Page 5 - Gateways_2019-Summer

Perspective

By Stuart D. Strahl, Ph.D. The Chicago Zoological Society is known throughout the world
President & CEO as a leader in animal welfare, veterinary care, and award-
winning conservation programs for people of all abilities. Equally
important, the Society’s Brookfield Zoo plays a major role in the region’s
economy as the Chicago area’s most popular paid cultural attraction,
annually generating over $153 million in economic activity while creating
over 2,000 jobs and connecting millions of guests to wildlife and nature.

Your partnership is a vital part of that economic impact as well.
Thanks to you, we have a membership of over 111,000 households that
help support animal care and conservation, informal science learning
programs, and our important community outreach efforts. Plus, your
participation allows us to offer a whole summer’s worth of unique
family activities.

This summer you can tour our new Brick Safari—a first at Brookfield
Zoo and anywhere in the United States—and take part in the interactive

exhibit, which features more than 40 life-size animal sculptures
created from millions of colored LEGO® bricks.
Located along a wooded pathway, many of
the sculptures are based on Brookfield Zoo
favorites, such as the lion, giraffe, snow
leopard, and even pangolin. We are also offering
a new penguin feeding program this year as
part of Backstage Adventures, and you can once

again take part in Zoo Chats, Giraffe Feedings, and
Penguin Encounters, and attend one of our popular Summer
Nights Concerts.
In this edition of Gateways, we’ve also included our 2018 Impact
Report, beginning on page 25. In addition to seeing last year’s measurable
outcomes, you can view Brookfield Zoo through the lens of historic
accomplishments over the years in “Then & Now.” The report also
highlights an amazing collaborative achievement: Layla Rhino received the
first computed tomography (CT) scan ever performed on an adult eastern
black rhinoceros and underwent life-saving surgery, all at Brookfield Zoo.
Once again, thank you for being part of the collective effort to protect
endangered species and bring our conservation initiatives to life. As you
look through this special issue of inspiring conservation stories, you’ll
see that your support goes beyond numbers and creates a lasting legacy.
I look forward to seeing all of you at Brookfield Zoo this summer.

GRIERTAICFUFLEATED BROOKFIELD ZOO | SUMMER 2019 5