News Release
 
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
 
April 11, 2018
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Amazing Arachnids Opens May 26 at Brookfield Zoo
Temporary Summer Exhibit Features Interactives and Live Animals
 
Brookfield, Ill.—This summer, guests visiting Brookfield Zoo will have an aMAZEing time weaving their way through a new temporary exhibit—Amazing Arachnids. The interactive and engaging experience, which opens May 26 and continues through September 3, features two components: Art and Science of Arachnids and Mission Safari Maze.

Throughout the exhibit’s palette of bright and inviting colors, Art and Science of Arachnids invites zoogoers to discover the marvels of eight-legged critters featured in three themed areas that highlight their unique characteristics and significance in several genres. The art-themed portion of the exhibit illustrates the importance of arachnids in music, literature, and film. The culture-themed space focuses on arachnid conservation, folklore, and mythology. The final section explores arachnids in relation to science and medicine. In addition, 100 live arachnids, including the tiger rump tarantula, emperor scorpion, the alien-looking tailless whip scorpion, the beautiful peacock tarantula, burgundy goliath birdeater, and goliath pinkfoot tarantula are displayed amongst the three sections, making it the largest public collection of arachnids in North America.
“Amazing Arachnids offers people the opportunity to gain an understanding about a group of animals that has made a huge impact on human culture throughout history, whether in art, music, film folklore, the list goes on,” said Andre Copeland, interpretive programs manager for the Chicago Zoological Society, which operates Brookfield Zoo. “Fear of spiders is probably one of the most misguided issues and leads to a lot of misconceptions. By coming to the exhibit, we hope our guests will be encouraged to learn about the different species and to gain a better understanding of arachnids that could then lead to a greater appreciation for them.”

A variety of hands-on interactivities and opportunities for guests of all ages enhance the experience. These fun and entertaining components include weaving a web, assembling puzzle pieces to create a unique spider, learning an Italian folk dance called the Tarantella, and controlling the movements of a tarantula at the Arachnid Mobility station that features two computer monitors. In the Arachnid Art Gallery, zoogoers can view 10 beautiful arachnid images by world-renowned German arachnid photographer Julian Kamzol.

Additionally, animal care staff will bring the nuances of the species to life with amazing facts and lively tales during spontaneous Zoo Chats. Guests will not only get up-close views of various arachnids, they will also learn what arachnids eat, how they survive in the wild, what are their natural predators, and how—as individuals and families—they can help play a vital part in preserving arachnids and their habitats.

Another component of Amazing Arachnids—Mission Safari Maze—is a maze experience that blends education along with physical activity, making it a unique learning adventure for guests of all ages. The interactive attraction connects guests to the stories and strengths of 16 species of animals that can all be seen at Brookfield Zoo. Animals include the bison, Amur tiger, Andean condor, bald eagle, black rhinoceros, black widow spider, Blanding’s turtle, Bornean orangutan, emperor scorpion, green-winged macaw, Indian peafowl, Orinoco crocodile, peacock tarantula, red knee tarantula, reticulated giraffe, and white-bellied pangolin.

As zoogoers enter, they spin one of four giant colorful spinning wheels featuring a total of 48 missions or tasks that link guests with one of the animals featured in the neon green 3,500-square-foot maze. After spinning a wheel, zoogoers are then challenged to move through the immersive attraction that engages them to learn about the different traits of the species and how people can protect them. Throughout the maze there are play-and-learn interactives, including a climb-on spider web, jungle vines, swinging bars, and a monorail zip slide. Youngsters and families can play over and over again with a new adventure each time, all the while lending more and more meaning to their subsequent journey around the zoo to see the animals with which they now have a personal connection.

The cost for Amazing Arachnids is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and over. Brookfield Zoo members receive half off admission price. General zoo admission is $21.95 for adults and $15.95 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and over. Park in $14. For further information, visit CZS.org/Arachnids.
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About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Its Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare is at the forefront of animal care that strives to discover and implement innovative approaches to zoo animal management. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.

Amazing Arachnids Fact Sheet

Join us for an aMAZEing time weaving your way through a new temporary exhibit—Amazing Arachnids! The interactive and engaging experience opens May 26 and continues through September 3, featuring two components: The Art and Science of Arachnids and Mission Safari.

