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Thriving?

Numerous scientific studies are

taking place at Brookfield Zoo

on any given day. Here’s a peek

into how our staff work together

to drive advancements in the

field of animal welfare science.

hen thermostats drop each fall, thousands of animals in
o
W hern zoos across the globe are moved indoors for the
r
n
t
winter. This includes Brookfield Zoo’s herd of reticulated giraffe at
HABITAT AFRICA! THE SAVANNAH. For most of the year, these
remarkable animals—the world’s tallest living land animals—have access
to a 44,455-square-foot outdoor area with soil, trees, natural vegetation,
and a water hole. But during the cold winter months, they live indoors
at HABITAT AFRICA! in heated stalls and a habitat without access
to the outdoors.
Bill Zeigler, senior vice president of Animal Programs for the
Chicago Zoological Society, had several questions: How are our
giraffe doing during the winter months? And how can we measure
the welfare state of the giraffe?

BROOKFIELD ZOO | SPRING 2021 29