The eucalyptus-scented winds of change are blowing through Chicago's Brookfield Zoo, where for the first time in its 90-year history, visitors can watch a pair of dozy, yet undeniably cute, koalas. Named Brumby and Willum, these marsupials have swapped their previous California dreams for a Midwest adventure, according to NBC Chicago.
With only 11 zoological residences in the United States equipped to host these creatures, Brookfield Zoo enters a hallowed circle starting June 18, when it unveils the koalas as their new "koala-ty" residents as reported by CBS News. The marsupials are set to shine in the zoo's Australia House, which can now authentically claim to be a chunk of down-under in Chicago, and where zoogoers can observe these nocturnal critters spending vast majorities of their day cuddled up in slumberous bliss among the tree branches, hence cementing the zoo's 'koala-fied' status.
Brookfield Zoo's president and CEO, Dr. Mike Adkesson, expressed excitement over the arrival, stating, "The chance to welcome koalas is a really unique opportunity for us," a sentiment evident in the care the zoo’s staff is putting into the welfare of their new charges. In line with their solitary nature and potential for unfriendly encounters, the koalas will be kept separated, a move that also respects their typical lifestyle, as stated by NBC Chicago. Meanwhile, they will not want for variety in their diet, with a planned rotation of eucalyptus species to be delivered bi-weekly.
Education and conservation are at the forefront of this exhibit, which underscores the plight of koalas in the wild, classified as 'vulnerable' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Experts like Mark Wanner, Brookfield Zoo’s associate vice president of Animal Care and Conservation, stress the importance of understanding these creatures and their unique dietary needs—eucalyptus leaves that are downright toxic to most but just another meal for these arboreal aussies, and the complex digestion of which necessitates those lengthy snooze marathons that koalas are so renowned for. Vvisitors seeking to distinguish between Willum and Brumby, who will remain at the zoo for two years, can look for Willum’s darker nose and larger frame, while Brumby sports a large pink spot on his schnoz, reveals NBC Chicago.
