News Release

October 23, 2019
 
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Animals at Brookfield Zoo Enjoy Halloween Treats
 
Brookfield, Ill. — Today, several of the animals at Brookfield Zoo received Halloween treats—pumpkins. Hani and Kartik, the zoo’s two sloths bears clawed their way to get at pumpkins’ innards. Norman, a cape porcupine, enjoyed eating the pumpkin. Sandy, a nearly 1-year-old binturong, played with small pumpkins and enjoyed some of the treats animal care staff put inside, including grapes, apples, and bananas. The zoo’s dwarf Nigerian goats enjoyed playing with and eating the fall gourds. And, Adele, a Nile hippo, also seemed to like her treat.

Animals will also be receiving pumpkins during the final weekend of Brookfield Zoo’s Boo! at the Zoo Halloween celebration on Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Ferrara, the event’s presenting sponsor, will also be handing out sweet treats to young guests at candy stations throughout the park.

As part of the Chicago Zoological Society’s Center for the Science of Animal Welfare, staff are always thinking of ways to physically and mentally stimulate the animals at Brookfield Zoo. One way is by providing them with enrichment items they normally do not receive on a regular basis, including pumpkins.

#      #      #
 
About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by engaging people and communities 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^stStreet 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.
 

Photo Captions—credit Jim Schulz/Chicago Zoological Society

7513 and 7532: Kartik, one of Brookfield Zoo’s sloth bears, claws at his pumpkin to get to the seeds.

7782, 7799, and 7805: Sandy, a nearly 1-year-old male binturong and a member of Brookfield Zoo’s animal ambassador program, was treated to several small pumpkins. Some were filled with grapes, apples and bananas.

7879: One of Brookfield Zoo’s Nigerian dwarf goats plays with a pumpkin. As part of the zoo’s enrichment program. staff are always thinking of ways to physically and mentally stimulate the animals. One way is by providing them with enrichment items they normally do not receive on a regular basis, including pumpkins.

7967 and 8004: Brookfield Zoo’s dwarf Nigerian goats enjoyed receiving some Halloween treats—pumpkins.

7854: Charlotte, a Chilean rose hair tarantula at Brookfield Zoo, sits atop a pumpkin.

7427: A grey’s tree frog at Brookfield Zoo peers out from the eye of a carved pumpkin.

7635: Norman, a cape porcupine eats a Halloween treat at Brookfield Zoo.

8038: Adele, a pygmy hippo at Brookfield Zoo, opens her mouth wide to get ready to chomp on her pumpkin.