Brookfield Zoo to welcome 2 koalas for the first time

BROOKFIELD, Ill. -- Chicagoans will soon get a rare chance to meet two new mates from "down under" at Brookfield Zoo Chicago.

Visitors can see two, 2-year-old koalas, named Brumby and Willum, for the first time in the zoo's history, starting Memorial Day weekend. The male koalas, which are on a two-year loan from the Australian government, will find their new home in the Hamill Family Play Zoo. The koalas will likely arrive at the zoo in early May, the zoo said.

"Besides koalas being one of the cutest animals on the planet, our guests will get an up-close and personal experience with koalas. They are sort of the iconic Australian marsupial," said Mark Wanner, associate vice president of animal care and conservation at Brookfield Zoo.

Brookfield Zoo is one of 11 accredited zoological facilities in North America where the public can see and interact with koalas.

SEE ALSO: Brookfield Zoo changes name to 'Brookfield Zoo Chicago'

The zoo needs to go to some lengths to accommodate Brumby and Willum. Twice a week, the zoo will receive a rotation of different species of fresh eucalyptus leaves for the pair, sourced from a vendor in the United States. While other species eat a variety of foods, koalas eat strictly eucalyptus, so the zoo has to ensure the leaves' quality, Wanner noted.

"They do prefer some eucalyptus over others," Wanner said. "It just depends on the individual tastes or the leaves themselves."

The koalas will be placed in the former lemur habitat, which the zoo has retrofitted to be more koala-friendly. (The lemurs were moved to an old habitat for fishing cats that was modified for their use.)

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire - Copyright Chicago Sun-Times 2024.)