Page 33 - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Annual_Report_2024
P. 33

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is one
               of 15 AZA institutions that house
               the species in North America.                                                                                                           care
               Conservation work, including                                RODRIGUES
               breeding programs at zoos such                               FRUIT BAT
                                                                                             ANIMAL MEALS SERVED IN 2024
               as the AZA Rodrigues Fruit Bat
               Species Survival Plan (SSP)                                                   MEAT               32,000 POUNDS
               we participate in, has raised the
                                                                                             FISH               170,000 POUNDS
               population up to 20,000 individuals
                                                                                             HAY                186,000 POUNDS
               from 4,000 ten years prior as
               of a 2016 census.                                                             PRODUCE            238,000 POUNDS
                                                                                             EGGS               6,120 UNITS
               Grevy’s Zebra Birth
                                                                                             EARTHWORMS         21,700 UNITS
               A Grevy’s zebra foal was born
                                                                                             CRICKETS           3,693,500 UNITS
               to Nyota and Diesel in July 2024,
               a recommended pairing by the AZA
               Grevy’s Zebra Species Survival Plan
               (SSP). Born just as the Gin Blossoms’
                                                                                      GREVY’S
               Roaring Nights concert was set
                                                                                       ZEBRAS
               to kick off, the foal was named Robin
                                                and black stripes. Each zebra’s
               after Gin Blossoms lead vocalist
                                                stripe pattern is as unique
               Robin Wilson!
                                                as human fingerprints.
               The average gestation for Grevy’s
                                                The Grevy’s zebra is classified as
               zebras is just over 400 days (about
                                                endangered on the IUCN Red List
               13.6 months). A foal can stand within
                                                and is also listed on Appendix I
               15 minutes after being born and
                                                of the Convention on International
               can walk and run within the first hour.
                                                Trade of Endangered Species and
               Zebra foals are born with a unique
                                                Fauna (CITES), which protects
               wooly coat of light chocolate
                                                the species from illegal trading.
               or russet stripes, which are darker
                                                The Grevy’s Zebra Trust estimates
               on the head, neck, and legs.
                                                the current population is just over
               A distinctive bushy mane runs from
                                                3,000 individuals, a dramatic
               just behind the ears to the tail and
                                                decline from the global population
               down the midline of the belly.
                                                of approximately 15,000 in the
               By the age of 5 months, the foal’s   late 1970s. As of 2024, there are
               coat will transition to the more    142 Grevy’s zebras at 32 accredited
               familiar adult pattern of short hair    North American zoos.
                                                                                                                                 ANNUAL REPORT 2024    25
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