Categories: Entertainment and Attractions

Zoos: Brookfield Zoo

Author: Jody Robbins and Molly Ryan

The Brookfield Zoo, in Brookfield , Ill., has more than 3,000 animals on the grounds, which cover 216 acres filled with a globe's worth of environments and habitats. Walk through these varied surroundings and take in everything from dolphins to otters, giraffes, and even black rhino. The wilderness factor here ranges from the North American domestic animals featured in The Children's Zoo to the more pack-ish inhabitants of the Regenstein Wolf Woods, home to a pack of Mexican gray wolves. Founded in 1934, this was one of the first zoos to use moats and ditches to keep animals separated from zoo-goers instead of confining cages, and the innovative spirit continues to this day.

Animal Exhibits at the Zoo

New faces are always popping up and, in 2007, one of the celebrated arrivals was Hudson, a polar bear cub. The mother, Akri, emerged from her den with her cub in April, and the little one made his debut in the ‘Bear Grottos' at the Brookfield Zoo. That's only one of the animal exhibits on the expansive grounds here, twelve miles west of downtown Chicago. Make sure to check out some of the other most esteemed exhibits listed below:

• Habitat Africa! The Forest—Opened in spring of 2000, this stellar exhibit gives a sweeping view of the way different peoples see the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is comprised of 3.6 wooded acres and contains around 20 different animal species including the rare okapi, a relative of the giraffe.
• Pachyderm House—See big mammals weighing in at over a ton, including African elephants and black rhinos. The endangered rhinos shown here are members of a captive breeding program, as there are only 2,300 of them left in the world. Learn all about these remarkable species along with other large animals at this exhibit.
• Regenstein Wolf Woods—See one of the natural world's most intriguing denizens in a close approximation of their natural habitat at this 2.1-acre exhibit on Indian Lake . It is home to a pack of Mexican gray wolves, the most endangered sub-species of gray wolf in North America.
• Seven Seas- Take a break from the mammals and experience that oceanic world at this dolphin exhibit. The extremely intelligent species perform jaw-dropping tricks while zoo-ology experts teach the audience about the importance of dolphin conservation and social structures. 
• For an interactive map of the zoo grounds, and additional information click here.

Where to Eat
With over eight restaurants and snack shacks, all guests can munch on a light snack or pig out at the Brookfeild Zoo. La Gran Cocina Food Court is a good option, with tacos, pizza, burgers, and dogs, and healthier options like grilled chicken sandwiches, sushi, and fresh fruit. For a sit-down meal, visit the Safari Grill or the Bison Prarie Grill. Or, keep an eye on the baboons while you munch at the Nyani Lodge. All food at the zoo has 0% transfat so guests can enjoy a healthier eating experience.

Where to Shop
When you buy merchandise at the gift shop here, you are also helping to pay for zoo operations. In other words, you're taking care of the animals, so shop! A top-selling item is Hug an Ape!, a plush baby gorilla hand puppet. There are also lots of other high-quality stuffed animals, games, umbrellas, toys and play sets, carousel collector's items, and merchandise for the home. Take the time to visit one of the eight stores spread throughout the zoo to bring home a fun souvenir!

How to Give Back 

Brookfield Zoo:Contribute.

Check out places of interest near Zoos: Brookfield Zoo:

Rainforest Cafe
605 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610

Kids love this restaurant. The menu contains a mish-mash of fusion fare, but the real attraction to this scene is the tropical fauna and animals feigning life through mechanistic motions.