.
Q: What specific changes do you plan to make to the zoo?
"I will be working very closely with our executive team, staff, and other stakeholders in the months ahead to complete a new master plan for Brookfield Zoo. This master plan will chart the course of the organization for the years ahead with new regards to new habitats and species for the zoo, renovations of the existing buildings, and new amenities for guests.
In the next few months, I'll also be doing a lot of work with staff and stakeholders to evaluate the Chicago Zoological Society's strengths and opportunities as we begin to draft our next five-year strategic plan. I believe the future of the Chicago Zoological Society is very bright and I look forward to sharing more details in the months ahead."
This just about confirms it, we will almost certainly be getting some news regarding new developments later this year. To put in perspective how significant this is, I having been waiting for the day the zoo unveils new project since I joined this site over five and a half years ago. To know we are potentially only a few months out from a reveal is incredibly exciting.
Q: What specific changes do you plan to make to the zoo?
"I will be working very closely with our executive team, staff, and other stakeholders in the months ahead to complete a new master plan for Brookfield Zoo. This master plan will chart the course of the organization for the years ahead with new regards to new habitats and species for the zoo, renovations of the existing buildings, and new amenities for guests.
In the next few months, I'll also be doing a lot of work with staff and stakeholders to evaluate the Chicago Zoological Society's strengths and opportunities as we begin to draft our next five-year strategic plan. I believe the future of the Chicago Zoological Society is very bright and I look forward to sharing more details in the months ahead."
This just about confirms it, we will almost certainly be getting some news regarding new developments later this year. To put in perspective how significant this is, I having been waiting for the day the zoo unveils new project since I joined this site over five and a half years ago. To know we are potentially only a few months out from a reveal is incredibly exciting.
GibbonGuy95
Well-Known Member
Observations from today's visit
Deserts Edge
-I remember a while back, we lost a bat-eared fox, there is a new one now
-A lot of sleepy animals, only the meerkats and porcupines were active
-Ocelot was MIA
Clouded Leopard Rainforest
-Finally saw a Clouded Leopard after always missing them
-Binturongs were off exhibit as were fishing cats
-Couldn't spot the provost squirrel
Tropic World
-In South America there are two new Marmaset chilling with Raisin until they are settled in
-I really wish they would do something about The Asia section. Orangutans weren't out and Naobi and Indah had the whole place to themselves
Living Coast
-Something that made me laugh. All the Penguins were in their holes it was like it was coordinated
Pachyderms
-They are really using that space. One Capybara was in each exhibit
Etc.
-Not much action with Big Cats. Snow Leopard got pretty vocal though
-Hope and Hudson were together hear them roaring as I left.
-Jim and Axhi were sleeping near the viewing glass. One of them watched me and dozed off
-Someone slipped caffeine pills in the seals food
Deserts Edge
-I remember a while back, we lost a bat-eared fox, there is a new one now
-A lot of sleepy animals, only the meerkats and porcupines were active
-Ocelot was MIA
Clouded Leopard Rainforest
-Finally saw a Clouded Leopard after always missing them
-Binturongs were off exhibit as were fishing cats
-Couldn't spot the provost squirrel
Tropic World
-In South America there are two new Marmaset chilling with Raisin until they are settled in
-I really wish they would do something about The Asia section. Orangutans weren't out and Naobi and Indah had the whole place to themselves
Living Coast
-Something that made me laugh. All the Penguins were in their holes it was like it was coordinated
Pachyderms
-They are really using that space. One Capybara was in each exhibit
Etc.
-Not much action with Big Cats. Snow Leopard got pretty vocal though
-Hope and Hudson were together hear them roaring as I left.
-Jim and Axhi were sleeping near the viewing glass. One of them watched me and dozed off
-Someone slipped caffeine pills in the seals food
Does anyone remember how, in The Swamp building once you went past the insect exhibits set into the wall there was a whole room located along that back wall that the giant salamander are on now? It had a bunch of small and interesting exhibits in there with things like different newts and salamanders. I know an electric wheelchair went back and broke one of the benches that was in that area, but does anyone know why they closed that entire area off? I just recalled that today and it has been bothering me ever since I recalled it.