April is Ape Awareness Month
This month, Brookfield Zoo has gone to the apes.
During the last three weekends of Ape-ril, Brookfield Zoo is celebrating Ape Awareness Month with special activities in Tropic World. So plan a visit and be sure to swing through Tropic World, which is the home to three ape species – orangutans, western lowland gorillas, and white-cheeked gibbons.
On Saturdays and Sundays, from April 11-26, listen to zoo staff sharing interesting facts and stories about primates. Watch keepers as they do a food toss to the gibbons, orangutans, and gorillas, and get all your ape-related questions answered.
And there’s even more fun planned for kids. They can trace and compare their handprints to those of Brookfield Zoo’s resident orangutans and gorillas and take home a special ape-themed game.
Check out the schedule below for more details on Ape Awareness Month activities. And if you can’t wait to go ape, check out our exhibit and animal guide to learn fun facts about Brookfield Zoo’s ape species.
Ape Awareness Month Activities
April 11-12, 18-19, and 25-26
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day in Tropic World
10 - 3 p.m.
Special Ape Awareness Month Displays
12 – 12:15 p.m.
Gibbon Experience food toss and Q & A with Tropic World: Asia keeper
1 – 1:15 p.m.
Orangutan Experience food toss and Q & A with Orangutan keeper
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Gorilla Experience food toss and Q & A with Gorilla keeper
The Palm Oil Problem
One of the biggest threats to the survival of Orangutans in the wild is the unsustainable production of palm oil in their native habitats. Find out more about the crisis, and how you can help.
At Brookfield Zoo, Every Month is Ape Awareness Month
For two days in October 2007, Chicago Zoological hosted the first, nationwide conference specifically addressing orangutan populations. To learn more about the conference as well as see PowerPoint presentations, check out the conference proceedings.