Page 46 - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Annual_Report_2024

CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

Punta San Juan However, additional pressures, Having pangolins in professional care
such as overfishing, pollution, helps scientists and zoo specialists
In April 2024, Brookfield Zoo Chicago
climate change, and emerging learn about the species’ natural
wildlife veterinarians, including
diseases, threaten to compound history, which allows us to share this
Dr. Michael Adkesson and Dr. Matt
these challenges. information with in situ partners to
Allender, continued critical conserva-
ensure conservation success for
tion work at Punta San Juan, Peru, This conservation effort is a powerful pangolins in the wild. In 2024, for
advancing efforts to protect example of how Brookfield Zoo
example, conservation scientists
penguins, fur seals, and sea lions. Chicago’s expertise in animal care from the International Union for
During a nine-day trip, the team and research translates into
Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN)
conducted health assessments meaningful action to safeguard Pangolin Specialist Group (PSG)
on nine South American sea lions wildlife globally.
visited Brookfield Zoo Chicago to test
and 54 Humboldt penguins to better
In 2024, the program team led a thermal camera with pangolins in
understand health threats to these
by Dr. Susana Cardenas also: our care. Designed to detect tree
animals in their wild environments.
dwelling species during their peak
The team also placed satellite tags
• Participated in the 2024 Humboldt activity hours, the camera will aid
to track animal movements, dives,
Penguin National Census for scientists in their research.
and foraging behaviors, generating
the south of Peru.
insights to inform conservation As one of five zoological institutions of the first documented cases of
strategies and protect marine • Tagged, measured, and weighed that created the North American the fungal pathogen Emydomyces
resources. Peruvian fur seal pups, and also Pangolin Consortium, we also testavorans in Illinois turtles. The study
gathered swabs for surveillance proudly supported pangolin outlines the pathogen’s potential
In addition to providing vital data
of pathogens. conservation initiatives in Deng-Deng threat to vulnerable populations.
on population health, the team’s
• Hosted over 200 local schoolchil- National Park in the Eastern region
assessments illuminated the devas- of Cameroon. Because of their early discovery
dren through the program’s
tating impacts of high pathogenicity of the disease, the team at the lab
Building Bridges.
avian influenza (HPAI) and a recent Turtle Conservation under the leadership of Allender has
El Niño event, which have caused Protecting Pangolins been able to help curb the pathogen’s
significant population declines In 2024, Dr. Matt Allender and his spread in the wild. In 2024, they
One of Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s team at the Wildlife Epidemiology
for the respective species. sampled 1,200 turtles in the state
biggest pangolin successes in 2024 Lab of the University of Illinois
Once-thriving beaches and colonies of Illinois and had zero positives and
came with the birth of a baby Urbana-Champaign examined
that hosted thousands of animals they are making significant progress
white-bellied pangolin, born to 2,337 animals, took 4,139 samples,
are now nearly empty, with popula- in treatment trials, which they will
pangolin adults Virginia and Stuart. and conducted 64,265 molecular
tions showing no signs of recovery. soon apply to clinical cases.
With this birth, there are now assays to monitor the health of
Despite these challenges, there 13 white-bellied pangolins at the wildlife populations, with a particular Above: Dr. Matt Allender, Dr. Eliza Baker
is hope. Historically, species in the Zoo, 11 of which were born here— focus on turtles. and Dr. John Winter
region have demonstrated resilience, the most births of any zoological OppositeTop: New aluminum cups being used
In 2024, the Journal of Wildlife
often rebounding during La Niña institution globally. Opposite Middle: Making dog toys from uniforms
cycles, which bring favorable ocean Diseases published a study led
by the team covering the discovery Opposite Bottom: New Coca Cola products
conditions for reproduction.
36 BROOKFIELD ZOO CHICAGO