Page 10 - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Annual_Report_2024

2024 HIGHLIGHTS
KOALA

Welcome, Koalas Willum Native to Australia, the species Additionally at the AZA Annual
and Brumby! faces several threats, including Conference, Brookfield Zoo
deforestation, fragmentation Chicago was honored to receive
Two male koalas, Willum and of its habitat for development, the inaugural AZA Advocacy Impact
Brumby, joined the Zoo on June 10, bushfires, disease, and drought. Award for our successful advocacy
marking the first time in the Zoo’s campaign, “Vote Yes for Clean Air,
By caring for Willum and Brumby,
90-year history to care for the Clean Water and Wildlife.” This
Brookfield Zoo Chicago furthers
species! Their new habitat features campaign behind the successful
a commitment to species
both indoor and outdoor spaces 2022 county referendum urged
conservation and environmental
in the Hamill Family Play Zoo. residents to approve a small
education. The Zoo hopes that
property tax increase benefiting
Willum, who was born in March visitors who would otherwise not
the Forest Preserves of Cook
2022 at San Diego Zoo, can be have the opportunity to see koalas
County. This referendum is already
distinguished by his darker nose, in their native land will develop
resulting in funding to acquire and
and he is the larger of the two. a respect and appreciation for
protect more open land, restore
His Aboriginal name means “hut.” these animals and wildlife
nature to ecological health, provide
Brumby, who will be 2 years old in around the world.
additional habitat for wildlife,
August, was also born at San Diego
AZA Re-accreditation increase educational programming
Zoo. He has a large pink spot on his
nose. His name is also Aboriginal, and Honors and access to nature for local
communities, and support much
meaning “wild horse”—when he was
Brookfield Zoo Chicago proudly needed capital infrastructure
a joey, his mother would run around
received re-accreditation for the investment at the Zoo.
on the ground with him on her back.
next four years from the Association
Since no Aboriginal translation for
of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA)
“jockey” was found, “wild horse”
independent Accreditation
was a close second.
Commission at this year’s Annual
Willum and Brumby are at the Zoo Conference in Calgary. Twice a year,
through a loan partnership with the Commission reviews accredita-
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance tion applications from the best zoos,
and San Diego Zoo’s Koala aquariums, and related facilities
Education and Conservation in the world. The commissioners
Project. Brookfield Zoo Chicago and AZA leadership spoke with
is one of only 11 accredited great respect about Brookfield Zoo
zoological facilities in North Chicago, stating that we are among
America, and the only in the a select group of institutions they
Midwest, where the public has look to as a representative leader
the opportunity to see this unique and to serve as an example for
vulnerable species. others within the AZA community.
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