Art and Science of Arachnids
Art and Science of Arachnids invites guests to discover the cultural connections of these eight-legged creatures that have weaved their way into a variety of genres, including music, art, folklore, medicine, conservation, film, and literature. In addition to engaging hands-on interactives, the exhibit features 100 live arachnids found around the world, making it the largest public collection of arachnids in North America.

Arachnid Species

The live collection is primarily composed of tarantulas and scorpions with a sampling of whip scorpions and true spiders. Species include:

• Blue femur beauty tarantula
• Brazilian blue violet tarantula
• Brazilian pink bloom tarantula
• Brazilian red and white tarantula
• Burgundy goliath birdeater
• Columbian pumpkin patch tarantula
• Chaco golden knee
• Chilean gold dust spider
• Chiricahuan grey
• Curly hair tarantula
• Desert hairy scorpion
• Dictator scorpion
• Dwarf Philippine tangerine
• Emperor scorpion
• Entre Rios tarantula
• Feather leg baboon tarantula
• Giant flat rock scorpion
• Ghost ornamental Tarantula
• Goliath bird-eating tarantula
• Goliath pinkfoot tarantula
• Guatemalan tiger rump tarantula
• Mahogany tree spider
• Metallic pink toe tarantula
• Mexican fireleg tarantula
• Mexican red knee tarantula
• Mozambique golden baboon tarantula
• Olive keeled flat rock scorpion
• Ornamental baboon tarantula
• Peacock tarantula
• Purple earth tarantula
• Purple tree spider
• Rameshwaram Temple tarantula
• Skeleton leg tarantula
• South Vietnam blue tarantula
• Stripe knee tarantula
• Tailless whip scorpion
• Tiger rump tarantula
• Venezuelan suntiger tarantula
• Vinegaroon
• Wolf spider
• Yellow-backed ornamental tiger tarantula

The Cubes

The exhibit is divided three “cubes” or sections—science, art, and culture—that highlight the various ways arachnids have influenced our lives.

• “The “Science” Cube (green)
  • 34 arachnids
  • Showcases arachnids in science and medicine and features graphics that include:
  • “Arachnids that are not Spiders or Scorpions”
  • “Deadly Spiders in North America” (i.e. widow and recluse spiders)
  • “Arachnids in Medicine” (current and historical medical uses of arachnids and silk)

• “The Arts” Cube (purple)
  • 31 arachnids
  • Showcases arachnids film, literature, and music and features graphics that include:
  • “Arachnids in Film” (history of arachnid-themed films and arachnids that have starred in films, such as “Charlotte’s Web”)
  • “Arachnids in Literature” (flip panels inviting guests to test their knowledge)
  • “Musical Arachnids” (“Itsy Bitsy Spider” song, historical music, and modern references to music starring arachnids is highlighted.

• The Culture” Cube (blue)
  • 35 arachnids
  • Showcases how arachnids have shaped our culture and features graphics that include:
  • “Arachnid Conservation” (efforts to preserve arachnids and their habitats are illustrated as are endangered and threatened and newly documented species of arachnids)
  • “Arachnid Folklore and Culture” (arachnid traditions in different cultures are highlighted)
  • “Arachnids as Food” (arthropods—shrimp, crab, lobster, spiders, and scorpions—as food and what cultures eat them as part of their normal diet)

Interactives

The exhibit features a variety of hands-on and engaging interactives for guests of all ages that enhance the experience. They include:

• Weave a Web—a welcoming 7-foot-tall spider with a 10-foot leg span that invites guests to weave their very own web between its front legs. Guests can create their own artwork weaving to take home.
• Arachnid Mobility—guests use a computer to observe a spider walking and are able to control its direction and speed.
• Tarantella—guests can learn the history of this fun folk dance from Italy and give it a spin on the dance floor. A virtual curator explains the dance and its cultural importance.
• Spider Silk—an oversized, interactive graphic panel illustrates spider silk. A Kevlar vest is displayed as an example of material that is nearly as strong as spider silk.
• Fangs, Claws, and Stingers—an oversized graphic panel that educates guests about arachnids’ various characteristics.
• Molting—an oversized graphic panel called “How Do Arachnids Grow?” has interactive flip panels that illustrate examples of molting. A slow-motion video shows a tarantula molting.
• Arachnid Anatomy—guests can test their knowledge on how well they know the body parts of an arachnid by matching puzzle pieces together on a magnetized wall.
• How Do You Measure Up?—guests can compare their size to that of modern day and prehistoric arachnids on a life-sized 6-foot by 8-foot banner.
• Arachnid Art Gallery—10 beautiful images by world-renown German arachnid photographer, Julian Kamzol, are displayed.

