Lincoln Park Zoo to Begin Habitat Upgrades

- This project follows the zoo's recently completed $135 million *Pride of Chicago* capital campaign, which funded four new habitats, including the $41 million Pepper Family Wildlife Center for lions and other big cats. - The Pepper Family Wildlife Center, which opened in 2021, nearly doubled the former habitat's size and was designed using behavioral data from the animals themselves to promote species-specific behaviors. - Enrichment in the new big cat habitats includes features like food zip lines that simulate moving prey and intricate rockwork with built-in climate control. - For visitors, the renovations aim to create more intimate experiences, such as a "Lion Loop" that offers a 360-degree view from the center of the habitat and nose-to-nose viewing through thick glass panels. - The primate habitats are located in the Helen Brach Primate House, a 23,700-square-foot building that opened in 1927 and was last renovated in 1992 for $2 million. - The zoo's current strategic plan, through 2028, prioritizes using technology to enhance animal choice and agency, suggesting the new habitats will incorporate advanced monitoring and welfare features. - These large-scale renovations often involve restoring historic landmark buildings, requiring collaboration with the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to preserve architectural features, as was the case with the 1912 lion house. - The projects are largely funded by private philanthropy, exemplified by the $15 million donation from Roxelyn and the late Richard Pepper that named the new lion facility.