This winter has come and gone quickly, as always, making it easy to forget what happened. However, a few significant events did take place, especially at the Brookfield Zoo.
Since January, several new baby animals have been born and hatched at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. These include Humboldt penguin chicks, a nyala antelope calf, and a Western gray kangaroo joey. Fortunately, visitors will be able to see these new arrivals—many of which are endangered species—during their visits to the Zoo this spring.
Dr. Sathya Chinnadurai, senior vice president of animal health, welfare, and science at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, said:
These younglings demonstrate our commitment to protecting biodiversity, and we hope they inspire conservation leadership and connections to wildlife while guests visit Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
New Baby Animals at Brookfield Zoo
Humboldt Penguins
A pair of Humboldt penguin chicks recently hatched at the Living Coast at the end of January. Visitors can see the newest members of the colony starting in June.
Nyala Antelope
A Nyala antelope calf was born on February 25 to Zola, an experienced mother at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. The calf is scheduled to make her debut at Habitat Africa! The Savannah in May.
Binturongs
Baby binturongs are expected to arrive any day now! Kartika, an experienced mother, is nearing the end of her 90-day gestation period, during which binturongs typically give birth to two at a time.
Visitors can observe Kartika’s check-ups and ultrasounds while visiting the Clouded Leopard Rain Forest, which helps caregivers ensure her health and the critical developmental milestones of the young binturongs.
Emperor Spotted Newts
For the first time in its history, Brookfield Zoo Chicago welcomed six Emperor spotted newts that hatched in January. Also known as Kaiser’s mountain newts, these small amphibians are only found in one location in the wild: a spring-fed pool in the Zagros Mountains of Iran. Learn more about this Critically Endangered species while visiting the Zoo’s Swamp habitat.
Lake Titicaca Frogs
The Lake Titicaca frog population laid eggs in their habitat in Reptiles & Birds—a huge milestone for the zoo. Subsequently, the eggs were moved to a behind-the-scenes area for close monitoring by animal care experts, resulting in five successfully metamorphosed frogs that guests can expect to see in their habitat later this spring.
Saffron Finches
The Zoo’s Reptile and Bird aviary will soon welcome two new saffron finches that hatched in January. These songbirds do not migrate, so guests can expect a variety of singing during their visit to the Brookfield Zoo.
Silver-Beaked Tanagers
Two silver-beaked tanagers hatched on February 23, supporting the AZA’s SSP for the species. These small tanagers are native to northern South America and are often seen in large mixed-species flocks in the wild, similar to how guests can observe them in both the Feathers & Scales and Reptiles & Birds habitats.
Western Gray Kangaroo
A joey has also joined the mob, or group, of Western gray kangaroos at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. This species is part of an AZA SSP and has a short gestation period of about 30 days. Guests can participate in “joey watch” at the Australia habitat later this summer.