Local Conservation Initiatives

For more than 90 years, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been a pillar of Chicago’s west suburban community. Through long-standing partnerships with forest preserves, universities, and community organizations, the Zoo supports conservation initiatives that protect native species, restore habitats, and promote healthy ecosystems throughout the region.

These local conservation programs focus on safeguarding threatened and endangered species, advancing wildlife health research, and engaging communities in conservation action close to home.

Forest Preserves of Cook County

Brookfield Zoo Chicago has worked closely with the Forest Preserves of Cook County since the Zoo first opened. The Chicago Zoological Society was founded in 1921 and partnered with the Forest Preserves to build and operate the Zoo as a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife care, education, and conservation.

Because the Zoo sits on land owned by the Forest Preserves, both organizations share responsibility for caring for this important natural space. Areas such as Dragonfly Marsh and Swan Lake provide visitors with opportunities to experience native Illinois plants and wildlife while learning about local ecosystems.

The partnership also extends beyond Zoo grounds. In 2022, Brookfield Zoo Chicago, the Forest Preserves of Cook County, and the University of Illinois launched the Illinois Zoological and Wildlife Health Management Residency. Through this program, veterinary residents work across Zoo and Forest Preserve sites to support the health and management of diverse species, including deer, turtles, otters, birds of prey, coyotes, fish, and more.

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County established Illinois’ first Blanding’s turtle head-start program in 1996 to help protect this threatened species. The program collects eggs from wild nesting sites and raises hatchlings in protected environments until they are large enough to survive in the wild.

Since 2011, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has supported this conservation effort by raising Blanding’s turtles behind the scenes. These turtles are later released into protected habitats, helping strengthen local populations and improve long-term survival.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago also partners with the District to support conservation of Great Plains mudbugs and the federally endangered Hine’s Emerald dragonfly. For more than two years, the Zoo has raised mudbugs, or crayfish, in a controlled setting. In 2025, 48 crayfish were released into Waterfall Glen once they reached a size suitable for survival in the wild. Their deep burrows create critical habitat that support Hine’s Emerald dragonfly species’ recovery.

University of Illinois Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory

Brookfield Zoo Chicago partners with the University of Illinois Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, led by Dr. Matt Allender, a Zoo veterinarian and faculty member at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

Through this program, veterinary students gain hands-on field experience in Cook, Lake, and Kane counties, as well as Central Illinois. Students assess the health of wildlife including birds of prey, turtles, snakes, and other native species. This work strengthens regional wildlife health monitoring and supports science-based conservation decisions throughout Illinois.

Illinois Monarch Project

Brookfield Zoo Chicago works with the Illinois Monarch Project (IMP) Community Engagement Committee to help protect, preserve, and restore Monarch butterfly habitat along their annual migration route through Illinois.

Zoo participation includes the annual Partnership for Pollinators Celebration, advocacy and education efforts, and support for the Wings of Dreams Bioblitz, which engages communities in documenting pollinators and other wildlife. These efforts contribute to habitat restoration and increased awareness of pollinator conservation across the state.

ComEd Browse Program

Since 2011, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has partnered with ComEd through its Browse Program. From late spring through mid-fall, ComEd delivers approved browse to the Zoo twice each week. The browse consists of branches, leaves, and twigs from trees trimmed near power lines throughout the Chicago area.

This program provides nutritional enrichment through the Zoo’s nutrition program, offering animals such as orangutans, giraffes, and rhinos a healthy, natural addition to their diets while encouraging natural feeding behaviors. At the same time, it helps ComEd maintain safe and reliable power infrastructure and supports sustainability by reducing waste and benefiting both wildlife and local communities.

Local conservation efforts play a critical role in protecting Illinois wildlife and preserving natural spaces for future generations. By working collaboratively with regional partners, Brookfield Zoo Chicago helps ensure healthier ecosystems, stronger wildlife populations, and meaningful conservation impact right here in our communities.