Tim, a 1-year-old brown bear at Brookfield Zoo, eyeing some treats placed on a Christmas tree for enrichment. (Credit: Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo)
Now that the holiday season is over, the care staff at Brookfield Zoo are repurposing dozens of the Christmas trees that were decorated by more than 900 community organizations, families, and corporations that lined the Zoo’s pathways for its annual Holiday Magic. Today, many of the animals received the trees for enrichment.
The reindeer and bison rubbed their antlers and horns, respectively, in the greenery. Brutus, one of the Zoo’s African lions, and Whirl, an Amur tiger, retrieved bones from their trees that were hung upside down in their habitats. And, Hudson, one of the polar bears, and Jess and Tim, 1-year-old brown bear siblings who recently arrived at the Zoo, had their trees decorated with a variety of vegetables.
The hundreds of trees that are not used for animal enrichment will get chipped and used for landscaping around the park
Winter is a great time to venture out to Brookfield Zoo and see the animals that enjoy the cooler temperatures and the snow. Guests who visit in January and February on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays receive free general admission (parking fees still apply).
About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people to 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. 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. The Zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevens
