News Release
 
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
 
January 19, 2022
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
NOTE: Scroll to end of press release to download photos.

   

Brookfield, Ill.  – Today, January 19, is National Popcorn Day, and as in previous years, in celebration of the event, the western lowland gorillas at Brookfield Zoo were treated to the low-fat snack food.

The air-popped popcorn rained upon the gorillas from timed feeders that are located in their habitat at Tropic World: Africa. The feeders, which are part of the zoo’s enrichment program, allow various food items, including popcorn, to be released at random times during the day, encouraging the animals to forage for food.

Also, joining in the celebration this year were the zoo’s lowland tapirs, Sonny and Sorghum (pronounced soar-gum), who seemed to enjoy the tasty treat. And, the zoo’s Polish chicken named Imelda (pronounced eye-melda) foraged through her supply of popcorn to get at some yummy mealworms.

According to several websites, the United States is the top country of popcorn consumption.

   
 
Photo Captions (credit Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo)
1632 and 1634: Animal care specialists at Brookfield Zoo gave Sonny, a lowland tapir, a tasty snack of air-popped popcorn in celebration of National Popcorn Day.
 
1683: Zachary, a western lowland gorilla at Brookfield Zoo, holds out his hand to catch some popcorn as it rains down in his habitat at Tropic World: Africa. Several of the animals received the tasty snack in celebration of National Popcorn Day, which is today, January 19.
 
1723 and 1729: Today, January 19, is National Popcorn Day, and in celebration of the event, a few of the animals at Brookfield Zoo received the tasty snack. Here, Kamba, a western lowland gorilla, holds her hands out as the popcorn is released from timed feeders in the zoo’s Tropic World: Africa habitat.
 
1907: Imelda (pronounced eye-melda), a Polish chicken, forages through popcorn, on National Popcorn Day, to find a tasty mealworm.
 

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. The zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and also is accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, and CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.