Chicago-area residents have long been able to see animals of all kinds from around the world at the 90-year-old Brookfield Zoo, but a new history is being made at this suburban landmark.
Starting Memorial Day weekend, the zoo will welcome koalas for the first time in its 90-year history as two 2-year-old marsupials, Brumby and William, will be at the Hamill Family Play Zoo starting Friday.
The koalas came to Brookfield Zoo through a partnership with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the San Diego Zoo’s Koala Education and Conservation Project.
The Brookfield Zoo is now one of 11 accredited zoological facilities in North America where the public can see and interact with koalas.
The zoo notes that koalas are one of the few animals that eat eucalyptus leaves, which are very toxic to most other animals.
With the addition of the koalas, Brookfield Zoo will receive a rotation of different species of fresh eucalyptus leaves twice a week for Brumby and William.
The high level of leaf toxicity is one of the main reasons for the sleeping habits of koalas, which have specialized gut bacteria that break down toxic leaves while the animals conserve energy.
Those interested in meeting the zoo’s new residents can find more information here.
NBC Chicago
