News Release
 
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
 
February 14, 2023
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
NOTE: Scroll to end of press release to download photos.
 
Animals at Brookfield Zoo Receive Valentine’s Enrichment Treats
 

Brookfield, Ill.—This week, several of Brookfield Zoo’s animals received heart-shaped enrichment treats from their animal care specialists in celebration of Valentine’s Day.

Norman, a Cape porcupine, and PJ, a prehensile-tailed porcupine, each chowed down their heart-shaped treats made of nutritious biscuits and gelatin. The Zoo’s grey seals, including Kiinaq (pronounced Key-knack), were given frozen and gelatin treats. Watermelon in the shape of hearts were enjoyed by the Galapagos tortoises and a 3-year-old pygmy hippopotamus named Banana. And, just over 400 miles to the north in Minnesota, where the Zoo’s bottlenose dolphins are temporarily residing while their habitat is being renovated, the animal care staff made Valentine’s Day ice treats for the marine mammals.

The animal care staff is always thinking of ways to physically and mentally stimulate the animals at Brookfield Zoo. One way is by providing them with a variety of different enrichment and food items they normally do not receive on a regular basis.

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Photo Captions (credit Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo)
5352: Norman, a Cape porcupine at Brookfield Zoo, received heart-shaped treats made of a complete-balanced biscuit and gelatin.
 
5413 and 5421: PJ, 10-month-old prehensile-tailed porcupine, seems to enjoy her heart-shaped nutritious treat she received for Valentine’s Day.
 
5458: Several of Brookfield Zoo’s animals, including Kiinaq, a grey seal, were given heart-shaped treats for Valentine’s Day.
 
5626: One of Brookfield Zoo’s Galapagos tortoises chomps on a heart-shaped watermelon. Several of the Zoo’s animals were treated to special enrichment treats for Valentine’s Day.
 
5668: Three-year-old Banana, a pygmy hippopotamus at Brookfield Zoo, eyes her heart-shaped watermelon she received from her animal care specialists for Valentine’s Day.


About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people to 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 also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association. Brookfield 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.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sondra Katzen
Director of Public Relations
Office: 708-688-8351
Cell Phone: 708-903-2071
E-mail: Sondra.Katzen@CZS.org

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