Mission Safari Maze

An immersive experience that introduces different themes of species’ survival and protection through play-and-learn interactives. The attraction features:

• 3,500-square-foot neon green modular-design maze
• Four giant colorful spinning wheels that highlight 48 missions or tasks that link guests to an animal. After spinning one of the wheel, guests are then challenged to move through the maze. Youngsters and families can play over and over again with a new adventure each time, all the while lending more and more meaning to their subsequent journey around the zoo to see the animals with which they now have a personal connection.
• Sixteen featured species, all which can all be seen at Brookfield Zoo. Animals include the bison, Amur tiger, Andean condor, bald eagle, black rhinoceros, black widow spider, Blanding’s turtle, Bornean orangutan, emperor scorpion, green-winged macaw, Indian peafowl, Orinoco crocodile, peacock tarantula, red knee tarantula, reticulated giraffe, and white-bellied pangolin.
• After spinning the wheel, zoogoers are then challenged to move through the attraction that features the following activities:
  • climb-on spider web
  • jungle vines
  • swinging bars
  • monorail zip slide

Arachnids…Did You Know?

• The word, arachnid, is derived from Greek mythology and the story of Arachne. Arachne was a gifted weaver who insulted the goddess Athena. Athena cursed Arachne. In despair, Arachne hanged herself. Not to be outdone, Athena brought Arachne back to life, transforming her into a spider and ever since Arachne hangs by and weaves her webs.
• Scientifically speaking, according to Merriam-Webster, arachnids are any of a class (Arachnida) of arthropods comprising chiefly of terrestrial invertebrates, including spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks, and having a segmented body divided into two regions of which the anterior bears four pairs of legs but no antennae.
• Insects are different from arachnids. Insects are any of a class (Insecta) of arthropods with a well-defined head, thorax, and abdomen, has only three pairs of legs, antennae, and typically one or two pairs of wings (Merriam-Webster). Examples include beetles, flies, and grasshoppers.
• There are approximately 45,000 documented species of spiders in the world. Only a small fraction of these (less than 1 percent) are known to be deadly to humans. Spider venom is usually relatively harmless to humans. It has evolved to capture and kill small invertebrates—not big mammals (like humans).
• There are about 3,000 species of spiders in North America. Only two species, the Loxosceles (recluses) and Latrodectus (widows) are considered dangerous.
• Eleven species of recluse spiders are in North America; about 100 exist throughout the world. The highly venomous brown recluse is the most common and is found in the southern United States coast to coast. Many other species of recluse are found throughout Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The brown recluse has a dark violin shape on its back. In addition, while most spiders have eight eyes, the recluse spiders only have six, arranged in pairs—one pair in front and a pair on either side. The recluse spider's venom can cause significant tissue loss and necrosis. It can be deadly to humans. Generally, when encountered, it is not an aggressive species and only bites when threatened.
• Thirty-two widow species are found worldwide; five are found in North America. The most common species in North America is the black widow, located from Canada to Mexico and the West Indies. The female black widow is usually shiny black with a red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen. The bite from a black widow is painful and may be fatal. The neurotoxic venom attacks the nervous system. Effective antivenom was developed in 1956. Its use prevents deaths in all but 1 percent of black widow bite victims.

Arachnids in Film and Music

• The earliest mention of spiders in film is the 1933 movie, “King Kong.” There was a scene filmed with sailors being shaken out of a tree by Kong and then being eaten by giant spiders. However, this scene was cut from the final movie.
• “Tarantula” (1955) was the most famous spider movie. Other movies that arachnids were featured in are: “Dr. No” (1962), “1977), “1990), “2000), “2001), “2002), “2007), and “Kong: Skull Island” (2017).
• One of the most famous scorpion movies is “ (2002). Others include: “1957), “2005), “2003), “2001), and “2010).
• The “Itsy Bitsy Spider” is probably the most familiar spider song. It is found in publications as early as 1910 and has been recorded and sung ever since. The song is sung as the “Incy Wincy Spider” in some parts of the world and some cultures sing the “Blooming Bloody Spider.”
• Science has honored several musicians by naming a spider after them. They include:
• Frank Zappa—(Pachygatha zappa) orb weaver found in Cameroon, Africa (1994)
• Johnny Cash—(Aphonopelma johnnycashi) tarantula found in California (2016)
• Buddy Holly—(Aphonopelma hollyi) Lubbock golden tarantula found in Texas (1995)
• Brian Eno—(Pseudocorinna brianeno) small wandering spider (2011)
• John Lennon—(Bumba lennoni) tarantula found in Brazil (2014)
• Pink Floyd—(Pinkfloydia harveii) small spider found in Australia (2011)
• Neil Young—(Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi), trapdoor spider found in Alabama (2007)
• Aptostichus bonoi) trapdoor spider found in California (2013)
• Lou Reed—(Loureedia annuilipes) velvet spider found in Israel (2012)

