Chicago Zoological Society

TO INSPIRE CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP BY CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH WILDLIFE AND NATURE.

PARK OPERATIONS THE CZS MAINTAINS 75 BUILDINGS ON 214 ACRES OF LAND TO EXHIBIT OVER 2,500 ANIMALS. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, TWO MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE OF SEEING AND LEARNING ABOUT THE ANIMALS OF THE WORLD. EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT ENTERS THROUGH BROOKFIELD ZOOS GATES REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WILD WORLD, TO CONVEY OUR INTERTWINED CONNECTIONS TO THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, AND TO ENCOURAGE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE WORLD. THE ZOO IS OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. ADMISSION IS FREE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC 52 DAYS/YEAR AND AT ALL TIMES TO ILLINOIS SCHOOL GROUPS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL. THE MEMBERSHIP TEAM SERVICES OUR 111,000 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS, PROVIDING THEM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONSERVATION AND EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS OF CZS. THE EVENTS TEAM PROVIDES SEASONAL AND ANIMAL THEMED EVENTS SUCH AS EARTH DAY PARTY, APE AWARENESS WEEKEND, HOLIDAY MAGIC AND BOO AT THE ZOO. VISITOR SERVICES PROVIDES NARRATED TRAM TOURS AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS IN THE PARK.

CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ANIMAL WELL-BEING CSAW MORE THAN 2500 AMBASSADORS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM PROVIDE OUR VISITORS WITH A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SPECIES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE AND EXPERIENCE UP CLOSE, PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS WITH SOME. EXPERT CARE OF THESE AMBASSADORS IS A TIME-HONORED TRADITION AT CZS, WHERE INNOVATIONS IN HUSBANDRY TECHNIQUES AND PIONEERING BREEDING PROGRAMS ARE PART OF THE CUTTTING EDGE CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE. CSAW STAFF INTEGRATE DISCIPLINES SUCH AS POPULATION BIOLOGY, BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE, NUTRITION AND VETERINARY SCIENCE TO DETERMINE THE BEST WAYS TO PROVIDE AND CONTINUOUSLY CARE FOR THE ANIMALS. THEY ALSO INCORPORATE MODELS AND PRACTICES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AND FROM AN ARRAY OF ANIMAL CARE PROFESSIONALS, TO DEVELOP THE BEST POSSIBLE ZOO-BASED ANIMAL CARE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. THROUGH KEEPER CHATS AND AMBASSADOR ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS, CSAW STAFF SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE ANIMALS IN THEIR CARE WITH ZOO GUESTS, HELPING THEM GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR ALL CITIZENS OF THE NATURAL WORLD.

CENTER FOR CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP CCL THROUGH ITS MANY CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CZS COMMUNICATES WITH OTHERS TO ENGENDER IN THEM A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP ABOUT LIVING HARMONIOUSLY WITH NATURE AND HELPING SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES. EDUCATION SPECIALISTS, VOLUNTEERS, CURATORS, GRAPHIC AND EXHIBIT DESIGNERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND MANY OTHERS CONTRIBUTE TO SHARING THIS INFORMATION BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. AS WELL AS REACHING THE DAILY VISITORS TO THE ZOO, CZS ENGAGES WOULD BE CONSERVATIONISTS OUTSIDE OF THE ZOO INCLUDING CLASSROOMS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. ADDITIONALLY THROUGH FIELD PROGRAMS, CZS SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE POPULATIONS OF THREATENED SPECIES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. THE CCL STRENGTHENS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION, BETWEEN FIELD RESEARCH AND THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.