Chicago Zoological Society

The Chicago Zoological Society operates Brookfield Zoo Chicago (BZC) and is a global leader in animal care and conservation, inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. A private nonprofit organization, the Society has operated BZC on 235 acres of land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County since 1934. The Zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 species—including many of planet's most endangered species. Brookfield Zoo Chicago was the first zoo in the world to be Humane Certified™ by the American Humane Society for the care and welfare of its animals, and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and ArbNet. Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s mantra – Connect. Care. Conserve. – reflects the journey it aims to inspire: connecting with people and communities, fostering care for the natural world, and driving behavior change to conserve wildlife and wild places. The Zoo leads cutting-edge science and research, advocates for conservation policy, and leverages deep biological understanding of animals to develop practical and nature-based solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss. Its impact is far-reaching, including: •Leading collaborative efforts to sustain and conserve populations of animals in professional care and in the wild. Brookfield Zoo Chicago is a founding partner of the North American Pangolin Consortium, leader of the Polar Bear Population Alliance, and support numerous global conservation programs. •Engaging in ongoing species and ecosystem health research around the globe with the goal of informing conservation strategies. The Zoo’s portfolio of wildlife studies includes the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (the world’s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population over 50+ years), ecosystem and wildlife health of wildlife native to the Chicago area, and coastal marine wildlife in Peru, among many other programs. •Supporting breeding in professional care to enable reintroduction programs for species that were once extinct in the wild, among others, including Mexican wolves, Guam kingfishers (sihek), and Puerto Rican crested toads. •Contributing to 12 species-specific conservation efforts as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program. The Zoo’s efforts through SAFE aim to sustain populations, contribute to research and conservation initiatives that support wild populations, and educate the public. •Managing the Chicago Board of Trade Endangered Species Fund, which has provided $2.4 million in funding to more than 550 conservation projects globally since its inception in 1988. The projects focus on the conservation and research of species or ecosystems listed on the IUCN Red List. •Aiding in rescue efforts when animals are deemed non-releasable, such as providing a permanent home for animals intercepted from wildlife trafficking schemes. As it stands on the brink of its 100th anniversary in 2034, Brookfield Zoo Chicago is poised to embark on an extraordinary journey with its Next Century Plan, unveiled in July 2024. This ambitious vision aims to elevate the Zoo to unprecedented heights, leveraging over 90 years of unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation. With the urgent call to action against climate change and biodiversity loss, the Zoo’s mission is more critical than ever.