Brookfield Zoo, also known as the Chicago Zoological Park, is a zoo located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield, Illinois. It houses around 450 species of animals in an area of 216 acres (87 ha). It opened on July 1, 1934, and quickly gained international recognition for using moats and ditches instead of cages to separate animals from visitors and from other animals. The zoo was also the first in America to exhibit giant pandas, one of which (Su Lin[5]) has been taxidermied and put on display in Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History. In 1960, Brookfield Zoo built the nation's first fully indoor dolphin exhibit, and in the 1980s, the zoo introduced Tropic World, the first fully indoor rain forest simulation and the thenlargest indoor zoo exhibit in the world.

The Brookfield Zoo is owned by the Cook County Forest Preserve District and managed by the Chicago Zoological Society. The society sponsors numerous research and conservation efforts globally.

Areas:

Australia House:
Retreat to the world down under when you step into Australia House and discover fascinating animals from this continent. Watch a pair of echidnas nose about in a dirt pile, or spot wombats as they scurry for their burrow. Freeflying Rodriques fruit bats often soar overhead and can also be found resting as they hang from the ceiling. Roam the outdoor landscape to see emus and step onto the overlook platform to view a mob of kangaroos.

Big Cats:
Take a stroll along the Big Cats walkway to meet some of the world's most beautiful yet endangered big cats. See the African lions lounging on the rocks, just inches away from you; watch the tigers prowl and splash in their stream; and find the amur leopard and snow leopards perching gracefully overhead their habitats.

Feathers and Scales:
Feathers and Scales has a new spring look! The exhibit, previously a desert habitat, has been renovated into a lush rain forest habitat that features more individual tropical birds as well as additional species. There's lots of bird activity in the openair exhibit so don't forget to stop by on your next visit!

Desert's Edge:
Explore North Africa at the Desert's Edge. Try your luck at finding the stealthy caracal, and try popping up like a meerkat! Then watch the naked mole rat dig, dig, dig!

Clouded Leopard Rain Forest:
Travel to Asia and explore the wonders of the Clouded Leopard Rain Forest. First you will be welcomed by the sights, smells, and sounds of the rain forest. Here you can see the mysterious clouded leopard, the popcornscented binturong, and the various insects and plants that add to the rain forest.

The Great Bear Wilderness:
Go eyetoeye with iconic North American animals at Great Bear Wilderness! Encounter bison exhibited in a prairie setting; view bald eagle in a mesh aviary behind a virtually invisible barrier; and observe a pack of Mexican gray wolves behind a unique glass inside Regenstein Woods. Then, enter the bear yards and get an underwater view of the polar bears and grizzlies diving and playing in their swimming pools.

Living Coast:
Come inside the Living Coast and gaze at fish, corals, and even sharks. Large tanks will immerse you in ocean life, while smaller ones will offer upclose windows to the water world’s tiniest creatures. Then, explore the Rocky Shores of South America to see Inca terns soar above a colony of Humboldt penguins.

Pachyderm House:
The Pachyderm House is home to pygmy hippos, tapirs and rhinos. Watch a pygmy hippo nap in its mud wall or the tapir taking a swim. Check out the rhino as they beat the heat with a roll around in the dust to protect their sensitive skin and keep the bugs from biting. Whether indoor or outdoor, learn about the preservation of these endangered animals.

Pinniped Point:
Pinniped is a Latin word that means “finfooted.” In this exhibit, you’ll get an upclose and underwater views of sea lions and seals and observe their way of life – how they hunt, communicate, mate, and survive harsh conditions.

Regenstein Wolf Woods:
Awoooo! Hear that? That's a Mexican Grey Wolf asking you to come visit the Regenstein Wolf Woods. Here you can get almost nosetonose with these wolves through a oneway viewing glass.

Seven Seas:
Dive into ocean life and enjoy an up close view of our resident common bottlenose dolphins through an underwater viewing room. Then, learn about dolphin social structures, adaptations, and more when you attend one of Brookfield Zoo’s daily Dolphins in Action in the Seven Seas Dolphinarium.

Source: https://www.czs.org/BrookfieldZOO/Ho...