GibbonGuy95
Well-Known Member
It would seem that at some point Brookfield zoo got a new provost squirrel named Bean. Filbert must have passed some time ago.
Brookfield Zoo Brookfield Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter MeiLover
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jadoredramex3
Member
There are 4 red flanked duikers. 2 females, 1 male, and the baby.
Anything in particular you are hoping to see? I'd be happy to provide some tips if you have any specific questions.
I am wondering which species I would likely miss due to the weather. As well I would appreciate tips on seeing the pangolin active, as I haven’t seen one since San Diego had one. Lastly I would be interested to see what route people recommend taking through the zoo.
Many of the outdoor species are hardy and a majority of the mammals also have publicly viewable indoor enclosures. If it's an especially cold day you might miss a few of the more sensitive hoofstock like the yellow-backed duikers or kirk's did-dik and you'll also not see the Galapagos tortoises if the pachyderm house isn't reopened by then. Otherwise, it sounds like you'll only miss out on the dolphins considering it was just announced the dolphinarium won't reopen until the end of March.
You're most likely to see the pangolin up and about around 3:00 PM. It's fed around that time and usually stays awake for about 30 minutes to an hour.
Assuming you're entering through the North gate, I would suggest heading toward the east side of the zoo first. I find the inhabitants in the Fragile Kingdom are most active in the morning so that would be a good place to start. You can do the pinnipeds from there, then head towards the premium attractions which you could skip if you choose - nothing super notable species-wise. Then do the Swamp, go through Tropic World, pop out in the Nature Plaza, do the reptile/bird buildings and then The Living Coast. From there you can go through the Great Bear Wilderness loop and cross under the bison tunnel to get to the Habitat Africa enclosures, which you could really do in any order as for the most part there is no defined pathway. Afterwards you can circumnavigate the pachyderm house yards and zig-zag your way to the Australia house entrance, although I'm not sure if construction will have started on the new marsupial habitats being added in the area by the time of your visit.
If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to ask.
More info on the dolphin exhibit renovations:
Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo Press Room
Unrelated, but something that caught my eye is that the zoo mentions it is now 235 acres, instead of the previous 216 acres.
Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo Press Room
Unrelated, but something that caught my eye is that the zoo mentions it is now 235 acres, instead of the previous 216 acres.
Here are the key details of the press release:
"New additions in the dolphins’ habitat include rockwork structures with anchors that animal care staff can attach a variety of enrichment items, such as kelp strips and floating objects, at different levels in the water. Located in the rockwork on the northeast side of the habitat, there is a shallow sand pit, where staff can hide enrichment items or food."
"The two center rock elements also have built-in bubbler systems. The dolphins can play with the bubbles, roll over them, or even maneuver an object like a ball over the bubbles to propel it. The bubbles also disrupt echolocation signals, allowing the animals to engage in a sort of underwater hide and seek."
"The former Caribbean-themed façade has been removed and the building has been redesigned to depict the natural environment of Sarasota Bay. New artificial plantings that replicate species found in the Sarasota area, including mangrove trees and tall grasses, add to the ambiance throughout the stadium."
"Other upgrades include a new roof, skylights, and lining to the pools. Fluorescent lighting has been replaced with LED lights, making it more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. A new
heating and cooling system allows for a better temperature-controlled climate in the building year-round and features a high-quality ventilation system, making the airflow better for both the animals and guests. And, two center front rows of benches have been removed to accommodate accessibility seating for wheelchairs during presentations."
"The Underwater Viewing Gallery also received a refresh, including new signage and lighting projections. New digital monitors provide a look at the behind-the-scenes dolphin science and research conducted both at Brookfield Zoo and in Sarasota Bay, Florida."
Sounds really impressive overall! When the project was first announced it sounded like it was mostly geared towards quality-of-life improvements, but it appears they greatly enhanced the main tank with a bunch of new enrichment opportunities and aesthetic touch-ups. Looking forward to seeing how it turned out in person.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Most articles I have found online say that the zoo is 235 acres.
It has been 216 acres until now. Extra land is being used for the master plan.
biggest_dreamer
Well-Known Member
Granted, I've only been to the zoo once, but I can corroborate exactly what pachyderm pro is saying. I had what felt like a life-changing glimpse of the pangolin starting when I arrived at 3:37 pm according to the video I took. My route through the zoo was mostly clockwise starting from the north entrance, but I did make a point to visit the pachyderm and Australia houses first thing in the morning to try and maximize my odds of seeing the echidnas, wombats, and then-baby tapir (who has since grown up and moved out). I also went out of my way to revisit the desert house at the end of the day, and caught almost all of the inhabitants particularly active, but I've heard that that isn't a typical experience there... so ymmv, clearly.
Sorry for the double post, but I just remembered I actually made a visual for my ideal route through the zoo a few years ago. It's essentially the same as what I described above; the only real difference being you'll exit Tropic World on the south side of the building due to construction, which will save you from having to backtrack to go through the nature plaza.
A female Pallas' cat named Ruby has arrived from the Ross Park Zoo. This comes from the latest addition of the zoos member magazine.
The Seven Seas renovation looks fantastic and I'm especially impressed by the decision to change from Caribbean theming to Sarasota Bay - the zoo has had extensive involvement in research programs there, as anyone with the member magazine has often heard, so it's a very fitting decision. I really look forward to checking out the changes. As Pachy said, this initially sounded like some behind the scenes qualify of life changes, but it looks like they've made a pretty major refresh to the space.
The southern and eastern parts of the zoo are pretty much designed with weather in mind; the most problems you may have are some of the African hoofstock as mentioned, and the Pachyderms as the building is no longer open to the public.
I would definitely second the suggestion to do the Fragile Kingdom first -- this is my traditional route too, and those animals, especially the sloth bears, tend to be most active at the beginning of the day. Try to leave as much time as possible around the pangolin feeding time as while there's a really good track record on zoochat for the 3PM time, the time isn't "public" anymore so it can sometimes be a little earlier or later based on keeper convenience.
The southern and eastern parts of the zoo are pretty much designed with weather in mind; the most problems you may have are some of the African hoofstock as mentioned, and the Pachyderms as the building is no longer open to the public.
I second this, I was only able to observe the feeding time after waiting around 3pm, leaving the building, finding an employee that was on his way inside the building, and asking if they were going to feed the pangolin soon. He said yes, but I'd have to wait another twenty minutes. All worth it though, and especially waiting with the elephant shrew in the enclosure across from the pangolin made the time fly by.
Every other employee in the zoo I had asked before then didn't know the feeding time or even the fact that the zoo had a pangolin! So, waiting around and find an employee in Habitat Africa the Forest is the safest bet.
Sorry for the double post, but I just remembered I actually made a visual for my ideal route through the zoo a few years ago. It's essentially the same as what I described above; the only real difference being you'll exit Tropic World on the south side of the building due to construction, which will save you from having to backtrack to go through the nature plaza.
Thank you so much for all this information. This route will be great as I don't wanna miss anything.
Turns out the reason behind the renovations is for the koalas to move in there this summer! The lemurs will reportedly eventually be moved to Clouded Leopard Rain Forest, which is so weird to me lol.