Page 29 - Gateways_Fall2021

The Animals—

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Still Thriving!
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!
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“I feel like the animals are my family.
Please take good care of them, I will miss them.” Brookfield Zoo Animals
– Jan
“I hope the animals are not being too badly affected.
I’m feeling so bad for them right now.” 343 mammals

– Kelly
“My kids asked when we could go see 1,040 birds
Mr. Pants again. I told them,
‘We’ll be back to see our
buddy when we can.’” 343 reptiles
– Sean

hese messages were left on Brookfield Zoo’s Facebook page 339 amphibians
Tafter the zoo temporarily closed to the public in March of
2020. People worried about the well-being of our animals, while
coping with the challenges and anxieties created by the COVID-19 364 fish
pandemic in their own lives.
Truthfully, we were also worried. With Brookfield Zoo’s gates

closed and our fee-based programs and events cancelled or post- 2,429 individual animals
poned, the Chicago Zoological Society was faced with the dilemma

of raising $41,000 per day to feed and care for our approximately 408 species and subspecies
2,400 animals. Difficult decisions were made to lower costs, does not include invertebrates and colonies
but never at the expense of the animals.

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