Brookfield Zoo Brookfield Zoo News 2024
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Photos-With-Jay
Member
Good morning Everyone!! I am beyond excited to visit Brookfield for the first time this Friday!! I'll be going to photograph some last remaining species for a project I've spent the last year working on (photographing 1k species)!!! Before I visit, I wanted to get everyone's insight on animal activity levels. Specifically, the Amur Leopard, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Andean Condor, Clouded Leopard, Damaraland Mole Rat, African Painted Dog, Jamaican Iguana, Kirk's Dik Dik, Klipspringer, Mexican Grey Wolf, Red Flanked Duiker, Small-Spotted Genet, Snow Leopard, Short-Beaked Echidna, Rodrigues Fruit Bat, Texas Blind Cave Salamander, Yellow Backed Duiker, Southern Hairy Nose Wombat and Black Rhino!! The Pangolin is the big deal one for me, I am really hoping to make it my 1000th species but I heard the exhibit is difficult to photograph in
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
Leopard is at Big Cats, Pangolin is best to visit at 3:30, both duikers are with it. The echidna and wombat are almost guaranteed to see if you visit that first. Clouded leopards are rarely seen but they are in clouded leopard rainforest. The mole rat and genet are in deserts. Black rhino is at pachyderms and the gray wolf are rarely seen but on the hill most of the time in wolf woods. The salamander and condor are at living coasts. The klipspringer is no longer at the zoo and I didn't visit the rest of your animals.
The Leopard is most active right away when the zoo opens. The mole-rats are extremely difficult to photograph. The lighting is awful in the Australia House so photography of the flying fox, echidna and wombat could be difficult. The herps should all be easy if you're prepared to photograph animals in small terrariums. The pangolin generally comes out only once a day sometime between 3 and 5 PM, and even when it is out it's very difficult to photograph. The Mainland Clouded Leopards are rarely seen, you have slightly better chances to see the Gray Wolves.
Persephone
Well-Known Member
Amur Leopard: I’ve had decent luck around noon for most of the big cat area animals. If you go in the north entrance you can also loop back around for another shot before you leave.
Cock-of-the-Rock: Inside Feathers and Scales. Be advised that they can theoretically fly all around the main gallery, not just inside their designated exhibit.
Andean Condor: Behind Feathers and Scales. Usually visible, rarely active.
Darmaland Mole Rat: Inside of a typical mole rat wall exhibit.
Echidna, Wombat, Bat: The latter two are exclusively in a nocturnal area. The wombats at least have some red lighting. There’s a pair of echidna in a diurnal room as well. I’ve had excellent luck seeing them active around five.
Pangolin feeding isn’t officially announced so it can vary. You’ll at least have an opportunity to photograph the elephant shrew and duiker in the same building while you wait.
Photos-With-Jay
Member
Perfect!!! Do you all have any insight on Kirk's Dik Dik ? and when you say the Andean condor is visible but not active, do you just mean that it can be seen it just won't walk around ? Has anyone seen it sun itself ?
Persephone
Well-Known Member
They’re usually perched on branches higher off the ground. I haven’t seen much in the way of interesting behavior from them. I don’t usually go by in the morning when they might be sunning.
I usually see the dik-dik hanging around the back of the habitat, although they have approached the fence on rare occasions. Never seen them particularly active. Very cute, though.
The zoo recently unveiled the Philip W. K. Sweet Jr. Center for Animal Care and Conservation. It replaces the event space near The Living Coast and houses new offices and conference rooms for the animal care team.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Press Room
Brookfield Zoo Chicago - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Press Room
A male squirrel monkey was born on April 11 and has been named Fredrick.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago on Instagram: "There's an adorable new face in Tropic World: South America: meet Frederick! This squirrel monkey infant was born to mom Gizmo and dad Zeus on April 11. This baby is Gizmo's seventh offspring! Their care team notes that Frederick can often be found playing with his 1-year-old big brother, Marzo. Squirrel monkey babies will frequently cling to an adult's back when they're little, so keep an eye out for him on your next Zoo visit! Alt-text: An infant squirrel monkey clinging to the back of an adult squirrel monkey."
Brookfield Zoo Chicago on Instagram: "There's an adorable new face in Tropic World: South America: meet Frederick! This squirrel monkey infant was born to mom Gizmo and dad Zeus on April 11. This baby is Gizmo's seventh offspring! Their care team notes that Frederick can often be found playing with his 1-year-old big brother, Marzo. Squirrel monkey babies will frequently cling to an adult's back when they're little, so keep an eye out for him on your next Zoo visit! Alt-text: An infant squirrel monkey clinging to the back of an adult squirrel monkey."
pinnipedpal93
Active Member
I wasn't lying when I said it felt like we were walking through a biblical plague
Unrelated: I feel as though recently the wolf exhibit is the most active its been in quite some time. The last two or three times I was successfully able to see multiple wolves, which is a contrast to when it first opened years ago. A few I've caught sitting against the glass as well, which was a first for me. I wonder if the increase in sightings has to do with the new pups.
