On Tuesday, Brookfield Zoo in Chicago welcomed koalas for the first time in its 90-year history. Zoo members got an exclusive preview of the koalas before the exhibit opened to the public.
Dr. Mike Adkesson, president and CEO of Brookfield Zoo, expressed excitement about the new arrivals, stating, “The chance to welcome koalas is a really unique opportunity for us. Koalas are an animal that most people will recognize, but chances are they’ve not seen one in person before. So, we’re one of only 11 zoos to have koalas.”
The new residents, two-year-old Willum and almost two-year-old Brumby, arrived last week from California. Contrary to popular belief, koalas are not bears. They are marsupials, closely related to kangaroos and wombats, both of which also live in the zoo’s Australia House. Mark Wanner, associate vice president of Animal Care and Conservation, explained, “A long time ago, some of the first people who set foot on the continent of Australia thought they were bears.”
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Koalas are solitary animals and are kept separated to prevent fights. They spend most of their time sleeping, around 18 to 22 hours a day. “They’re one of the few animals in the world that strictly eats eucalyptus,” Wanner said. “Eucalyptus has a poisonous toxicity to it, and one of the reasons why they sleep so much is to digest their food.”
The koalas’ arrival at Brookfield Zoo is a significant event, allowing visitors to see these unique animals up close and learn more about their habits and conservation needs.
