Great video. I want to highlight this:
Most likely referring to the squirrel monkeys and capuchins.
Yes. Per the Chicago Sun Times:
I'm glad they're so commited to re-housing elephants with a fresh appropiate habitats and social structure over nearly 2 decades of them going elephant less. They seem have made several pledges to build a modern habitat 10 years ago but with no avail. So let's hope they mean it this time.
). Before giving thoughts on the new exhibit, a number of updates and highlights from other parts of the zoo.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago Visit Report 07/11/2025
I don’t think I ever arrived at the zoo feeling quite as excited as I did today. Tropical Forest's grand unveiling was held this morning, Brookfield’s first major new exhibit complex in 10 years. To say this addition was a long time coming is an understatement. Discussions of outdoor primate enclosures have been going on for ages, long before the final concept ever materialized. It was one of those things that everyone knew had to happen eventually for a variety of reasons, yet it’s still so surreal that it’s finally done after all this time. Prior to now the zoo has been burdened with some of the weakest great ape exhibits in the country. Things have certainly changed however. It was a spectacular day and I definitely saw at least a couple ZooChatters in passing (lots of younger looking guys photographing non-animal stuff, you know who you are
Updates
- A klipspringer calf was born recently and is on-exhibit.
- Mia the wombat has indeed passed away as speculated, confirmed by a keeper. She was the last of her species at the zoo.
- Arienta the giraffe has passed away as well. She was the one who gave birth to Kinda years ago who was just shipped out recently.
- The raven is on-exhibit in the indoor toucan/seriema exhibit. Outdoors, a new toucan is on display after a lengthy absence. Unsure what happened to the previous pair.
-A black-faced ibis is on-exhibit in The Swamp, located in the smaller aviary near the entrance and unsigned. This is a new species for the zoo.
- Guam kingfishers are now on-exhibit in Tropic World Asia. The zoo has long held this species behind-the-scenes, but this is the first time in recent memory they’ve been displayed publicly.
- The new landscaping at the Formal Pool has been completed and looks very nice. Did not see the birds back out yet.
-The Grove dining area is still under construction despite being slated to open today. Workers were finishing up paving the area over it looks like it should be open in another week or two.
- All of the pathways around Roosevelt Fountain and the South Mall have been completely repaved. Several pathways within the South Mall have been removed entirely in favor of more green space.
Animal Highlights
- Attended the painted dog keeper chat where they were being thrown large carcass bones. They quickly pranced over and began ripping them to shreds. Those cracks can send chills down someone's spine.
- Polar bears and grizzlies were both swimming in their pools to cool off from the oppressive afternoon heat. Hudson was slowly winding up before diving in and crushing a large plastic barrel in the water.
- The two newer aviaires (prairie and swamp) continue to be some of the best exhibits in the zoo in my opinion. Both are always filled with activity and are great spots to linger, especially the latter with the yellow-billed storks getting more comfortable by the guest areas.
- Lots of favorites that are usually hit and miss decided to be showy today: koala, pangolin, genet, anteater, klipspringer, box turtles, etc.
Now for the main event:
Tropical Forests - Overview, Thoughts, & Impressions
Walking underneath the flashy new bamboo archway leading to the exhibit was a surreal moment. Before getting into the nitty gritty of things, let me provide a quick overview for those who may be unfamiliar with the zoo. All four enclosures share some basic design similarities: each is enclosed with a mesh top, viewed through glass windows, and they are each connected to their respective indoor holding via elevated transfer chutes that go over the heads of visitors. This allows the enclosures to be positioned in a way so that you are always facing away from Tropic World and towards the existing mature trees in the distance. The enclosures are also landscaped with a gradual incline away from the viewing area, with the highest elevation at the back of the spaces. Just like many new exhibits these days, everything currently has that manicured lawn look that will gradually disappear with age as the landscape takes shape. Shade is still sufficient thanks to the overhangs by the viewing areas where most of the primates chose to hang out, but I feel as though more large trees could’ve been included throughout the trail. Not a fan of the electrical signage, but otherwise the interpretive displays are excellent and the general presentation is spectacular. It’s all so modern and aesthetically pleasing – completely unlike anything else in the zoo currently (not to say there aren't other parts of the zoo that are modern and aesthetically pleasing, just nothing quite at this scale).
I also want to emphasize for those unfamiliar with the zoo that while this outdoor complex is brand new, Tropical Forests and Tropic World act as one cohesive whole. It’s structured in a way that complements the existing Tropic World layout by loosely maintaining the South America–Asia–Africa theme in the same order. If you choose just to go through the building, you’ll still see the monkeys and orangutans indoors. Although the gorillas are no longer in the main building, they’re now the first thing you see if you go right upon exiting the building, still acting as a finale for both the indoor exhibits and outdoor trail. The entrance to Tropic World proper has also been streamlined, accessible from the same entry point as the outdoor exhibits as the path forks. Tropical Forests is essentially a campus containing the outdoor exhibits, Tropic World, and the new gorilla building/education center. It’s evident that great consideration was given in adapting the existing building to these new outdoor spaces and it all flows together nicely.
