News Release
 
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
 
March 28, 2018
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
Note: For images of apes at Brookfield Zoo, download below:
Photo Captions
8958 and 9659: Heidi, a 1-year-old orangutan at Brookfield Zoo.
 
9601: Ben, a Bornean orangutan, can be seen in Brookfield Zoo’s Tropic World: Asia habitat.
 
9137: Guests can discover interesting facts about orangutans, including Kecil, at special Zoo Chats during Brookfield Zoo’s Ape Awareness Weekend on April 14 and 15.
 
2956: Guests can learn about white-cheeked gibbons, including Indah and her son, Neubo, during Brookfield Zoo’s Ape Awareness Weekend on April 14 and 15.
 
8055: During Brookfield Zoo’s Ape Awareness Weekend—April 14 and 15—animal care staff will present Zoo Chats about western lowland gorillas.
 
9853: Nora (left) and Zachary, two western lowland gorillas at Brookfield Zoo, will be featured during special Zoo Chats on Ape Awareness Weekend—April 14 and 15.
 
9909: Brookfield Zoo’s Ape Awareness Weekend highlights the three species of apes that guests can see in Tropic World, including the western lowland gorilla. Pictured are Kamba (left) and JoJo, who can be seen in the zoo’s Tropic World: Africa habitat.
 
Swing On Over to Brookfield Zoo for Ape Awareness Weekend
 
            Brookfield, Ill. –Witness the agility, strength, and intelligence of three ape species during Brookfield Zoo’s Ape Awareness Weekend on Saturday, April 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and Sunday, April 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The annual, two-day event takes place at Brookfield Zoo’s Tropic World and highlights the zoo’s western lowland gorillas, orangutans, and white-cheeked gibbons.
            Throughout the weekend, guests can participate in interactive, ape-related activities such as comparing their own weight, arm length, and hand size with those of an orangutan and gorilla, or building apelike nests using paper and wheelbarrows. There will be explanations of the types of food that apes eat in the wild and presentations that include items that are used for training the animals to participate in their own health care.
            On both days, zoogoers can attend special Zoo Chats throughout Tropic World to learn more about ape populations, including the dangers they face in the wild and what can be done to help them. Informal talks about orangutans and white-cheeked gibbons will take place in the Asia section at noon and 1:00 p.m. respectively. Get an overview about primate conservation at 2:00 p.m. in the South America section. The final chat will be about western lowland gorillas at 2:45 p.m. in the Africa section.
            “Ape Awareness Weekend provides a fantastic opportunity for our guests to learn about apes, but also the importance of conservation efforts to protect these magnificent creatures,” said Amy Roberts, curator of mammals for the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo.
            For those interested in learning more about the three species of apes at Brookfield Zoo, visit CZS.org/ApeAware to download fun activity sheets. Another great way zoogoers can get involved is to donate old cell phones, cell phone accessories, pagers, handheld games, e-readers, and laptops at the zoo’s recycling stations, which are located at the North and South Gates. Coltan—a metallic ore used in the manufacturing of these products—is primarily mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The greater the demand for these electronics, the greater the demand for coltan, the mining of which results in the destruction of gorilla habitats. Recycling helps reduce mining and thus supports conservation and species survival.
            According to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN), western lowland gorillas, orangutans, and white-cheeked gibbons are all critically endangered in their native habitats. Depending on the species, the causes for the decline in their populations vary – they include illegal hunting, deforestation, the bushmeat trade, disease, and climate change.
            Admission is $21.95 for adults and $15.95 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and older. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Parking is $14 for cars and $20 for buses. (A Cook County parking tax is included.) For more information about Ape Awareness Weekend at Brookfield Zoo, visit CZS.org/Events or call (708) 688-8000.
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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 31^st 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.