Arachnids in Science

• The venom from the Israeli deathstalker scorpion binds to cancer cells. By tying it to a fluorescent molecule, the venom acts like a flashlight. Doctors call this “tumor painting,” which has been used to identify brain, breast, colon, and skin cancer tumors.

• Scorpions have 17 amino acids and 14 trace elements that are essential to the human body. Hence, scorpions are nutritious foods. Long-term diets, including scorpion are believed to improve health.

• Arachnid venom could help increase the chances of heart transplants being successful.

• Yale and the University of Queensland in Australia have been studying spider venom to develop new painkiller medication. Yale is focusing its study on the Peruvian green velvet tarantula, the green blue bottle tarantula, and the Australian funnel-web spider. The toxins in the venoms block pain receptors. At Queensland, a university researcher gathered venom around the world from amateur arachnid enthusiasts. The researchers believe painkillers derived from spider toxins will not be addictive like commonly used opiate painkillers (like morphine and hydrocodone). Scorpion venom is also being used in painkiller medication research.

• The University of Buffalo began studying the Chilean rose hair tarantula whose venom contains a protein that could work as a treatment for muscular dystrophy. The protein in the venom slowed the progression of the disease. The drug derived from the venom’s protein remains stable in the patient’s body for a long period, which means infrequent doses that could hold down the cost of the medication. This research has led to other studies such as the prevention of cardiac failure.

Arachnids in Culture

• In Native American culture, the Spider Woman, from the Ojibwe, Hopi, and Navajo nations is very caring and looks out for children and others. She created dreamcatchers to filter out the bad dreams and only allow the good thoughts to enter the mind.
• In Jewish culture, there is a story of David being chased by King Saul. David hides in a cave. A spider spins a web over the opening of the cave and Saul and his men pass by it.
• In Islamic culture, oral tradition tells that during the Hijra, Muhammad and Abu Bakr were pursued by soldiers. They hid in a cave. Allah commanded a spider to spin a web across the opening concealing and protecting them from the soldiers.

Brookfield Zoo Fact Sheet

Opening

June 30, 1934, after seven years of construction.
 
Location
Brookfield Zoo sits on 216 acres located in Brookfield, Illinois, just 14 miles west of downtown Chicago.
The address is 8400 31st St., Brookfield, IL 60513. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located off First Avenue between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA, and PACE bus service.

Exhibits

Major animal exhibits include Australia House, Big Cats, Clouded Leopard Rain Forest, Desert’s Edge, Great Bear Wilderness, Hamill Family Play Zoo, Hamill Family Wild Encounters, Habitat Africa! The Forest, Habitat Africa! The Savannah, The Living Coast, Salt Creek Wilderness, The Swamp, Seven Seas, Tropic World, Reptiles and Birds, Pachyderm House, Feathers and Scales, Big Cats, and Butterflies! (seasonal).
 
Animal Collection
Individuals: more than 3,000
 
Facilities
Guest service facilities include restaurants, concession stands, gift shops, and souvenir stands. In addition, the zoo has picnic areas, several water features, two playgrounds, and a handcarved wooden carousel that can accommodate up to 5,000 guests a day. Additionally, there are outdoor Pavilions and other banquet facilities that may be rented out for private functions such as picnics, company outings, family reunions, and weddings.
 
Strollers, wheelchairs, and electronic convenience vehicles are able for rental at each entrance. The zoo has 14 ADA accessible restroom locations with diaper-changing facilities, adult diaper changing facilities, family restrooms, and baby-nursing areas. Additionally, the zoo has its own police force.

Hours

Brookfield Zoo is open daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with summer hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day) of
9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Indoor animal exhibits close one half hour before the zoo closes (Tropic World closes 45 minutes before the zoo closes). The zoo has extended hours during its Summer Nights and Holiday Magic special events.

