Brookfield Zoo Chicago amplifies conservation commitments with pledge for polar bears on Reverse the Red Day
Among thousands of conservation pledges, only one zoo spotlights the accelerating threats facing polar bears and the urgent need to protect this iconic Arctic species
Brookfield, IL—Brookfield Zoo Chicago is taking action for Reverse the Red Day on Saturday, Feb. 7, pledging to support efforts to reverse the decline of polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Among more than 4,000 pledges made worldwide to date across countries and species, Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s pledge on behalf of polar bears underscores its commitment to advancing knowledge, care and conservation for one of the Arctic’s most iconic species.
Each February, the color red represents love and commitment synonymous with Valentine’s Day. For conservation organizations, however, red carries a deeper, year-round meaning referencing the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species™. Often simply called the IUCN Red List, it’s the world’s most comprehensive scientific assessment of the extinction risk facing wildlife, serving as a global barometer for biodiversity health and a reminder of the collective efforts needed to prevent species from slipping closer to extinction.
“Wildlife conservation depends on collaboration, long-term commitment and a willingness to act when the stakes are high,” said Mark Wanner, associate vice president of animal care and conservation at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. “By working alongside partners like IUCN and our fellow polar bear caregivers—and by learning from polar bears Hope, Hudson and Amelia Gray at Brookfield Zoo Chicago—we can strengthen conservation efforts for polar bears both in the wild and in professional care.”
Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s polar bear pledge builds on its 2025 Reverse the Red Day commitments, spanning seven species across continents and ecosystems: Guam kingfishers (Todiramphus cinnamominus), white-bellied pangolins (Phataginus tricuspis), Mexican wolves (Canis lupus baileyi), South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens), Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) and common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). This year, the Zoo is sharpening its focus to spotlight a species facing accelerating threats in the wild and limited opportunities for study in its remote Arctic habitat.
For more than 40 years, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been a recognized leader in polar bear care and conservation. Its experts have driven and supported groundbreaking research into polar bear behavior and development, while also providing innovative care. A notable milestone was in 2019, when the Zoo’s animal health and welfare team completed the first-ever CT scan on a living polar bear. Conducted as part of a routine preventative health exam, the scan helped establish vital medical baselines—advancing the zoological community’s ability to care for the species and serving as an early example of the now-essential Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database (ZARD). Brookfield Zoo Chicago is also part of Polar Bear International’s network of Arctic Ambassador Centers, supporting collaborative research, education and action programs that address challenges polar bears face in the wild.
Polar bears are marine mammals, yet they’re known as the largest living land carnivore in the world. They were the first species to be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act primarily due to climate change. Rising global temperatures are causing more rapid and significant changes to the Arctic habitat of polar bears than to many temperate parts of the world. As sea ice melts, polar bears are forced to swim longer distances across open water in search of prey, often entering periods of fasting and living off fat stores. These fasting periods have long-term impacts, as they are especially detrimental to young bears and breeding adults that require plentiful prey to reproduce.
The wild population faces a high risk of global extinction, as research projects that up to two-thirds of the polar bear population could disappear by the end of the century. As the top predator in the Arctic ecosystem, their decline is an indicator of the silent loss of a complex world of organisms that have evolved to thrive in this harsh and inhospitable icy world.
Finding solutions for the conservation of wild polar bears is no easy task, as researchers work in remote regions where winter darkness lasts for months and temperatures can drop to -50°F. Political, language and cultural barriers add to the challenges. Polar bears in zoos and aquariums play an important role by helping scientists learn more about their nutrition, metabolism and survival strategies. They also assist in evaluating new tools, such as advanced tracking systems, that will one day improve research in the wild. This collaboration allows wildlife managers to anticipate challenges and develop strategies to help polar bears endure in a changing Arctic.
“The IUCN Red List is more than a catalog of threatened species—it’s a roadmap for action,” said Michael Clifford, strategy director at Reverse the Red. “With the Species Pledge, organizations commit to reversing declines and they help transform science into conservation outcomes that give threatened species a fighting chance at recovery. This Reverse the Red Day, we hope everyone who connects the color red with species at risk can join us in celebrating positive efforts for species, like those Brookfield Zoo Chicago is committing to for all of their pledged species, including polar bears.”
Through its Reverse the Red Day pledge, Brookfield Zoo Chicago reaffirms its commitment to translating science into action—working alongside Reverse the Red and the global conservation community to help move polar bears toward a more secure future.
Members of the public can learn more at ReverseTheRed.org, view the IUCN Red List at IUCNredlist.org and support for polar bear care through Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Animal Adoption program. More information about the Zoo’s polar bear care and conservation will be shared on social media for International Polar Bear Day on Feb. 27.
# # #
Media Note: Photos are available for download here, with credit to “© Brookfield Zoo Chicago” for media use only. Journalists interested in interviews should contact Zoo PR Director Julianne Olivo at julianne.olivo@brookfieldzoo.org.
About Brookfield Zoo Chicago: Connect. Care. Conserve.
Since 1934, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been a global leader in animal well-being and conservation, inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Zoo is a private nonprofit organization that operates on 235 acres of land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County and is home to more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 species—including many of Earth’s most endangered. Brookfield Zoo Chicago was the first zoo in the world to be Humane Certified™ by the American Humane Society for the care and welfare of its animals, and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and ArbNet. For more information, visit www.brookfieldzoo.org or follow @BrookfieldZoo on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Threads.
About Reverse the Red:
Reverse the Red is a coalition supporting countries and partners delivering on global biodiversity goals focused on accelerating strategic, recovery-focused action to reverse the negative trends of the IUCN Red List. Reverse the Red brings together a diverse coalition of leading scientists, advocates and partners committed to using a data-driven and science-based approach to assess, plan and act for species conservation. Reverse the Red provides the tools and expertise to empower governments, partners and local communities to set and reach species conservation targets and celebrates and amplifies successful achievements for species. More information is available at reversethered.org.