South American Forest
Immediately upon entering the trail is an exhibit for the neotropical monkeys; specifically black-handed spider monkeys – squirrel monkeys and capuchins will also have access to the enclosure in the near future. The enclosure consists of several live trees and faux strangler figs connected by ropes and artificial vines, along with shrubs, tall grasses and scattered logs dotted across the ground. There’s one main viewing window and a larger viewing area looking through the mesh from the side. Unlike the apes, I never thought the monkeys were in dire need of outdoor access. The existing indoor exhibit is already one of the largest and most complex of its kind anywhere, although the benefit of having an outdoor space is that all of the monkey species can now more frequently be on-show at once, as they’ve often rotated indoors up until now.
This was a superb first impression of the exhibit. I had concerns about viewing being limited and the look of the faux trees, but those concerns were all washed away immediately. In fact, I actually like the faux strangler figs which are nicely detailed and allow the primates to get eye-to-eye with guests. As grand as Tropic World is, you've never been able to get close to the inhabitants like you can now. It’s terrific and the monkeys were loving all of the attention, throwing themselves at the glass and mesh to interact with their adoring fans. How delightful it was to watch the monkeys jump between the fake trees and into the live ones. They seemed to alternate throughout the day between swinging through their outdoor yard and resting in the shaded part of the overhead tunnel. This outdoor enclosure combined with the existing indoor exhibit add up to one of the best new world primate facilities you’ll find in a zoo. Couldn’t be more pleased here.
Orangutan Forest
Unfortunately the orangutans and gibbons have not been given outdoor access yet. According to docents they’ve had trouble getting them to go through the transfer chute and hope to get them outside as early as next week. Regardless, mixing the orangutans and gibbons together is one of those things that always made so much sense. Very exciting that it’s finally happening. Lacking live trees due to the inhabitants' destructive behavior, the exhibit has several faux trees and an assortment of bamboo sway poles connected by ropes, as well as a small water feature. Viewing is similar to the monkeys with a large window, as well as a smaller window with an overhead sunroof of sorts. Bamboo poles spill out into the visitor area a bit which I thought was neat. Around the corner from the main viewing areas is a walkthrough fallen log that extends into the exhibit providing additional views.
With respect to the fact that the apes haven’t entered the space yet, this is definitely the weakest of the four exhibits. Still nice and one among the better orangutan exhibits I’ve seen. However, it’s very exposed with little cover or privacy for the apes. Obviously I’m empathetic to the fact that designing for these guys is tricky. Live trees wouldn't be possible in an enclosure this size unless they planted them a year or two in advance which wasn't really an option. There should be more trees around the exhibit though, especially since it can basically be viewed from three sides. At least there are some large shrubs that will help fill the exhibit out in time. Climbing opportunities are more than adequate (even if I'm not as fond of these faux trees), but there is a fair amount of empty space that could be filled with more exhibit furniture or larger plants. Overall, flawed, but certainly not bad either and I’m looking forward to seeing the apes utilizing the enclosure.
Gorilla Forests
Now for the main focus of the complex. The gorilla exhibits are similar in design, each having large trees and shrubs, scattered logs, and various climbing opportunities. There is a disparity between how well these two exhibits are planted though. Whereas the bachelor enclosure has six live trees (three of which are mature trees that have been maintained) the family enclosure only has two. There’s enough open space to where they could have installed at least a couple more larger ones which would’ve gone such a long way. The bachelor enclosure also has a small viewing area with a training panel so expect some sort of keeper chat to occur here semi-regularly. While the family troop enclosure lacks larger trees, it compensates by abutting the new gorilla building which allows for the apes to access the elevated platforms along the second floor of the building. This is already encouraging more arboreal behavior in the apes compared to many other zoos. Both of these enclosures are successful in different ways and as such are equally good in my eyes.
After so many years of awkwardly looking down at the gorillas on concrete on uneven pathways, seeing the apes on grass at eye level was a sight to behold. The family troop was right by the viewing windows and watching them was a blast. They alternated between ripping apart a large bush (which makes me wonder how some of these plants will survive), lounging in the shade, and scurrying around the overhead transfer chutes. Didn’t get much action from the bachelor gorillas who were each napping on opposite ends of the exhibit. When compared to other gorilla exhibits across the U.S. these aren't among the very top tier (Bronx, Disney, Dallas, Houston) but that’s not a surprise. Those exhibits are massive at a scale that wasn't possible here. I find it to be most comparable to Chicago’s other gorilla exhibit in that it utilizes less space overall, but that space is used more intentionally. Perhaps it’s just the novelty having not worn off, but in my opinion, this is the best gorilla complex in the midwest.