Admission and Parking
General
Adults…………………………….. $21.95
Seniors (65 and over)…………..   $15.95
Children (3 to 11)………………..  $15.95
Children 2 and under……………  Free
 
Zoo admission is free on:

• Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from January through February.

• Tuesdays and Thursdays from October through December. Free admission is good only during regular zoo hours. Zoo admission fees apply to Holiday Magic.

Attraction Packages
From early spring through late fall, Brookfield Zoo offers ticket packages that include general zoo admission plus in-park attractions at discounted rates.
 
Group rates also are available to groups of 20 or more. For information on group rates, call (708) 688-8431.
 
Parking
Cars........................................ $14
Buses   ................................... $20
(A Cook County parking tax is included.)
 
In-Park Paid Attractions

• Dolphins in Action—$5 adults, $3 children 3-11 and seniors 65+

• Hamill Family Play Zoo—$3 for everyone

• Hamill Family Wild Encounters—$5 adults, $3 children 3-11 and seniors 65+

• The Carousel—$3 per rider (all seated riders require a ticket)*

• Butterflies! (open May 26-September 3, weather permitting)—$3 for everyone

• Amazing Arachnids (open May 26-September 3)—$5 adults, $3 children and seniors 65+

• Motor Safari (available early spring through late fall)—$5 adults, $3 children and seniors 65+

 
2018 Seasonal Events

Amazing Arachnids (May 26 to September 3)
Discover the marvels of eight-legged critters at Brookfield Zoo’s new temporary exhibit—Amazing Arachnid, which features two components. The first is Art and Science of Arachnids where guests can discover the cultural connections of eight-legged creatures that have weaved their way into a variety of genres, including music, art, folklore, medicine, conservation, film, and literature. In addition to engaging hands-on interactives, the exhibit features 100 live arachnids found around the world, making it the largest public collection of arachnids in North America. The second part of the exhibit is Mission Safar Mazei, a maze experience that blends education along with physical activity making it a unique learning adventure for guests of all ages. The interactive attraction connects guests to the stories and strengths of 16 species, which can all be seen at Brookfield Zoo. As they go through the 3,500-square-foot maze on one of the 48 missions, guests encounter a variety of play-and-learn activities, including a climb-on spider web, jungle vines, and monorail zip slide.
 
Zoo Brew (June 23 and 24)
Zoo Brew is a unique 21-and-over beer-tasting event featuring more than 60 beers. Guests can enjoy live music and bid on silent auction items, including branded beer tenders, specialty brews, and more.
 
Summer Nights (Friday and Saturdays, July 6 - August 18)
Enjoy Brookfield Zoo on summer evenings. From 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, relax on the zoo’s East Mall with enhanced dining, beer and wine gardens, roaming performers, kids’ entertainment, live music, and a spectacular laser light show, all surrounded by wildlife and nature.
 
Boo! at the Zoo (October 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28)
Brookfield Zoo’s annual Halloween celebration provides a haunting good time for the entire family. The not-so-scary event features a 7,000-square-foot corn maze, a hay ride, a costume parade, and Halloween-themed crafts and activities. In addition, there will be special animal Zoo Chats about some of the zoo’s creatures.
 
Holiday Magic (December 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, and 26-31)
This festival event features more than one million twinkling lights, animated light displays, and a laser light show. Many of the zoo’s exhibits will be open so zoogoers can visit their favorite animals. In addition, there will be a full schedule of nightly music and entertainment, professional ice-carving demonstrations, Zoo Chats, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus (through December 23) and costumed characters, and much more. A special Zoo Year’s Eve to ring in the New Year takes place on December 31 with an early family-friendly countdown at 8:00 p.m.
 
Website
www.CZS.org
 
Contact Information

• General Brookfield Zoo information: (708) 688-8000

• Chicago Zoological Society: (708) 688-8400

• TTY (for hearing impaired): (708) 688-8981

 
General Information

• More than two million guests visit Brookfield Zoo annually, including nearly 210,000 school group participants.

• The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, employs full-time and permanent part-time employees and seasonal employees.

• More than 900 volunteers and docents, including adult and youth volunteers, engage guests about the animals and the zoo’s conservation efforts.

• Brookfield Zoo has 115,000 membership households.

• More than 4,500 individuals participate in Brookfield Zoo’s Share the Care program, which helps provide for the care of the animals at the zoo.

