Brookfield Zoo, located in the heart of Illinois, offers a unique opportunity for visitors to engage with a variety of animal species through its Wild Connections program. These immersive animal encounters allow guests to get up close and personal with the zoo’s residents, contributing to conservation efforts and supporting the zoo’s initiatives.
Wild Connections: Unique Animal Encounters
Brookfield Zoo’s Wild Connections program features a range of exciting animal encounters that cater to different interests and age groups. From feeding flamingos to interacting with macaws, these experiences provide a deeper understanding of the animals and their habitats.
Animal Ambassador Adventure
This 30-minute encounter allows participants to meet one of the zoo’s animal ambassadors, such as prehensile-tailed porcupines, cape porcupines, tamanduas, or sloths. The cost is $150 for one or two participants, and participants must be at least 8 years old. The encounter includes an animal training or play session and learning about the animal’s favorite foods and conservation efforts.
Flamingo Feeding Adventure
Visitors can engage in the Flamingo Feeding Adventure, where they have the opportunity to feed the zoo’s vibrant flamingos under the guidance of animal care specialists.
Macaw Playtime Adventure
Participants can enjoy playtime with macaws, learning about their behavior and conservation efforts.
Otter Adventure
This encounter provides an opportunity to interact with otters and learn about their habitat and conservation.
Penguin Encounter
Visitors can get up close and personal with penguins, learning about their habitat and conservation initiatives.
Other Encounters and Experiences
Brookfield Zoo offers additional unique experiences for visitors to explore.
Shark Feeding Experience
Participants can assist in feeding sharks in the Living Coast exhibit, learning about shark behavior and conservation. The cost is $100 for 1 to 2 participants, and participants must be at least 12 years old.
North American Prairie Aviary
This new habitat features a spacious 3,000-square-foot area with Sandhill Cranes and Greater Prairie Chickens, offering a unique bird-watching experience.
Ferris Wheel
The zoo’s 130-foot Ferris wheel ride provides panoramic views of the zoo and its animal exhibits.
Conservation and Animal Welfare
Brookfield Zoo is committed to conservation and animal welfare, ensuring the well-being and safety of its animals.
Conservation Initiatives
The zoo’s conservation efforts focus on saving imperiled species, veterinary science research, and enhancing animal enrichment programs.
Animal Welfare
Participants in animal encounters are required to follow guidelines and instructions from animal care specialists to ensure both human and animal safety.
General Information
- Costs: The costs of the encounters vary, ranging from $100 to $150 for different experiences.
- Timings: Encounter timings vary, with some experiences available at specific times of the day.
- Age Restrictions: Age restrictions apply to certain encounters, with some requiring participants to be at least 8 or 12 years old.
- Refund Policy: Refunds are available 14 calendar days before the program date, with a non-refundable 25% deposit for each program.
Brookfield Zoo’s Wild Connections program offers a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the world of animals, contributing to conservation efforts and gaining a deeper understanding of the zoo’s residents. Whether you’re interested in feeding flamingos, interacting with macaws, or observing sharks, Brookfield Zoo has a diverse range of animal encounters to satisfy the curiosity of any zoo enthusiast.
References
Brookfield Zoo. (n.d.). Brookfield Zoo Events & Things To Do. Retrieved from https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/Brookfield-Zoo/Archive-Events/Animal-Programs-Events
Brookfield Zoo. (n.d.). Animal Ambassador Adventure – Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Retrieved from https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/animalambassadoradventure
Visit Oak Park. (n.d.). Brookfield Zoo Animals, Ferris Wheel & More – Visit Oak Park. Retrieved from https://explore.visitoakpark.com/info/brookfield-zoo-animals
Brookfield Zoo. (n.d.). Brookfield Zoo’s Hamill Family Wild Encounters: A Sensory Experience. Retrieved from https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/Brookfield-Zoo/Archive-Education/blogs/March-2020/Hamill-Family-Wild-Encounters-Sensory-Experience
Brookfield Zoo. (n.d.). Wild Connections – Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Retrieved from https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/wildconnections