Also, one of the aspects of this part of the complex that stood out the most to me wasn't the exhibits at all, but the visitor areas. They are fantastic and incredibly sleek – very San Diego-esque which is something I never thought I’d say about Brookfield. There’s this beautiful little area underneath the elevated patio terrace that has seating (with a baby gorilla statue) around a large tree with the sunlight peeking through. Terrific!
Gorilla Conservation Center
The final new component of the exhibit is the Gorilla Conservation Center, a brand new two-story gorilla house adjacent to Tropic World. While the orangutans and monkeys still utilize their existing indoor spaces within the building, it was imperative that the gorillas be moved out of Tropic World entirely due to certain design quirks of the old enclosure. The exterior of the house is incredibly sleek and towers over the surrounding area. Inside there is a publicly viewable dayroom, complete with several large faux trees, vertical rockwork, and a layer of mulch substrate on the floor. Currently there are red-tailed guenons and colobus monkeys inhabiting the space while the gorillas are outdoors. This is so both spaces are occupied during the warmer months which is great, although it feels like a missed opportunity not to attempt a mix in some capacity. Hopefully this will be given consideration down the line. Given the limitations of the space the zoo did an excellent job of crafting a dynamic indoor environment. I’d say it's on par with Lincoln Park’s excellent dayrooms, similarly designed to encourage arboreal behavior in the apes. The fake trees, rocks and elevated platforms provide substantial vertical space. Although it’s inaccessible to regular visitors, the second floor contains classrooms and office spaces for the zoo’s Conservation Leadership Academy, as well as an elevated terrace that overlooks the family troop enclosure.
Tropic World
Beyond the new entrance (which is really cool by the way) not much has changed here as expected. My hope that natural substrates would be added didn't come to fruition, but there have been some minor updates like new signage and the Guam kingfishers now in the old fruit dove exhibit that seems to change inhabitants every couple years. Overall however, this is very much the same Tropic World as before... except for one significant addition. Ropes have been installed connecting the orangutan exhibit to the gibbon/otter space giving the orangutans and gibbons access to the entire room. That’s something that’s been requested for decades and I never thought they would actually do it. Surely this just became the best indoor orangutan exhibit in the country. That’s going to be incredible to see! In addition, the former gorilla exhibit is currently blocked off in preparation for future renovations. What that will be exactly is still a mystery and it seems not even keepers know how the space will be adapted. At least it’s one more thing to look forward to between now and Gateway to Africa.
I’m immensely pleased with Tropical Forests on all fronts. Before knowing the full scale of what was being done, I think I speak for many others when I say that I would have been perfectly content with just two outdoor enclosures, one each for the gorillas and orangutans. They didn’t have to add an outdoor exhibit for the South American monkeys; they didn't have to add a second gorilla enclosure for a bachelor troop; they didn’t have to build such an elaborate new gorilla building; yet they’ve done it anyway because it’s what's best for the animals and guests. It’s because of all these features that the project very much feels like a brand new exhibit complex rather than just some add-ons to Tropic World – but yet again, it still feels incredibly cohesive with the original building. It isn't perfect of course and it will take some time for the landscape to establish before it can be seen at its best. The experience also still feels somewhat incomplete at the moment without the orangutans, gibbons and other monkeys introduced. Like I alluded to earlier however, this is the first large-scale development completed as part of the master plan and if there were any doubts about the zoo’s future, this should put them to rest.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago Visit Report 07/11/2025
I don’t think I ever arrived at the zoo feeling quite as excited as I did today. Tropical Forest's grand unveiling was held this morning, Brookfield’s first major new exhibit complex in 10 years. To say this addition was a long time coming is an understatement. Discussions of outdoor primate enclosures have been going on for ages, long before the final concept ever materialized. It was one of those things that everyone knew had to happen eventually for a variety of reasons, yet it’s still so surreal that it’s finally done after all this time. Prior to now the zoo has been burdened with some of the weakest great ape exhibits in the country. Things have certainly changed however. It was a spectacular day and I definitely saw at least a couple ZooChatters in passing (lots of younger looking guys photographing non-animal stuff, you know who you are
Updates
- A klipspringer calf was born recently and is on-exhibit.
- Mia the wombat has indeed passed away as speculated, confirmed by a keeper. She was the last of her species at the zoo.
- Arienta the giraffe has passed away as well. She was the one who gave birth to Kinda years ago who was just shipped out recently.
- The raven is on-exhibit in the indoor toucan/seriema exhibit. Outdoors, a new toucan is on display after a lengthy absence. Unsure what happened to the previous pair.
-A black-faced ibis is on-exhibit in The Swamp, located in the smaller aviary near the entrance and unsigned. This is a new species for the zoo.
