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The tortoises are now outside in their old yard at the Pachyderm House.
Brookfield Zoo Brookfield Zoo News 2021
- Thread starter MeiLover
- Start date
Honestly, it was just me speculating. It seems whenever something goes off-exhibit any more it's usually permanent. When they were building the Nature Pavilion I was hoping there would be a nice Galapagos Tortoise walkthrough exhibit like they have in Cincinnati. I think it's was there anyway that I saw it. They could have even tied it in to whatever South American primates are going to have the outdoor access. I doubt that will be a thing now, though. I would like to see them back and possibly with a walkthrough exhibit, though, like the wallabies and emu have.
I would just hate to see a species like this go from the zoo. Even if it means utilizing that land where they used to have the golden lion tamarins running through the trees by the lake. No one ever went over there, really. It could be a nice way to expand the exhibits further down the road there with something like that. Heck, the tamarins can still run through the trees there as well as I don't believe they would bother the tortoises. If they are even still doing that program.
I am super happy to hear that they are still there!
Brookfield Fan
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Was tipped off by seeing a little gathering of families by their yard. I figured they must have been out, so I had to go check it out for myself. Still no giant anteater in the corner yard though. I'm starting to think that both specimens that were in the collection last year are gone.
Ok, so I have another update on the progress of Brookfield's master plan.
Since the zoo reopened in February members of the board have been meeting at least once a week to discuss the existing grounds and buildings, generally just assessing what needs work and what doesn't. The zoo won't start officially creating concrete plans for new/renovated exhibits until the new CEO is on board, and that won't be for a few more months. Luckily, it sounds like this progress should move quicker than expected. The goal is to create a plan that sees extensive improvements up until 2034, the 100th anniversary of the Brookfield Zoos opening. I will say, with the amount of improvements that need to be done, and the fact that it will probably be at least another two or three years before anything major officially starts construction, they are going to have to move very fast on improvements in order to meet this goal. If not, it wouldn't surprise me if the plan extends a few years after that.
Once some plans are in place, the zoo will likely survey members on their thoughts on proposed projects. The zoo has been doing surveys for general improvements for both guest services and future animal exhibits. When it comes to animal exhibits, I don't think I have to say what the most requested thing was and the fact that the zoo is well aware of the demand of said animal makes me more optimistic of the chances of it becoming reality. However, the only thing I am 100% confident in at this point are outdoor gorilla and orangutan exhibits, but I have very few details on what exactly this will entail. After the plans are official the zoo will be launching an elaborate capital fundraising campaign. I wish I have more information, but I still think its both intriguing and reassuring to know that things are moving along behind the scenes. I hope to have another update before the end of the year, hopefully with some more exciting details to report.
On a separate note, it sounds like some more buildings are reopening next week, with Illinois moving to stage five of reopening. The goal is to have most if not all buildings reopened by mid July. The order they are opening buildings is being determined by the risk of animals catching covid which again is why the African wing of Tropic World is still closed.
Since the zoo reopened in February members of the board have been meeting at least once a week to discuss the existing grounds and buildings, generally just assessing what needs work and what doesn't. The zoo won't start officially creating concrete plans for new/renovated exhibits until the new CEO is on board, and that won't be for a few more months. Luckily, it sounds like this progress should move quicker than expected. The goal is to create a plan that sees extensive improvements up until 2034, the 100th anniversary of the Brookfield Zoos opening. I will say, with the amount of improvements that need to be done, and the fact that it will probably be at least another two or three years before anything major officially starts construction, they are going to have to move very fast on improvements in order to meet this goal. If not, it wouldn't surprise me if the plan extends a few years after that.
Once some plans are in place, the zoo will likely survey members on their thoughts on proposed projects. The zoo has been doing surveys for general improvements for both guest services and future animal exhibits. When it comes to animal exhibits, I don't think I have to say what the most requested thing was and the fact that the zoo is well aware of the demand of said animal makes me more optimistic of the chances of it becoming reality. However, the only thing I am 100% confident in at this point are outdoor gorilla and orangutan exhibits, but I have very few details on what exactly this will entail. After the plans are official the zoo will be launching an elaborate capital fundraising campaign. I wish I have more information, but I still think its both intriguing and reassuring to know that things are moving along behind the scenes. I hope to have another update before the end of the year, hopefully with some more exciting details to report.
On a separate note, it sounds like some more buildings are reopening next week, with Illinois moving to stage five of reopening. The goal is to have most if not all buildings reopened by mid July. The order they are opening buildings is being determined by the risk of animals catching covid which again is why the African wing of Tropic World is still closed.
Personally I'm not sure why the elephants are such a big deal, I think for Brookfield to become the best zoo it can it should focus mainly on smaller animals. Elephants are just going to take up a lot of space Brookfield doesn't really have.
