I will miss the warthogs and waterbuck. I remember seeing the two species playing together in that exhibit (chasing back and forth and grooming each other) a few times and it was quite endearing.
On February 11, admission to the zoo will be free. There will also be lots of other cool vents, like dog sledding: Brookfield Zoo Holds FREEze Day Celebration
A new dolphin study using specialized fit bit's. Brookfield Zoo Leading New Study Of Dolphin Behavior
Mexican Wolves at Brookfield Zoo Undergo Reproductive Procedures as Part of Recovery Program for the Species Chicago Zoological Society - Mexican Wolves at Brookfield Zoo Undergo Reproductive Procedures
Not news, but a few days ago I got my hands on a copy if "Let the Lin Roar!" a Brookfield zoo history book from 1997. I looked through a copy of an old map that was packed with exhibit areas that I never knew existed. Here are some highlights! North American Panorama (Bison, Elk, Foxes etc.) - Located on the sight of the current BZ Redhots Additional Carnivore Grottos (Hyenas, foxes, wolves) - Located on now unused land behind the Discovery Center Small Mammal Grottos (Otters, Prairie dog, Opossum, Mink, Fisher) - Located on the now Wild Encounters Large Antelope Building - Located on now Unused land next to Carnivore Grottos South American Yard - Located on sight of current butterfly house Equestrian Stables (Zebra, Wild Ass, Horses) - On site of now Giraffe yard Wild bird Sanctuary - Located on Current Wild Dog enclosure Illinois Exhibit - Located on current pathway by Rhinos There is probably a few more things I'm missing, but I saw these at thought that they would be cool to share.
I also forgot another discovery. I found the original exhibit plan for Habitat Africa! It was much more ambitious then the final product. Lions would have replaced where the painted dogs are, and the dogs and bongos would have an exhibit by the current bison holding area. There was also a completely new area that would have taken up space that is currently used by a small forest and some of the west hooftsock yards. New exhibits would have included patas monkeys, leopards, waterbuck, sitatungas, rhinos, hippos, a marsh habitat and a restaurant. Sigh. Well maybe one day this will become a reality. A guy can dream.
Unfortunately I do not. I could only find it in the book on pg 212. I encourage you to purchase it though, as it is a fantastic read.
@pachyderm pro I received this book a week ago, and it is the most wonderful and detailed book, I just love it, and way larger than I expected. It is everything I had wanted and more in regards to old photos and histories of the facility. What did you pay? I found mine for under $8 w/ free shipping. One big change I see in the modern zoo versus in past decades is a smaller collection, especially of the birds and ungulates. I would have enjoyed seeing the zoo in its "heyday" of collecting. While going through old papers from my great grandmother's estate today I also found a little booklet from 1941 about Brookfield Zoo. It is titled "Is it True" and is aimed at children. It has about 20 pages and shows polar bears, pig-tailed macaques, zebra, baboon, giraffe, giant anteater, gazelle, elephants, the last two pandas, and a dairy cow, the theme is very strange however, and shows just how animal husbandry has changed since: it mentions how every animal at the zoo eats milk every day because it is so good for them, and how you should too!
Don't think this has happen, but Thani and Cuong, young male white-cheeked gibbons born at Brookfield Zoo, moved to Wildlife Safari in Oregon at the end of November last year.
I studied in Chicago during the eighties and what a collection Brookfield zoo had back then. PP´s post brought back memories and i did find my old guidebook from then. Here are some bits and pieces. North American panorama only held bison and the little train went by it. The small mammal grotto held artic foxes and later capibara. There was only one grotto. The small mammal house was amazing. I saw grison, leopard cats, cuscus and tarsiers among many others there. The reptile was house also very good. But the bird house was very outdated, only the free flight aviary was decent, The acuatic bird house had king penguins in a very small exhibit and once had kiwis. There were siberian ibex and dall sheep on their respective mountains. The pachyderm house had black and indian rhinos, common and pygmy hippos, african elephants, asian and brazilian tapirs. Tropic House replaced a brutally ugly primate house. Of course, there were the bottlenose dolphins and the queen of Brookfield zoo, Olga the walrus. I feel very fortunate to have seen Brookfield zoo back then.