- Guam kingfishers are now on-exhibit in Tropic World Asia. The zoo has long held this species behind-the-scenes, but this is the first time in recent memory they’ve been displayed publicly.
- The new landscaping at the Formal Pool has been completed and looks very nice. Did not see the birds back out yet.
-The Grove dining area is still under construction despite being slated to open today. Workers were finishing up paving the area over it looks like it should be open in another week or two.
- All of the pathways around Roosevelt Fountain and the South Mall have been completely repaved. Several pathways within the South Mall have been removed entirely in favor of more green space.
Animal Highlights
- Attended the painted dog keeper chat where they were being thrown large carcass bones. They quickly pranced over and began ripping them to shreds. Those cracks can send chills down someone's spine.
- Polar bears and grizzlies were both swimming in their pools to cool off from the oppressive afternoon heat. Hudson was slowly winding up before diving in and crushing a large plastic barrel in the water.
- The two newer aviaires (prairie and swamp) continue to be some of the best exhibits in the zoo in my opinion. Both are always filled with activity and are great spots to linger, especially the latter with the yellow-billed storks getting more comfortable by the guest areas.
- Lots of favorites that are usually hit and miss decided to be showy today: koala, pangolin, genet, anteater, klipspringer, box turtles, etc.
Now for the main event:
Tropical Forests - Overview, Thoughts, & Impressions
Walking underneath the flashy new bamboo archway leading to the exhibit was a surreal moment. Before getting into the nitty gritty of things, let me provide a quick overview for those who may be unfamiliar with the zoo. All four enclosures share some basic design similarities: each is enclosed with a mesh top, viewed through glass windows, and they are each connected to their respective indoor holding via elevated transfer chutes that go over the heads of visitors. This allows the enclosures to be positioned in a way so that you are always facing away from Tropic World and towards the existing mature trees in the distance. The enclosures are also landscaped with a gradual incline away from the viewing area, with the highest elevation at the back of the spaces. Just like many new exhibits these days, everything currently has that manicured lawn look that will gradually disappear with age as the landscape takes shape. Shade is still sufficient thanks to the overhangs by the viewing areas where most of the primates chose to hang out, but I feel as though more large trees could’ve been included throughout the trail. Not a fan of the electrical signage, but otherwise the interpretive displays are excellent and the general presentation is spectacular. It’s all so modern and aesthetically pleasing – completely unlike anything else in the zoo currently (not to say there aren't other parts of the zoo that are modern and aesthetically pleasing, just nothing quite at this scale).
I also want to emphasize for those unfamiliar with the zoo that while this outdoor complex is brand new, Tropical Forests and Tropic World act as one cohesive whole. It’s structured in a way that complements the existing Tropic World layout by loosely maintaining the South America–Asia–Africa theme in the same order. If you choose just to go through the building, you’ll still see the monkeys and orangutans indoors. Although the gorillas are no longer in the main building, they’re now the first thing you see if you go right upon exiting the building, still acting as a finale for both the indoor exhibits and outdoor trail. The entrance to Tropic World proper has also been streamlined, accessible from the same entry point as the outdoor exhibits as the path forks. Tropical Forests is essentially a campus containing the outdoor exhibits, Tropic World, and the new gorilla building/education center. It’s evident that great consideration was given in adapting the existing building to these new outdoor spaces and it all flows together nicely.
South American Forest
Immediately upon entering the trail is an exhibit for the neotropical monkeys; specifically black-handed spider monkeys – squirrel monkeys and capuchins will also have access to the enclosure in the near future. The enclosure consists of several live trees and faux strangler figs connected by ropes and artificial vines, along with shrubs, tall grasses and scattered logs dotted across the ground. There’s one main viewing window and a larger viewing area looking through the mesh from the side. Unlike the apes, I never thought the monkeys were in dire need of outdoor access. The existing indoor exhibit is already one of the largest and most complex of its kind anywhere, although the benefit of having an outdoor space is that all of the monkey species can now more frequently be on-show at once, as they’ve often rotated indoors up until now.
This was a superb first impression of the exhibit. I had concerns about viewing being limited and the look of the faux trees, but those concerns were all washed away immediately. In fact, I actually like the faux strangler figs which are nicely detailed and allow the primates to get eye-to-eye with guests. As grand as Tropic World is, you've never been able to get close to the inhabitants like you can now. It’s terrific and the monkeys were loving all of the attention, throwing themselves at the glass and mesh to interact with their adoring fans. How delightful it was to watch the monkeys jump between the fake trees and into the live ones. They seemed to alternate throughout the day between swinging through their outdoor yard and resting in the shaded part of the overhead tunnel. This outdoor enclosure combined with the existing indoor exhibit add up to one of the best new world primate facilities you’ll find in a zoo. Couldn’t be more pleased here.
