Page 2 - Impact Report_2018

Stuart D. Strahl, Ph.D. A letter from the President & CEO and the Chairman
President & CEO
Chicago Zoological Society Dear Chicago Zoological Society Friends,
Our belief in conservation action guides all of our efforts at the Chicago
John P. Grube Zoological Society, and 2018 continued that tradition of excellence. Thanks
Chairman, Board of Trustees to all of our dedicated partners like you, we engaged guests of all abilities
Chicago Zoological Society at Brookfield Zoo, trained future generations of scientists and teachers,
set international standards for advanced animal care and research, and laid
the strategic groundwork for the Society’s future as a conservation center.

As you go through the 2018 Impact Report, you’ll see notable examples
of all the ways the Society connects people with wildlife and nature. You can
review Brookfield Zoo by the numbers, with important milestones past and
present. This year alone, we welcomed nearly two million guests to Brookfield
Zoo and reached over 111,000 member households. The Center for
Conservation Leadership touched the lives of over 200,000 people through
community-based education and inclusion programs, including expanded
A Zoo for All initiatives for families with disabilities.

At Brookfield Zoo, we cared for nearly 5,000 animals representing
516 species in 2018 and achieved a medical first: Layla Rhino received
the first computed tomography (CT) scan ever performed on an adult
eastern black rhinoceros and later underwent life-saving surgery, thanks
to a massive team effort led by our veterinarians with zoowide support.
Additionally, to help save the most poached animal in the world, we
increased conservation awareness for pangolins, and the zoo offered even
more animal encounter experiences for guests, with additional Penguin
Encounters and Giraffe Feedings.

We believe it’s also crucial to look ahead. In 2018, we generated our
2019-2023 Strategic Plan, which will guide the Society and Brookfield Zoo
in making vital decisions over the next five years as we lead the charge to
inspire future conservation leaders, engage in diverse communities, and
restore wildlife populations locally and worldwide.