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Yes, I observed the hatch at Churchill Woods. An incredible and awe-inspiring phenomenon.I wasn't lying when I said it felt like we were walking through a biblical plague
Is this a new building on the site of something now demolished?
Existing space. It used to an upper level dining area.
According to a staff member's social media, 2 binturongs were born 6/19 to first time parents Tavi and Kartika. This is the first birth of this species here since 2019. The female Kartika is the granddaughter of the zoo's former prolific pair Anton and Vivvy.
jadoredramex3
Member
Is this a private account or something we're able to see/read?
Persephone
Well-Known Member
Went to the zoo for part of the day. Left around 2 because it was getting too hot and I was starting to flag. Saw about half (North entrance counterclockwise to the turtle exhibits + the koalas and butterflies). I thought it would be a good hot weather zoo because there are so many buildings. Forgot almost all the buildings are intentionally hot and humid.
Thoughts: I am blessed by the echidnas because the two in the kookaburra enclosure were active again. A lot of activity around Australia, actually. The bats were getting into small spats / play fights, the geese were chasing each other, the emus tried to bully a kangaroo only to immediately turn and run when he started hopping. Can confirm the two species are mixed now.
Pygmy hippo was grazing. All other pachyderms were resting in the shade. Is there only one capybara?
I finally saw the elephant shrews! What strange, delightful creatures. Probably todays highlight.
Pretty much everything outside was being low key due to the heat index. I did see the flamingoes. They do bring more kinetic energy to the formal pool. I saw and liked the turtle habitats. I agree the water should be deeper for the aquatic turtle but at least they can fully submerge.
Finally saw the parrot on a stick in use + the indoor parrot habitat and. What is Brookfield doing? They have three very good tropical aviaries that macaws could go in. There are macaws in one of them. Except I’m 90% sure the macaws are clipped. I know that parrots might be a flight risk (heh) in a free flight aviary due to their intelligence but like. They could just retheme one of the two aviaries in The Swamp to the Pantanal and put macaws in. Problem solved. Putting macaws on sticks feels very much like a deliberate policy decision rather than one made due to a lack of alternatives.
I think dwarf seahorse are gone from The Living Coast. Very sad. They were my favorite species there. I did see two eel species swimming out and about. The white ribbon eel is a lot longer than I anticipated. California moray was about what I was expecting. Tried to swim into the same hole as the other eel. Pretty sure they got stuck.
I walked right up to the koalas. There were 3-4 staff members whose crowd control job basically amounted to opening the door when I walked up. They’re koalas. I saw them a lot at Riverbanks. They have the same kind of charm as a helpless infant, just with more fur and less screaming. The signage emphasizes how stupid they are.
I liked the toucan and seriema aviary. The seriema had a ton of personality and seemed to steal the show from the toucans. What a fascinating bird.
I appreciate the size of most of Brookfield’s python enclosures. They feel sufficient for the largest of snakes to actually stretch out. Not that it stops them from just sitting curled up in a ball.
@Photos-With-Jay i think you’ll have the best luck seeing and photographing the cock of the rock in Birds and Reptiles rather than Feathers and Scales. It’s a smaller, more open environment.
I got lunch there. Did not realize Wild Burger had exclusively outdoor seating. I got a plantain sandwich that was pretty good and priced about as I would expect in the outside world, maybe plus a dollar or two. Top tier for zoo food. The ice cream machine in the north is down. Not top tier.
The butterflies are $2 for members. I just sat around on a bench for ten minutes lazily tracking them by eye. I’m not a butterfly girl to be honest. I prefer the gardening in butterfly houses and in this one it’s… serviceable. Nothing breathtaking. Rarities for the sake of rarities don’t do anything for me and the individual species don’t have detailed signage. If they’re all native it’s cool that I genuinely had not heard of multiple species. I think I’ll make a habit of paying the $2 and going in on my visits.
Thoughts: I am blessed by the echidnas because the two in the kookaburra enclosure were active again. A lot of activity around Australia, actually. The bats were getting into small spats / play fights, the geese were chasing each other, the emus tried to bully a kangaroo only to immediately turn and run when he started hopping. Can confirm the two species are mixed now.
Pygmy hippo was grazing. All other pachyderms were resting in the shade. Is there only one capybara?
I finally saw the elephant shrews! What strange, delightful creatures. Probably todays highlight.
Pretty much everything outside was being low key due to the heat index. I did see the flamingoes. They do bring more kinetic energy to the formal pool. I saw and liked the turtle habitats. I agree the water should be deeper for the aquatic turtle but at least they can fully submerge.
Finally saw the parrot on a stick in use + the indoor parrot habitat and. What is Brookfield doing? They have three very good tropical aviaries that macaws could go in. There are macaws in one of them. Except I’m 90% sure the macaws are clipped. I know that parrots might be a flight risk (heh) in a free flight aviary due to their intelligence but like. They could just retheme one of the two aviaries in The Swamp to the Pantanal and put macaws in. Problem solved. Putting macaws on sticks feels very much like a deliberate policy decision rather than one made due to a lack of alternatives.
