News Release

Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org

September 5, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Animals at Brookfield Zoo Celebrate 100th Season of Their Favorite Football Team

Brookfield, Ill. – Today, September 5, Brookfield Zoo’s grizzly bears and ring-tailed lemurs celebrated the kickoff to the 100th football season and showed their support for their Chicago home team.

Axhi and Jim, the zoo’s two grizzlies were treated to frozen ice treats in the shape of the number 100. Animal care staff dyed the numbers blue and orange and filled them with oranges and blueberries.

At the zoo’s Hamill Family Play Zoo staff created a football field, complete with yard lines, goal posts, fans in the stands, and a fly-over plane wishing their favorite team congratulations on its 100th season. The lemurs—Dogwood, Moses, Ramses, and Butch—were treated to their nutritional monkey biscuit diet in the shape of a football and topped with coconut flakes that made up the stitching. In addition, they dined on popcorn and vegetables and washed it all down with apple juice.

Brookfield Zoo is also celebrating a special anniversary. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Edith Rockefeller McCormick donating 83 acres of land to the Forest Preserves of Cook County for the express purpose of creating a modern zoo. Brookfield Zoo now sits on 216 acres and is visited by more than two million guests annually.

# # #

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. Open every day of the year, 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, CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.

Photo Captions—photos by Kelly Tone/Chicago Zoological Society

1703: Jim, one of Brookfield Zoo’s grizzly bears, is treated to orange and blue ice treats filled with oranges and blueberries in celebration of their favorite Chicago football team celebrating the start of their 100th season.

1743, 1778, and 1788: Axhi, one of Brookfield Zoo’s grizzly bears, is treated to orange and blue ice treats filled with oranges and blueberries in celebration of their favorite Chicago football team celebrating the start of their 100th season.

1937, 1949, 1967, 1981, 1990, and 1996: In celebration of Chicago’s football team celebrating its 100th season, Brookfield Zoo’s ring-tailed lemurs were treated to a tailgate party complete with their own football field, yard lines, goal posts, fans in the stands, and a fly-over plane wishing their favorite team congratulations. The lemurs—Dogwood, Moses, Ramses, and Butch—were treated to their nutritional monkey biscuit diet in the shape of a football and topped with coconut flakes that made up the stitching. In addition, they dined on popcorn and vegetables and washed it all down with apple juice.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sondra Katzen
Media Relations Manager
Office: 708-688-8351
Cell Phone: 708-903-2071
E-mail: Sondra.Katzen@CZS.org

Membership

Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare

Read about our innovative practices in animal welfare to ensure the ultimate care of our individual animals.

 
Membership

Visit Brookfield Zoo

Create extraordinary connections with animals and nature!

Animal Welfare

You Can Help!

Become our partner in caring for animals and in connecting people with wildlife and nature.