Contact: Sondra Katzen 708.688.8351 [email protected]

Amazing Fact Sheet

Opening Amazing Arachnids is open from Saturday, May 26, through Monday, September 3. It features two sections—Art and Science of Arachnids and Mission Safari Maze .

Purpose ° To provide Brookfield Zoo guests with an engaging and interactive experience where they can discover the incredible attributes of arachnids and how the species has played an important role in our lives. ° To inspire guests to gain a better understanding of arachnids and other species that could then lead to a greater appreciation for them.

Location Brookfield Zoo’s West Mall

Art and Science of Arachnids Art and Science of Arachnids invites guests to discover the cultural connections of these eight-legged creatures that have weaved their way into a variety of genres, including music, art, folklore, medicine, conservation, film, and literature. In addition to engaging, hands-on interactives, the exhibit features 100 live arachnids found around the world, making it the largest public collection of arachnids in North America.

° Species —the live collection is primarily composed of and with a sampling of whip scorpions and true . Species include:

Blue femur beauty Mahogany tree Brazilian blue violet tarantula Metallic pink toe tarantula Brazilian pink bloom tarantula Mexican fireleg tarantula Burgundy goliath birdeater Mexican red knee tarantula Columbian pumpkin patch tarantula Mozambique golden baboon tarantula Chaco golden knee Olive keeled flat rock Chilean gold dust spider Ornamental baboon tarantula Curly hair tarantula Peacock tarantula Desert hairy scorpion Purple earth tarantula Dictator scorpion Purple tree spider Dwarf Philippine tangerine Rameshwaram Temple tarantula Emperor scorpion Skeleton leg tarantula Entre Rios tarantula South Vietnam blue tarantula Feather leg baboon tarantula Tailless whip scorpion Giant flat rock scorpion Tiger rump tarantula Ghost ornamental tarantula Venezuelan suntiger tarantula Goliath pinkfoot tarantula Vinegaroon Guatemalan tiger rump tarantula Wolf spider

° The Cubes —The exhibit is divided into three “cubes” or sections—science, art, and culture—that highlight the various ways arachnids have influenced our lives.

“The “Science” Cube (green) ° 34 arachnids ° Showcases arachnids in science and medicine and features graphics that include: ° “Arachnids that are not Spiders or Scorpions” ° “Deadly Spiders in North America” (i.e. widow and recluse spiders) ° “Arachnids in Medicine” (current and historical medical uses of arachnids and silk)

“The Arts” Cube (purple) ° 31 arachnids ° Showcases arachnids in film, literature, and music, and features graphics that include: ° “Arachnids in Film” (history of arachnid-themed films and arachnids that have starred in films, such as “Charlotte’s Web”) ° “Arachnids in Literature” (flip panels inviting guests to test their knowledge) ° “Musical Arachnids” (“Itsy Bitsy Spider” song, historical music, and modern references to music starring arachnids is highlighted)

“The Culture” Cube (blue) ° 35 arachnids ° Showcases how arachnids have shaped our culture and features graphics that include: ° “Arachnid Conservation” (efforts to preserve arachnids and their habitats are illustrated, as are endangered, threatened, and newly documented species of arachnids) ° “Arachnid Folklore and Culture” (arachnid traditions in different cultures are highlighted) ° “Arachnids as ” (—shrimp, crab, , spiders, and scorpions—as food and the cultures that eat them as part of their normal diet)

° Interactives —the exhibit features a variety of hands-on and engaging interactives for guests of all ages that enhance the experience. They include: ° Weave a Web—a welcoming 7-foot-tall spider with a 10-foot leg span that invites guests to weave their very own web between its front legs. Guests can create their own artwork weaving to take home. ° Arachnid Mobility—guests use a computer to observe a spider walking and are able to control its direction and speed. ° Tarantella—guests can learn the history of this fun folk dance from Italy and give it a spin on the dance floor. A virtual curator explains the dance and its cultural importance. ° Spider Silk—an oversized interactive graphic panel illustrates spider silk. A Kevlar vest is displayed as an example of material that is nearly as strong as spider silk. ° Fangs, Claws, and Stingers—an oversized graphic panel that educates guests about arachnids’ various characteristics. ° Molting—an oversized graphic panel called “How Do Arachnids Grow?” has interactive flip panels that illustrate examples of molting. A slow-motion video shows a tarantula molting. ° Arachnid Anatomy—guests can test their knowledge on how well they know the body parts of an arachnid by matching puzzle pieces together on a magnetized wall. ° How Do You Measure Up?—guests can compare their size to that of modern day and prehistoric arachnids on a life-sized 6-foot by 8-foot banner. ° Arachnid Art Gallery—10 beautiful images by world-renowned German arachnid photographer Julian Kamzol.

Mission Safari Maze An immersive experience that introduces different themes of species’ survival and protection through play-and-learn interactives. The attraction features:

° 3,500-square-foot neon green modular-design maze

° Four giant colorful spinning wheels that highlight 48 missions or tasks that link guests to an . After spinning one of the wheels, guests are then challenged to move through the maze. Youngsters and families can play over and over again with a new adventure each time, all the while lending more

and more meaning to their subsequent journey around the zoo to see the with which they now have a personal connection.

° Sixteen featured species, which can all be seen at Brookfield Zoo. They are: Amur tiger Blanding’s turtle Peacock tarantula Andean condor Bornean orangutan Red knee tarantula Bald eagle Emperor scorpion Reticulated giraffe Bison Green-winged macaw White-bellied pangolin Black rhinoceros Indian peafowl Black widow spider Orinoco

° After spinning the wheel, zoogoers are then challenged to move through the attraction that features the following activities: ° climb-on spider web ° jungle vines ° swinging bars ° monorail zip slide

# # #