Orangutan Forest
Unfortunately the orangutans and gibbons have not been given outdoor access yet. According to docents they’ve had trouble getting them to go through the transfer chute and hope to get them outside as early as next week. Regardless, mixing the orangutans and gibbons together is one of those things that always made so much sense. Very exciting that it’s finally happening. Lacking live trees due to the inhabitants' destructive behavior, the exhibit has several faux trees and an assortment of bamboo sway poles connected by ropes, as well as a small water feature. Viewing is similar to the monkeys with a large window, as well as a smaller window with an overhead sunroof of sorts. Bamboo poles spill out into the visitor area a bit which I thought was neat. Around the corner from the main viewing areas is a walkthrough fallen log that extends into the exhibit providing additional views.
With respect to the fact that the apes haven’t entered the space yet, this is definitely the weakest of the four exhibits. Still nice and one among the better orangutan exhibits I’ve seen. However, it’s very exposed with little cover or privacy for the apes. Obviously I’m empathetic to the fact that designing for these guys is tricky. Live trees wouldn't be possible in an enclosure this size unless they planted them a year or two in advance which wasn't really an option. There should be more trees around the exhibit though, especially since it can basically be viewed from three sides. At least there are some large shrubs that will help fill the exhibit out in time. Climbing opportunities are more than adequate (even if I'm not as fond of these faux trees), but there is a fair amount of empty space that could be filled with more exhibit furniture or larger plants. Overall, flawed, but certainly not bad either and I’m looking forward to seeing the apes utilizing the enclosure.
Gorilla Forests
Now for the main focus of the complex. The gorilla exhibits are similar in design, each having large trees and shrubs, scattered logs, and various climbing opportunities. There is a disparity between how well these two exhibits are planted though. Whereas the bachelor enclosure has six live trees (three of which are mature trees that have been maintained) the family enclosure only has two. There’s enough open space to where they could have installed at least a couple more larger ones which would’ve gone such a long way. The bachelor enclosure also has a small viewing area with a training panel so expect some sort of keeper chat to occur here semi-regularly. While the family troop enclosure lacks larger trees, it compensates by abutting the new gorilla building which allows for the apes to access the elevated platforms along the second floor of the building. This is already encouraging more arboreal behavior in the apes compared to many other zoos. Both of these enclosures are successful in different ways and as such are equally good in my eyes.
After so many years of awkwardly looking down at the gorillas on concrete on uneven pathways, seeing the apes on grass at eye level was a sight to behold. The family troop was right by the viewing windows and watching them was a blast. They alternated between ripping apart a large bush (which makes me wonder how some of these plants will survive), lounging in the shade, and scurrying around the overhead transfer chutes. Didn’t get much action from the bachelor gorillas who were each napping on opposite ends of the exhibit. When compared to other gorilla exhibits across the U.S. these aren't among the very top tier (Bronx, Disney, Dallas, Houston) but that’s not a surprise. Those exhibits are massive at a scale that wasn't possible here. I find it to be most comparable to Chicago’s other gorilla exhibit in that it utilizes less space overall, but that space is used more intentionally. Perhaps it’s just the novelty having not worn off, but in my opinion, this is the best gorilla complex in the midwest.
Also, one of the aspects of this part of the complex that stood out the most to me wasn't the exhibits at all, but the visitor areas. They are fantastic and incredibly sleek – very San Diego-esque which is something I never thought I’d say about Brookfield. There’s this beautiful little area underneath the elevated patio terrace that has seating (with a baby gorilla statue) around a large tree with the sunlight peeking through. Terrific!
Gorilla Conservation Center
The final new component of the exhibit is the Gorilla Conservation Center, a brand new two-story gorilla house adjacent to Tropic World. While the orangutans and monkeys still utilize their existing indoor spaces within the building, it was imperative that the gorillas be moved out of Tropic World entirely due to certain design quirks of the old enclosure. The exterior of the house is incredibly sleek and towers over the surrounding area. Inside there is a publicly viewable dayroom, complete with several large faux trees, vertical rockwork, and a layer of mulch substrate on the floor. Currently there are red-tailed guenons and colobus monkeys inhabiting the space while the gorillas are outdoors. This is so both spaces are occupied during the warmer months which is great, although it feels like a missed opportunity not to attempt a mix in some capacity. Hopefully this will be given consideration down the line. Given the limitations of the space the zoo did an excellent job of crafting a dynamic indoor environment. I’d say it's on par with Lincoln Park’s excellent dayrooms, similarly designed to encourage arboreal behavior in the apes. The fake trees, rocks and elevated platforms provide substantial vertical space. Although it’s inaccessible to regular visitors, the second floor contains classrooms and office spaces for the zoo’s Conservation Leadership Academy, as well as an elevated terrace that overlooks the family troop enclosure.
