Yep, caught that right before you posted.A news so nice you say it twice
Brookfield Zoo Brookfield Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter MeiLover
- Start date
IcthyoRider
Member
Boy I'll say. I heard a rumor they were thinking of turning it in to an savannah outlook/plains habitat, but I would love to see more focus given to rhino and pygmy hippo conservation. Either way that part of the zoo is the biggest zone that needs updating for me.A news so nice you say it twice
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
Brookfield will have a bright future!
So June is the month we will finally have a look at the Master Plan. Both the articles and video give me quite the hopes Brookfield is serious about their future as an AZA accredited zoo and worthy rival of Lincoln Park.
What is the informed speculation on what they will do with the pachyderm house? Bulldoze it and turn it into modern rhino and hippo exhibits? Are elephants considered completely off the table now?
The Pachyderm House was teased to be a "savanna overlook" building by Dr. Mike Adkesson, which would look out at an expanded savanna for giraffes and zebras. As for elephants, the panelists at the master plan symposium last year said that while they couldn't make any guarantees, they do have an idea on how they could bring elephants back, with zoo staff having visited National's elephant facility and taking that as inspiration.
Do you have any idea what their rhino and hippo plans are, if any?
In an older interview Mike expressed interest in new rhino habitats and also said something along the lines of, "we would love the bring back Nile hippo with underwater viewing." That was close two years ago however, so it's just a matter of wait and see at this point.
It is always possible they could develop different habitats on each side of the existing Pachyderm House. It is a pretty large building and even a savanna overlook approach could allow for other changes such as small animals.
I used to be a big elephant and hippo return believer but I think that ship has safely sailed. Those statements are probably just to attract donors at this stage.
I used to be a big elephant and hippo return believer but I think that ship has safely sailed. Those statements are probably just to attract donors at this stage.
Can someone do a short overview of the plans bc for us Europeans or non-subscribers this is a pay per view or take out subscriptie Chicago Trib feature article. Would be much appreciated if someone would be able to explain in a short quarter page what the new management of Mike Adkesson c.s. what to bring to the zoo in terms of new African Savannah, the Primate Building and the Pachyderm House in the next few years?Brand new renderings of Tropical Forests have been revealed in a new article from the Chicago Tribune, as well as some recent photos of the construction and some new details on the development. The exhibit is slated to be open next April. Additionally, the master plan is now planned to be released this June and the pachyderm house is being teased as the next major project following Tropical Forests.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago announces $66 million Tropical Forests for primates as part of major redesign – Chicago Tribune
The Tropical Forests exhibit will consist of four outdoor primate enclosures abutting the existing Tropic World building: two for gorillas (family troop and bachelor troop), one for orangutans and one for neotropical monkeys. The orangutans and monkeys will still utilize their existing indoor exhibits within Tropic World, but the gorillas will be moved to an entirely new building called the Gorilla Conservation Center which will include new dayrooms and holding spaces. The second level of the building will feature classrooms and offices for some of the zoo's conservation programs, as well as an elevated viewing deck overlooking the gorilla exhibits. Further details can be found here: Chicago Zoological Society - Second Century Plan
Plans for the African savanna redevelopment have only been teased thus far and I'm not sure how much of the existing footprint of the area will be retained. The main focus is to add mixed-species savanna enclosures for giraffes, zebras and other hoofstock. The pachyderm house will be renovated into a viewing gallery that looks out into these savanna habitats. A new black rhino complex will likely be added as well and it's been suggested that elephants and/or Nile hippos may return, although that is not a guarantee.
Thanks @pachyderm pro for elaborating. Much appreciated!
One more query: why not have multi species exhibits with gorilla (with Diana/DeBrazza and/or mangabey) and orang with a langur species...?
One more query: why not have multi species exhibits with gorilla (with Diana/DeBrazza and/or mangabey) and orang with a langur species...?
They sort of do that with the gibbons and orangutans, albeit the gibbons can cross over into orangutan territory but not vice versa. As for the gorillas, they and the other African monkeys are separated by mesh. That said, I'm not sure if they will mix gorillas with colobus or DeBrazza's for the new Tropical Forests exhibit...
A few updates from my latest visit.
- Clouded Leopard Rainforest - I spoke to a zoo employee inside the building and the lemurs are going on exhibit in the former fishing cat exhibit. They were given access to the exhibit this morning, but none of them came out while I was there. ( I included a photo of the exhibit)
- A fence is now surrounding a large portion of the Hamill Family Nature Plaza for the upcoming construction on the new crane/ prairie chicken exhibit.
- The ferris wheel is currently being put together.
- Clouded Leopard Rainforest - I spoke to a zoo employee inside the building and the lemurs are going on exhibit in the former fishing cat exhibit. They were given access to the exhibit this morning, but none of them came out while I was there. ( I included a photo of the exhibit)
- A fence is now surrounding a large portion of the Hamill Family Nature Plaza for the upcoming construction on the new crane/ prairie chicken exhibit.
- The ferris wheel is currently being put together.
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GibbonGuy95
Well-Known Member
Did they say what happened to the fishing cats?
There was no mention of the fishing cats,and I completely forgot to ask
.
Craig Billington
Well-Known Member
Man I hope they bring back the fishing cats. They have been there since it first opened in the 70's as Predator Ecology. The modifications of the exhibit for the lemurs have damaged the visual character of the exhibit not to mention destroying the Asian rainforest theme.
In agreement with everything said here, although I'm giving the zoo the benefit of the doubt for the time being. Until the master plan is released we really don't know what the long-term situation will be for the species involved.
I fully expect fishing cat to return. My expectation is that Brookfield will keep Koala for one summer, and then in the fall we will see lemurs return to the Hamill Family Play Zoo.
If the zoo decides to keep with Koala after this temporary stay, I imagine the master plan will include a new exhibit for them, and the Australia renovation is close at hand for a decision like that.
If the zoo decides to keep with Koala after this temporary stay, I imagine the master plan will include a new exhibit for them, and the Australia renovation is close at hand for a decision like that.
An updated rendering of the North American Prairie Aviary has been released. The design looks vastly different from the initial concept art showed off last year.
https://twitter.com/brookfield_zoo/status/1765399493401305478
https://twitter.com/brookfield_zoo/status/1765399493401305478