Page 3 - Annual Report 2022

Dear Friends of the Chicago Zoological Society and Brookfield Zoo,
Cherryl T. Thomas
Chair, Board of Trustees
Chicago Zoological Society
Dr. Michael J. Adkesson
President & CEO, Chicago Zoological Society Chicago cultural institutions and #3 among zoos. Brookfield Zoo placed 5 in the country
Director, Brookfield Zoo
If you visited Brookfield Zoo in the past year, you may have noticed that the place is vibrating
with excitement and anticipation. The fiscal year ended in a whirlwind of planning, organizing,
and transitioning. This report describes some of the bold transformative changes that are
being planned and put into action by the Zoo and the Chicago Zoological Society.
Chief among them is the official kickoff of the planning process for a bold new
Master Plan. When it is completed this fall, this document will chart our organization’s
future development through our centennial year in 2034. We also began planning
the most ambitious project we have embarked on in decades. “Tropical Forests” is an
expansion of our current Tropic World habitat and will provide new and reimagined
habitats for our gorillas, orangutans, and monkeys, including four sunny outdoor
habitats, a Gorilla Conservation Center, plus state-of-the-art learning spaces for
our King Conservation Leadership Academy.
Other projects you’ll read about in this report are the renovation of the Seven Seas
habitat, a new landscape design plan, and small exhibits that will enliven animal-free
corridors with wildlife, such as colorful macaws, native turtles, cranes, toucans, and
prairie dogs. The report also includes updates on existing and new innovative educational
and community programs, as well as the Zoo’s conservation initiatives at home and around
the world.
While planning for the future of the organization is critical, so is our commitment to the
care and welfare of our 3,400 animals. To this end, we regularly invite the scrutiny of professional
organizations, such as American Humane, the world’s largest certifier of the welfare and
humane treatment of animals. Our Humane Certified seal was reissued after a four-day
™
inspection last fall.
As we do every five years, we submitted an application—1,000 pages long this year—
for reaccreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the primary accrediting
body for zoos and aquariums. The rigorous accreditation process also includes a week-long
inspection of the Zoo to occur this May. We have maintained our AZA accreditation for the
past 37 years.
We are thrilled to report that enthusiasm for the Zoo extends outside of our gates.
Cook County voters passed a Forest Preserves of Cook County referendum last fall that will
provide an additional $4 million a year to help address our deferred infrastructure and capital
needs. We set a new record with 119,335 member households, which places us #1 among
th
in USA TODAY’S 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 for Best Zoo.
Please know we could not do any of this work without your support!
Thank you.
2022 ANNUAL REPORT 1