Tropic World
Beyond the new entrance (which is really cool by the way) not much has changed here as expected. My hope that natural substrates would be added didn't come to fruition, but there have been some minor updates like new signage and the Guam kingfishers now in the old fruit dove exhibit that seems to change inhabitants every couple years. Overall however, this is very much the same Tropic World as before... except for one significant addition. Ropes have been installed connecting the orangutan exhibit to the gibbon/otter space giving the orangutans and gibbons access to the entire room. That’s something that’s been requested for decades and I never thought they would actually do it. Surely this just became the best indoor orangutan exhibit in the country. That’s going to be incredible to see! In addition, the former gorilla exhibit is currently blocked off in preparation for future renovations. What that will be exactly is still a mystery and it seems not even keepers know how the space will be adapted. At least it’s one more thing to look forward to between now and Gateway to Africa.
I’m immensely pleased with Tropical Forests on all fronts. Before knowing the full scale of what was being done, I think I speak for many others when I say that I would have been perfectly content with just two outdoor enclosures, one each for the gorillas and orangutans. They didn’t have to add an outdoor exhibit for the South American monkeys; they didn't have to add a second gorilla enclosure for a bachelor troop; they didn’t have to build such an elaborate new gorilla building; yet they’ve done it anyway because it’s what's best for the animals and guests. It’s because of all these features that the project very much feels like a brand new exhibit complex rather than just some add-ons to Tropic World – but yet again, it still feels incredibly cohesive with the original building. It isn't perfect of course and it will take some time for the landscape to establish before it can be seen at its best. The experience also still feels somewhat incomplete at the moment without the orangutans, gibbons and other monkeys introduced. Like I alluded to earlier however, this is the first large-scale development completed as part of the master plan and if there were any doubts about the zoo’s future, this should put them to rest.
Don’t really agree with the take that the monkeys had no need for an outdoor space. Giving outdoor access to only the apes and not the monkeys wouldn’t be fair to them.Brookfield Zoo Chicago Visit Report 07/11/2025
I don’t think I ever arrived at the zoo feeling quite as excited as I did today. Tropical Forest's grand unveiling was held this morning, Brookfield’s first major new exhibit complex in 10 years. To say this addition was a long time coming is an understatement. Discussions of outdoor primate enclosures have been going on for ages, long before the final concept ever materialized. It was one of those things that everyone knew had to happen eventually for a variety of reasons, yet it’s still so surreal that it’s finally done after all this time. Prior to now the zoo has been burdened with some of the weakest great ape exhibits in the country. Things have certainly changed however. It was a spectacular day and I definitely saw at least a couple ZooChatters in passing (lots of younger looking guys photographing non-animal stuff, you know who you are
Updates
- A klipspringer calf was born recently and is on-exhibit.
- Mia the wombat has indeed passed away as speculated, confirmed by a keeper. She was the last of her species at the zoo.
- Arienta the giraffe has passed away as well. She was the one who gave birth to Kinda years ago who was just shipped out recently.
- The raven is on-exhibit in the indoor toucan/seriema exhibit. Outdoors, a new toucan is on display after a lengthy absence. Unsure what happened to the previous pair.
-A black-faced ibis is on-exhibit in The Swamp, located in the smaller aviary near the entrance and unsigned. This is a new species for the zoo.
- Guam kingfishers are now on-exhibit in Tropic World Asia. The zoo has long held this species behind-the-scenes, but this is the first time in recent memory they’ve been displayed publicly.
- The new landscaping at the Formal Pool has been completed and looks very nice. Did not see the birds back out yet.
-The Grove dining area is still under construction despite being slated to open today. Workers were finishing up paving the area over it looks like it should be open in another week or two.
- All of the pathways around Roosevelt Fountain and the South Mall have been completely repaved. Several pathways within the South Mall have been removed entirely in favor of more green space.
Animal Highlights
- Attended the painted dog keeper chat where they were being thrown large carcass bones. They quickly pranced over and began ripping them to shreds. Those cracks can send chills down someone's spine.
- Polar bears and grizzlies were both swimming in their pools to cool off from the oppressive afternoon heat. Hudson was slowly winding up before diving in and crushing a large plastic barrel in the water.
- The two newer aviaires (prairie and swamp) continue to be some of the best exhibits in the zoo in my opinion. Both are always filled with activity and are great spots to linger, especially the latter with the yellow-billed storks getting more comfortable by the guest areas.
- Lots of favorites that are usually hit and miss decided to be showy today: koala, pangolin, genet, anteater, klipspringer, box turtles, etc.
