Imagine standing before a towering, rocky outcrop. You glance down at the concrete pathway, and notice its worn steps, telling tales of countless footsteps that have traveled this very path. This is Baboon Island, a relic of Brookfield Zoo’s past. Baboon Island, once a vibrant exhibit teeming with the antics of Guinea Baboons, is now just a silent monument to a bygone era. It was originally dubbed Monkey Island, hosting a colony of Rhesus monkeys starting in the 1930s. However, the zoo received Guinea Baboons in 1936, which became the stars of the exhibit. Millions of visitors witnessed the troop’s grooming, playful antics, mating rituals, and calls. They became a source of fascination for zoo patrons, students, scientists, and researchers. During recent physical exams, zoo staff made the difficult decision to euthanize the last three baboons due to quality of life concerns. This marked the end of Baboon Island as we knew it. The once bustling exhibit with up to 70 Guinea Baboons is scheduled to be demolished in 2014 to make room for a new attraction. The future of Baboon Island remains uncertain. While much of the exhibit lies in ruins, the stories of these intelligent and social animals will forever be etched in Brookfield Zoo’s history. The area will now be used for a new exhibit, a canvas for a new story to unfold.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to