Chicago Zoological Society

IN THIS EXHIBIT

ANIMALS

Get Eye-to-Eye with Bears and Bison at Opening of Great Bear Wilderness

Our new naturalistic habitat, the largest exhibit ever undertaken at Brookfield Zoo, is now open, featuring iconic North American animals: Grizzly Bears, Polar Bears, Bison, Eagles, and Mexican Gray Wolves. When you begin your adventure through the state-of-the-art 7.5-acre exhibit, the largest exhibit ever undertaken at Brookfield Zoo, you will learn about the animals’ past, present, and future status, their deep cultural significance to people, and the survival challenges they face.

 

CZS has formed dynamic partnerships with many conservation organizations in order to better protect the species featured in Great Bear Wilderness. Click here to find out more about these organizations.

Go Eye to Eye at Great Bear Wilderness
The first animal that guests will encounter in the three-acre North American habitat will be bison that will be exhibited in a prairie setting with mountains and woodlands in the near distance. An interpretive tunnel, highlighting information on the relationship between bison and Native Americans, will take guests below the animals. In addition, a “bison bunker” will offer a unique perspective on these majestic animals.
 
From a walkway, guests will get a view of bald eagles; a mesh aviary will offer a virtually invisible barrier between guests and these incredible birds of prey.

The bears’ yards will be three times the space of the current Bear Grottos, thus allowing the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages the zoo, the opportunity to expand its polar bear breeding program for the benefit of the population living in North American zoos. An underwater viewing area will allow guests to see the polar bears swimming in pools and also to watch them above the waterline.

Moving along a pathway toward the grizzly bears, the topography is a more forested habitat featuring a stream of varying depths. With the dense, multilevel nature of this space, zookeepers will be able to hide food and enrichment items in the grass to encourage the bears’ foraging behaviors.

Features of Great Bear Wilderness
Additional features of Great Bear Wilderness include state-of-the-art behind-the-scenes areas for the animals and staff, an education center, a gift shop, a renovated restaurant, and restrooms. The exhibit will also be available for evening functions:

• Additional features include a filtration system, maternity den, a shallow pool, a grassy off exhibit space for bears; an education center; a gift shop; restaurant, and restrooms. The exhibit will also be available for evening functions.
• The bison that will be exhibited in a prairie setting with mountains and woodlands in the near distance. An interpretive tunnel, highlighting information on the relationship between bison and Native Americans, will take guests below the animals. In addition, a “bison bunker” will offer a unique perspective on these majestic animals.
• From a walkway, guests will get a view of bald eagles and ravens; a mesh aviary will offer a virtually invisible barrier between guests and the birds. The pathway then leads to the existing Mexican gray wolf exhibit followed by the bears’ yards.
• The bears’ yards are approximately three times the space of the zoo’s current Bear Grottos, which will allow CZS to expand the polar bear breeding program for the benefit of the population living in North American zoos. An underwater viewing area will allow guests to see the polar bears swimming in pools and also to watch them above the waterline.
• Moving along a pathway toward the grizzly bears, the topography is a more forested habitat featuring a 15-foot-high waterfall that spills into three connected pools. With the dense, multilevel nature of the three yards, zookeepers will be able to hide food and enrichment items to encourage the bears’ foraging behaviors.