I think dwarf seahorse are gone from The Living Coast. Very sad. They were my favorite species there. I did see two eel species swimming out and about. The white ribbon eel is a lot longer than I anticipated. California moray was about what I was expecting. Tried to swim into the same hole as the other eel. Pretty sure they got stuck.
I walked right up to the koalas. There were 3-4 staff members whose crowd control job basically amounted to opening the door when I walked up. They’re koalas. I saw them a lot at Riverbanks. They have the same kind of charm as a helpless infant, just with more fur and less screaming. The signage emphasizes how stupid they are.
I liked the toucan and seriema aviary. The seriema had a ton of personality and seemed to steal the show from the toucans. What a fascinating bird.
I appreciate the size of most of Brookfield’s python enclosures. They feel sufficient for the largest of snakes to actually stretch out. Not that it stops them from just sitting curled up in a ball.
@Photos-With-Jay i think you’ll have the best luck seeing and photographing the cock of the rock in Birds and Reptiles rather than Feathers and Scales. It’s a smaller, more open environment.
I got lunch there. Did not realize Wild Burger had exclusively outdoor seating. I got a plantain sandwich that was pretty good and priced about as I would expect in the outside world, maybe plus a dollar or two. Top tier for zoo food. The ice cream machine in the north is down. Not top tier.
The butterflies are $2 for members. I just sat around on a bench for ten minutes lazily tracking them by eye. I’m not a butterfly girl to be honest. I prefer the gardening in butterfly houses and in this one it’s… serviceable. Nothing breathtaking. Rarities for the sake of rarities don’t do anything for me and the individual species don’t have detailed signage. If they’re all native it’s cool that I genuinely had not heard of multiple species. I think I’ll make a habit of paying the $2 and going in on my visits.
Yes, there is one capybara.
They're all native to the US but only some of them are native to Illinois or even the Midwest. The rarest species present (Atala Hairstreak) is a Bahamanian species that also extend just barely into the US in south Florida.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago Unveils Ambitious Next Century Plan - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Press Room
The master plan has finally been unveiled! The plans include the new outdoor primate exhibits and Gorilla Conservation Center, a renovated Australia House with new indoor/outdoor exhibits, completely revamped African Savanna and Forest regions including restoration of the Pachyderm House, coastal exhibits for pinnipeds and seabirds, a dolphin mangrove with outdoor spaces, an expansion of Wild Encounters, an Amazon aquarium building with a flamingo exhibit, retheming Great Bear Wilderness into a Tundra exhibit, a conservation campus, renovations to the Fragile Kingdom, several individual enclosures, and expanding into undeveloped land to create new Asian, North American and South American exhibits.
In addition, there are multiple new guest experiences planned including a complete revamp of the North Entrance plaza and arrival experience, an amphitheater for events and animal presentations, a large restaurant on the Salt Creek Trail, an aerial adventure course, a 4D theater, and a Zip-line.
New Species: African Elephant, Nile Hippo, Takin, Bongo, Congo Buffalo, Elk, Pronghorn, Savanna Hoofstock, Cheetah, Sun Bear, Red Panda, Wolverine, Tasmanian Devil, Prairie Dog, Ostrich, Sandhill Crane, Greater Prairie-Chicken, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Australian Owls, Galah, Nile Crocodile, Anaconda, and more.
Executive Summary: https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/custom.czs/files/81/81f42ebd-4781-40e2-a77d-65738a8ad9a2.pdf
The master plan has finally been unveiled! The plans include the new outdoor primate exhibits and Gorilla Conservation Center, a renovated Australia House with new indoor/outdoor exhibits, completely revamped African Savanna and Forest regions including restoration of the Pachyderm House, coastal exhibits for pinnipeds and seabirds, a dolphin mangrove with outdoor spaces, an expansion of Wild Encounters, an Amazon aquarium building with a flamingo exhibit, retheming Great Bear Wilderness into a Tundra exhibit, a conservation campus, renovations to the Fragile Kingdom, several individual enclosures, and expanding into undeveloped land to create new Asian, North American and South American exhibits.
In addition, there are multiple new guest experiences planned including a complete revamp of the North Entrance plaza and arrival experience, an amphitheater for events and animal presentations, a large restaurant on the Salt Creek Trail, an aerial adventure course, a 4D theater, and a Zip-line.
New Species: African Elephant, Nile Hippo, Takin, Bongo, Congo Buffalo, Elk, Pronghorn, Savanna Hoofstock, Cheetah, Sun Bear, Red Panda, Wolverine, Tasmanian Devil, Prairie Dog, Ostrich, Sandhill Crane, Greater Prairie-Chicken, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Australian Owls, Galah, Nile Crocodile, Anaconda, and more.
Executive Summary: https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/custom.czs/files/81/81f42ebd-4781-40e2-a77d-65738a8ad9a2.pdf
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