Go to http://www.czs.org/WhitePelicans to read the full story…

Five American white pelicans, rescued from the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, have a new home at Brookfield Zoo. This past weekend, zoo staff drove to pick up the birds at Jackson Zoo in Mississippi, where they had been temporarily housed. Following the approximately 12-hour drive back to Brookfield, the birds received physicals and are currently in the Brookfield Zoo Animal Hospital, where they will remain for at least a 30-day quarantine period. Afterward, they will be placed on permanent exhibit at the Formal Pool located just north of Perching Bird House.

Three of the pelicans are adult age and the other two are estimated to be less than 2 years old as they still have sub-adult plumage. All five birds, rescued from the Mississippi Canyon area off the coast of Louisiana, had sustained wing injuries prior to the oil spill that prevented them from migrating this past spring to their northern breeding range. When the oil spill occurred the birds, which were slight to moderately oiled, joined other wildlife species that needed human intervention. They were treated for their injuries by volunteers working with the International Bird Rescue Research Center and Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. Once they were treated, cleaned, and stabilized, the pelicans were transported to Jackson Zoo until permanent homes could be found for them.

“We are sorry for the circumstance that is making it possible for us to have these animals as part of the zoo’s animal collection, but we feel extremely fortunate to be able to collaborate with these organizations and provide the birds a good permanent home where they will receive the best possible care,” said Tim Snyder, curator of birds for the Chicago Zoological Society. “We hope these pelicans will serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts to help educate our guests about the effects the oil spill has had on the wildlife in the Gulf,” added Snyder.

Go to http://www.czs.org/WhitePelicans to read the full story…

Bison meat is a healthy alternative for beef. Now chefs at Brookfield zoo cater to meat-eaters by serving up burgers, chili and tacos made with free-range bison meat. Serving up bison burgers may seem contrary to the zoo’s mission, but it is one of the best hopes for the bison’s future. In recent years, bison meat has grown in popularity because of its low-fat and high-iron content, resulting in the expansion of bison ranching. As demand for natural prairie-fed and free-range bison expands, so do bison populations and the native prairie pastures on which they roam.

More: Navajo tacos from Brookfield Zoo

More: Bison chili from Brookfield Zoo

The Bison Prairie Grill is part of the Brookfield Zoo’s new Great Bear Wilderness Exhibit. Opened in May, the exhibit has a Native-American theme and resembles a National Park. North American animals that call this exhibit home are polar bears, brown bears, wolves, bald eagles, bison, and a raven. The Great Bear Wilderness explains the animals’ past, present, and future status; their deep cultural significance to people; and the survival challenges they face. The exhibit features a 3,600-square-foot underwater viewing area in an Arctic setting with views of the polar bear pools through 21-foot-wide by 8- and 10-foot-high acrylic windows.

Hudson Polar Bear keeps his cool at Brookfield Zoo…With the outdoor temperature feeling like it is in the upper 90s, Hudson, a 3-year-old polar bear, was keeping cool, thanks to large 400-pound blocks of ice donated by Lang Ice. As part of the zoo’s behavioral enrichment program, animal care staff is always thinking of ways to physically and mentally stimulate the animals at Brookfield Zoo. One way is by providing them with enrichment items they normally do not receive on a regular basis, such as the ice.