A new three-acre outdoor habitat for primates is coming to Brookfield Zoo Chicago next month.
The zoo announced Wednesday, June 18, its James & Elizabeth Bramsen Tropical Forests habitat will open Friday, July 11, immersing guests in “lush rainforest environments” where they can encounter free-roaming gorillas, orangutans and multiple species of monkeys.
The habitat will include an indoor Gorilla Conservation Center, where zoo-goers can learn about the challenges wild gorillas face. “Dynamic, hands-on exploration stations” will let guests compare their strength to those of other primates through tug-of-war, teach them about the social behaviors of gorillas and let them observe animals like field researchers.
It will also include a life-sized bronze sculpture depicting a 3D-scan of one of the zoo’s gorillas’ noses — you read that correctly — to teach guests about how scientists recognize wild gorillas using their unique nasal patterns.
In addition to housing primates, the habitat will feature a pollinator garden for guests to learn about the role bees play in sustaining life and allowing the plant-based foods humans eat to reproduce.
The Bramsen Tropical Forests is named for James and Elizabeth Bramsen, members of the zoo’s governing boards, to recognize their “longstanding commitment and generosity” in supporting the zoo.
Tickets associated with specific entry times will be required to access the habitat, but they’ll come free with membership to the zoo or the purchase of general admission tickets.
The zoo is set to host a grand opening celebration July 11-13, the weekend the habitat opens, with live music, family-friendly activities and the opportunity to meet animal ambassadors up close.
On July 11, the zoo will also reopen its existing indoor primate habitat, Tropic World, which has been closed to accommodate construction work on the Bramsen Tropical Forests. According to the zoo, park-goers will enter the habitat, which received some renovations, through an entry point resembling a fallen log, where they will “[emerge] beneath a breathtaking 48-foot waterfall.”
The new habitat “represents a bold step forward in how we connect people to wildlife,” said Mike Adkesson, president and CEO of the zoo, in a written statement. “This extraordinary space not only provides an incredibly dynamic and enriching environment for the animals in our care but also inspires guests to understand and protect some of the most endangered species on the planet.”