I would be inclined to disagree. Brookfield has over 200 acres of land at its disposal. I understand most of that is the parking lot and the nature preserve by the core zoo is still about 100 acres, more than enough space for elephants. Zoos like Detroit and Woodland park have proven you don't need elephants to be a great zoo, but Brookfield absolutely has the ability to house them again and I think it would be a shame to see them gone for good. I also think there would be plenty of donors more than willing to contribute to a new elephant complex and the public turnout for such an exhibit would be huge. Although I don't think it should be the zoos immediate priority, I absolute think it should happen later down the road.
I saw elephants at the Henry Doorly Zoo back in 2018 and I'd forgotten how amazing they are to see in person. Up until that point the last zoo elephants I saw were the three at Lincoln Park, and I think most of us know what happened there. I even saw a bull, which I'm pretty sure is the first time I've seen a bull in a zoo, or at least the first time I've knowingly seen a bull (Lincoln Park never had a male, and I'm unsure if Brookfield had one in the '90s). I would love to see elephants at a closer zoo (yes, I know Milwaukee has them but it's still a bit of a hike for me).
I came soon as I saw the email notification. Good, glad to know things will move forward for a new master plan once they slowly get themselves back on their feet from the lockdown. Once almost every building reopen in the coming months, it should be smooth financial sailing from here on out.
Other than the elephant in the room (so happy to know they still want to move forward with the plans), I wonder what other potential ideas were requested from the guests. More Asian species? An alternative way of traversing the zoo than the train? The return of some fan favorite missing species? So much endless potential. They easily have my back for the next major fundraiser. Hard to believe that I may turn 40 by time these new ideas may or may not be implemented.
Other than the elephant in the room (so happy to know they still want to move forward with the plans), I wonder what other potential ideas were requested from the guests. More Asian species? An alternative way of traversing the zoo than the train? The return of some fan favorite missing species? So much endless potential. They easily have my back for the next major fundraiser. Hard to believe that I may turn 40 by time these new ideas may or may not be implemented.
Is that everything (besides Tropic World Africa)?
Reptiles and Birds, Feathers and Scales, Australia House, Clouded Leopard Rain Forest, Hamill Family Play Zoo, and Pachyderm House are still closed.
Sweet. Four exhibits down and only seven more to go in due time.
Also worth noting that as of today, reservations are no longer required.
All things considered, I’m glad things are slowly getting back to normal. Of course there’s still concerns for the animals likely to catch Covid like the gorillas, but the zoo crew should figure out a good time to reopen than once more people are vaccinated.
Does anyone know if they plan on doing anything with the old kookaburra exhibit in the Australia house? I know that the kookaburras were moved into the large aviary in the main section and since then I believe the other aviary has been empty. It seems a shame, as I suspect it would be easy and in keeping with the theme of the area to move the tawny frogmouths in there again. They were in there for a long while before. Maybe the exhibit is the problem? I know it is the mesh in front of it and easily accessible to guests who may put their fingers through them. I don't know if that is why it is staying vacant or what, but they have enough species at the zoo already to be able to do SOMETHING with it. I understand an exhibit being empty for animal care or cleaning, but this has been vacant for over a year now and I hate to see something that should be an exhibit just standing vacant for no apparent reason.
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This was one of the more bizarre decisions they made over the years. When the kookaburras were moved to the aviary they are currently in, they replaced a variety of Australian finch species that were in it previously. That meant the finches went off exhibit, and the old kookaburra exhibit in the nocturnal hall remained empty. I genuinely do not know why they did this, as all it did was remove several species of bird and leave another exhibit empty. Considering the Australia house has been closed for well over a year this point, I have no clue what the current status of that situation looks like.
It seems they were, possibly, trying to make the front portion of the Australia house a little more dynamic by adding a larger, recognizable species to the front. I've always enjoyed the reptiles they have on display there, but I have to admit that the front room doesn't generate a lot of excitement. Especially compared to the final room with the free-flight fruit bats (last I heard the ones in the main room are Rodrigues and the ones behind them are Egyptian, but I could be wrong.) For years, the winners for me in that house have been the echidnas. They are always hustling and foraging and the last time I was able to go there they were mating them. But that front portion doesn't have a lot of that wow factor that the general public likes, so I can see why the change. It is a shame, as I remember there being a rare species of parrot in with the finches. Princess Parrot I believe? Either way, that big gaping hole in the walkthrough with the wombats and echidnas needs something done with it. Ideally, house a new species like bringing back the tawny frogmouths. Hopefully they don't just board over it and eliminate an exhibit from Australia that is already lacking in exhibits.