Now for the main event:
Tropical Forests - Overview, Thoughts, & Impressions
Walking underneath the flashy new bamboo archway leading to the exhibit was a surreal moment. Before getting into the nitty gritty of things, let me provide a quick overview for those who may be unfamiliar with the zoo. All four enclosures share some basic design similarities: each is enclosed with a mesh top, viewed through glass windows, and they are each connected to their respective indoor holding via elevated transfer chutes that go over the heads of visitors. This allows the enclosures to be positioned in a way so that you are always facing away from Tropic World and towards the existing mature trees in the distance. The enclosures are also landscaped with a gradual incline away from the viewing area, with the highest elevation at the back of the spaces. Just like many new exhibits these days, everything currently has that manicured lawn look that will gradually disappear with age as the landscape takes shape. Shade is still sufficient thanks to the overhangs by the viewing areas where most of the primates chose to hang out, but I feel as though more large trees could’ve been included throughout the trail. Not a fan of the electrical signage, but otherwise the interpretive displays are excellent and the general presentation is spectacular. It’s all so modern and aesthetically pleasing – completely unlike anything else in the zoo currently (not to say there aren't other parts of the zoo that are modern and aesthetically pleasing, just nothing quite at this scale).
I also want to emphasize for those unfamiliar with the zoo that while this outdoor complex is brand new, Tropical Forests and Tropic World act as one cohesive whole. It’s structured in a way that complements the existing Tropic World layout by loosely maintaining the South America–Asia–Africa theme in the same order. If you choose just to go through the building, you’ll still see the monkeys and orangutans indoors. Although the gorillas are no longer in the main building, they’re now the first thing you see if you go right upon exiting the building, still acting as a finale for both the indoor exhibits and outdoor trail. The entrance to Tropic World proper has also been streamlined, accessible from the same entry point as the outdoor exhibits as the path forks. Tropical Forests is essentially a campus containing the outdoor exhibits, Tropic World, and the new gorilla building/education center. It’s evident that great consideration was given in adapting the existing building to these new outdoor spaces and it all flows together nicely.
South American Forest
Immediately upon entering the trail is an exhibit for the neotropical monkeys; specifically black-handed spider monkeys – squirrel monkeys and capuchins will also have access to the enclosure in the near future. The enclosure consists of several live trees and faux strangler figs connected by ropes and artificial vines, along with shrubs, tall grasses and scattered logs dotted across the ground. There’s one main viewing window and a larger viewing area looking through the mesh from the side. Unlike the apes, I never thought the monkeys were in dire need of outdoor access. The existing indoor exhibit is already one of the largest and most complex of its kind anywhere, although the benefit of having an outdoor space is that all of the monkey species can now more frequently be on-show at once, as they’ve often rotated indoors up until now.
This was a superb first impression of the exhibit. I had concerns about viewing being limited and the look of the faux trees, but those concerns were all washed away immediately. In fact, I actually like the faux strangler figs which are nicely detailed and allow the primates to get eye-to-eye with guests. As grand as Tropic World is, you've never been able to get close to the inhabitants like you can now. It’s terrific and the monkeys were loving all of the attention, throwing themselves at the glass and mesh to interact with their adoring fans. How delightful it was to watch the monkeys jump between the fake trees and into the live ones. They seemed to alternate throughout the day between swinging through their outdoor yard and resting in the shaded part of the overhead tunnel. This outdoor enclosure combined with the existing indoor exhibit add up to one of the best new world primate facilities you’ll find in a zoo. Couldn’t be more pleased here.
Orangutan Forest
Unfortunately the orangutans and gibbons have not been given outdoor access yet. According to docents they’ve had trouble getting them to go through the transfer chute and hope to get them outside as early as next week. Regardless, mixing the orangutans and gibbons together is one of those things that always made so much sense. Very exciting that it’s finally happening. Lacking live trees due to the inhabitants' destructive behavior, the exhibit has several faux trees and an assortment of bamboo sway poles connected by ropes, as well as a small water feature. Viewing is similar to the monkeys with a large window, as well as a smaller window with an overhead sunroof of sorts. Bamboo poles spill out into the visitor area a bit which I thought was neat. Around the corner from the main viewing areas is a walkthrough fallen log that extends into the exhibit providing additional views.
With respect to the fact that the apes haven’t entered the space yet, this is definitely the weakest of the four exhibits. Still nice and one among the better orangutan exhibits I’ve seen. However, it’s very exposed with little cover or privacy for the apes. Obviously I’m empathetic to the fact that designing for these guys is tricky. Live trees wouldn't be possible in an enclosure this size unless they planted them a year or two in advance which wasn't really an option. There should be more trees around the exhibit though, especially since it can basically be viewed from three sides. At least there are some large shrubs that will help fill the exhibit out in time. Climbing opportunities are more than adequate (even if I'm not as fond of these faux trees), but there is a fair amount of empty space that could be filled with more exhibit furniture or larger plants. Overall, flawed, but certainly not bad either and I’m looking forward to seeing the apes utilizing the enclosure.
