News Release

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

November 21, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ring-tailed Lemurs at Brookfield Zoo Receive Thanksgiving Feast

Brookfield, Ill. – A holiday tradition continued today at Brookfield Zoo as animal care staff gave the ring-tailed lemurs—Ramses, Dogwood, and Sam Bass—a Thanksgiving feast. The menu featured sweet potato pie topped with popcorn, cranberry sauce, steamed vegetables, grape juice, and turkey made of nutritional monkey biscuits, honey, and water. New this year, the lemurs had their own Thanksgiving parade complete with floats that highlighted the zoo’s Roosevelt Fountain and Chicago Wolves Skating Rink, and even the Chicago skyline. The lemurs also enjoyed treats of dried cranberries that donned each float.

Many families make a visit to Brookfield Zoo on Thanksgiving Day a tradition. Guests can visit the lemurs at the Hamill Family Place Zoo exhibit on November 22. Admission to the zoo and the exhibit are on free on Thanksgiving Day (a parking fee still applies). Those attending Chicago’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 22 can see a float from Brookfield Zoo.

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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—credit Cathy Bazzoni/Chicago Zoological Society
3: Butch, a ring-tailed lemur at Brookfield Zoo, looks over a Thanksgiving feast prepared by the animal care staff.

22: Moses, a ring-tailed lemur at Brookfield Zoo, enjoys a pumpkin and sweet potato pie with figs, prepared by the animal care staff. The crust was made of a primate biscuit, rice cereal, and honey.

56: Skinner, one of Brookfield Zoo’s ring-tailed lemurs, enjoys a “turkey” made of a nutritious primate biscuit, applesauce, and honey. The lemurs have been treated to a Thanksgiving feast for the past six years.

68, 71, 72: Sam Bass (left) and Skinner, two of Brookfield Zoo’s ring-tailed lemurs enjoy their annual Thanksgiving feast prepared by the animal care staff. The menu included “turkey” made of the lemurs’ nutritious primate biscuit, applesauce and honey. Accompaniments were pumpkin and sweet potato pie with figs and a crust made of primate biscuit, rice cereal, and honey; gelatin topped with dried cranberries; and apple juice.

MEDIA CONTACT:

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

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