• The Chicago Zoological Society has an operating budget of $65.4 million.

• The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

• The Forest Preserves of Cook County contributes approximately 22.6 percent of the gross operating budget. The Chicago Zoological Society obtains the remaining from admission and parking charges, in-park sales, membership fees, grants, and donations.

 
Press Contact
For all media inquiries and requests, contact Sondra Katzen at (708) 688-8351 or sondra.katzen@czs.org. 
 
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Photo Captions

Note: click on images or links below to download full resolution version of images.

Photo credit: Minotaur Mazes

Arachnid_1001.jpg
(Photo credit: Minotaur Mazes)
In Mission Safari Maze at Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids summer exhibit, guests spin one of four wheels, which features tasks linking them to one of the 16 highlighted animals. After discovering their mission, zoogoers embark on a unique interactive learning adventure through a 3,500-square-foot maze.


Arachnid_1002.jpg
(Photo credit: Minotaur Mazes)
Swinging bars is one of the interactives in the Mission Safari Maze at Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids summer exhibit. The unique learning adventure connects guests to the stories and strengths of 16 species, which can all be seen at the zoo.


Arachnid_1003.jpg
(Photo credit: Minotaur Mazes)
At Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids, guests can climb on a spider web in Mission Safari Maze. The summer exhibit engages guests to learn about and make a connection with one of the 16 species that is featured in the 3,500-square-foot maze. Families can play over and over again to experience a new adventure each time.


Arachnid_1004.jpg
(Photo credit: Minotaur Mazes)
A monorail zip slide in Mission Safari Maze is one of the interactives at Brookfield Zoo’s summer exhibit—Amazing Arachnids. The unique learning adventure connects guests to the stories and strengths of 16 species, which can all be seen at the zoo.

Photo credit: Build 4 Impact

Arachnid_1005.jpg
(Photo credit: Build 4 Impact)
Families can participate in a variety of hands-on interactives, including weaving a web, in the Art and Science of Arachnids component at Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids, which is open from May 26 through September 3.


Arachnid_1006.jpg
(Photo credit: Build 4 Impact)
Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids summer exhibit allows guests to discover the unique characteristics and significance of eight-legged critters in three genres—art, culture, and science.


Arachnid_1007.jpg
(Photo credit: Build 4 Impact)
An African burrowing scorpion, is one of 100 arachnids that can be seen at Brookfield Zoo’s summer exhibit—Amazing Arachnids.


Arachnid_1008.jpg
(Photo credit: Build 4 Impact)
A baboon spider can be seen at Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids exhibit from May 26 through September 3. The exhibit features 100 live eight-legged critters, making it the largest public collection of arachnids in North America.


Arachnid_1009.jpg
(Photo credit: Build 4 Impact)
The ornamental baboon tarantula, which is found in Africa, is one of 100 arachnids that can be seen at Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids exhibit from May 26 through September 3.
 

Photo credit: Jim Schulz/Chicago Zoological Society

1010: Guests to Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids exhibit can get close up views of more than 100 arachnids. The exhibit continues through September 3.


1011: Guests to Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids exhibit can get close up views of more than 100 arachnids. The exhibit continues through September 3.

1012 : Guests can learn to dance the tarantella at Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids exhibit, which is open through September 3.

1013 : Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids is open through September 3. The exhibit gives guests the opportunity to discover the unique characteristics and significance of eight-legged critters in three genres—art, culture, and science. In addition to colorful graphics, the exhibit features100 live eight-legged critters, making it the largest public collection of arachnids in North America.

1014 : In Mission Safari Maze at Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids summer exhibit, guests spin one of four wheels, which features tasks linking them to one of the 16 highlighted animals. After discovering their mission, zoogoers embark on a unique interactive learning adventure through a 3,500-square-foot maze.

1015 : Animal care staff bring the nuances of the species to life with amazing facts and lively tales during spontaneous Zoo Chats at Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids. Guests not only get up-close views of various arachnids, they also can learn what arachnids eat, how they survive in the wild, what are their natural predators, and how—as individuals and families—they can help play a vital part in preserving arachnids and their habitats.

1016 : At Brookfield Zoo’s Amazing Arachnids, guests can climb on a spider web in Mission Safari Maze. The summer exhibit engages guests to learn about and make a connection with one of the 16 species that is featured in the 3,500-square-foot maze. Families can play over and over again to experience a new adventure each time.