Gorilla Forests
Now for the main focus of the complex. The gorilla exhibits are similar in design, each having large trees and shrubs, scattered logs, and various climbing opportunities. There is a disparity between how well these two exhibits are planted though. Whereas the bachelor enclosure has six live trees (three of which are mature trees that have been maintained) the family enclosure only has two. There’s enough open space to where they could have installed at least a couple more larger ones which would’ve gone such a long way. The bachelor enclosure also has a small viewing area with a training panel so expect some sort of keeper chat to occur here semi-regularly. While the family troop enclosure lacks larger trees, it compensates by abutting the new gorilla building which allows for the apes to access the elevated platforms along the second floor of the building. This is already encouraging more arboreal behavior in the apes compared to many other zoos. Both of these enclosures are successful in different ways and as such are equally good in my eyes.
After so many years of awkwardly looking down at the gorillas on concrete on uneven pathways, seeing the apes on grass at eye level was a sight to behold. The family troop was right by the viewing windows and watching them was a blast. They alternated between ripping apart a large bush (which makes me wonder how some of these plants will survive), lounging in the shade, and scurrying around the overhead transfer chutes. Didn’t get much action from the bachelor gorillas who were each napping on opposite ends of the exhibit. When compared to other gorilla exhibits across the U.S. these aren't among the very top tier (Bronx, Disney, Dallas, Houston) but that’s not a surprise. Those exhibits are massive at a scale that wasn't possible here. I find it to be most comparable to Chicago’s other gorilla exhibit in that it utilizes less space overall, but that space is used more intentionally. Perhaps it’s just the novelty having not worn off, but in my opinion, this is the best gorilla complex in the midwest.
Also, one of the aspects of this part of the complex that stood out the most to me wasn't the exhibits at all, but the visitor areas. They are fantastic and incredibly sleek – very San Diego-esque which is something I never thought I’d say about Brookfield. There’s this beautiful little area underneath the elevated patio terrace that has seating (with a baby gorilla statue) around a large tree with the sunlight peeking through. Terrific!
Gorilla Conservation Center
The final new component of the exhibit is the Gorilla Conservation Center, a brand new two-story gorilla house adjacent to Tropic World. While the orangutans and monkeys still utilize their existing indoor spaces within the building, it was imperative that the gorillas be moved out of Tropic World entirely due to certain design quirks of the old enclosure. The exterior of the house is incredibly sleek and towers over the surrounding area. Inside there is a publicly viewable dayroom, complete with several large faux trees, vertical rockwork, and a layer of mulch substrate on the floor. Currently there are red-tailed guenons and colobus monkeys inhabiting the space while the gorillas are outdoors. This is so both spaces are occupied during the warmer months which is great, although it feels like a missed opportunity not to attempt a mix in some capacity. Hopefully this will be given consideration down the line. Given the limitations of the space the zoo did an excellent job of crafting a dynamic indoor environment. I’d say it's on par with Lincoln Park’s excellent dayrooms, similarly designed to encourage arboreal behavior in the apes. The fake trees, rocks and elevated platforms provide substantial vertical space. Although it’s inaccessible to regular visitors, the second floor contains classrooms and office spaces for the zoo’s Conservation Leadership Academy, as well as an elevated terrace that overlooks the family troop enclosure.
Tropic World
Beyond the new entrance (which is really cool by the way) not much has changed here as expected. My hope that natural substrates would be added didn't come to fruition, but there have been some minor updates like new signage and the Guam kingfishers now in the old fruit dove exhibit that seems to change inhabitants every couple years. Overall however, this is very much the same Tropic World as before... except for one significant addition. Ropes have been installed connecting the orangutan exhibit to the gibbon/otter space giving the orangutans and gibbons access to the entire room. That’s something that’s been requested for decades and I never thought they would actually do it. Surely this just became the best indoor orangutan exhibit in the country. That’s going to be incredible to see! In addition, the former gorilla exhibit is currently blocked off in preparation for future renovations. What that will be exactly is still a mystery and it seems not even keepers know how the space will be adapted. At least it’s one more thing to look forward to between now and Gateway to Africa.
I’m immensely pleased with Tropical Forests on all fronts. Before knowing the full scale of what was being done, I think I speak for many others when I say that I would have been perfectly content with just two outdoor enclosures, one each for the gorillas and orangutans. They didn’t have to add an outdoor exhibit for the South American monkeys; they didn't have to add a second gorilla enclosure for a bachelor troop; they didn’t have to build such an elaborate new gorilla building; yet they’ve done it anyway because it’s what's best for the animals and guests. It’s because of all these features that the project very much feels like a brand new exhibit complex rather than just some add-ons to Tropic World – but yet again, it still feels incredibly cohesive with the original building. It isn't perfect of course and it will take some time for the landscape to establish before it can be seen at its best. The experience also still feels somewhat incomplete at the moment without the orangutans, gibbons and other monkeys introduced. Like I alluded to earlier however, this is the first large-scale development completed as part of the master plan and if there were any doubts about the zoo’s future, this should put them to rest.
