CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- It was an exciting day at the Lincoln Park Zoo as a new, state-of-the-art habitat officially opened to the public Thursday welcoming lions and other carnivores back to Chicago.
"We're bringing back the big cats here at Lincoln Park Zoo," exclaimed Dr. Meghan Ross, CEO, Lincoln Park Zoo.
A pride of four African lions made their public debut as the ribbon was cut on the new Pepper Family Wildlife Center, as well as two red pandas, two Canada lynx, and two snow leopards.
"We started this campaign in 2012. This is our capstone project and we are so proud to show this to you today," said John Mustafi, Chairman of the Board, Lincoln Park Zoo.
Thanks to a $15 million gift from Roxelyn and the late Richard Pepper, the zoo broke ground on the renovation in December 2019. It is the zoo's final phase of The Pride of Chicago, a $135 million capital campaign that began in 2012.
The original lion house was constructed in 1912 and designated a Chicago Landmark in 2005. The Pepper Family Wildlife Center renovation team worked with the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to preserve, restore, and enhance the architecturally significant features of the historic building.
“A journey through Pepper Family Wildlife Center reminds guests of the zoo’s extensive 153-year-old history, with its historic building elements—such as the building’s decorative lion mosaics and vaulted tile ceiling” said Maureen Leahy, vice president of animal care and horticulture, in a statement. “This new habitat is a shining example of the zoo’s dedication to animal care and welfare, all while celebrating the rich history of the zoo.”
Dr. Ross said the $41 million renovation brings a state-of-the-art habitat featuring new rock formations, climbing trees, better cooling and heating elements, and even four ziplines to deliver food in a way that lets the lions chase and hunt, similar to the way they might in the wild.
"We're really invested in what's going on with the animals and how we can provide the best care for them. How can we understand what their preferences are? When we embarked on this habitat, [we thought] let's get them more of what they like and remove areas that they are avoiding. That's how we made this design so dynamic and amazing for the lions," Dr. Ross said.
Ross even designed an app called ZooMonitor that was used to research what the lions like and don't like and the habitat was designed with that research in mind.
"We know lions like vertical spaces. We know they are predators. They like to be up high and look down at their prey. Sorry, that's what they are doing, when they are looking down on you," she laughed. "If you look at some of this rock work, they are taken from photos where we have seen lions laying in the wild in Tanzania. We have created real trees for lions to climb. They are up on high rocks and climbing trees and it was created to give them extra, new, vertical space for them."
ZooMonitor allows experts to understand where the animals spend their time.
"Lions like to be in the shade about 50 percent of the time. If you can see in this new habitat, 50 percent of it has shade structures where the lions can choose where they like to spend their time. Lions like comfort zones so these rocks are heated and cooled. We have 16 of them around this habitat where the lions can choose these microclimates. It's all about the choice about where the lions like to spend their time." Dr. Ross said.
The new pride includes a 3-year-old male lion, Jabari, from Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa; and three sisters, Zari, Cleo, and Hasira, from Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, in South Carolina. The previous pride of lions, Sahar, Kamali, and Zalika, went to Rolling Hills Zoo in Kansas in May 2019 in preparation for the renovation. Sahar died unexpectedly later that year.
Guests will be able to see the lions both inside and outside of the Pepper Family Wildlife Center behind see-through walls. The new, larger habitat is built in roughly the same size as the previous one, but gone are the moats that separated the lions from guests. In their place are thick glass walls that will let visitors get right up close and personal. Additionally, a unique indoor design element, known as the Lion Loop, enables guests to view the exhibit from the center of the habitat. The new habitat also includes a demonstration training wall where guests can view the lions participating in their own healthcare.
"We're all about care, conservation, and community at the zoo. Our tagline is 'Wildlife for All' and that really encompasses all that we do here," she said.
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