Stories by alex ruppenthal

A male gray seal was born at Brookfield Zoo on Dec. 26. (Jim Schulz / Chicago Zoological Society)

Gray Seal Pup Born at Brookfield Zoo

Brookfield Zoo welcomed a newborn gray seal on Dec. 26. The male pup weighed 36 pounds at birth and is expected to weigh more than 120 pounds by the time he is weaned at three weeks. 

(Alvaro del Campo / The Field Museum)

Field Museum Scientists Help Protect 2 Million Acres of Rainforest

A team led by Field Museum conservation ecologist Corine Vriesendorp has worked for 15 years to protect one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. This week, it was designated as a national park.

Four specially-designed suction cups are used to attach a bio-logging device to the backs of bottlenose dolphins at Brookfield Zoo. (Alex Ruppenthal / Chicago Tonight)

Dolphins, ‘Fitbits’ and the Deep Data Dive to Transform Animal Research

Brookfield Zoo is leading a first-of-its-kind study to collect data from dolphins and other aquatic mammals using a Fitbit-like device that figures to revolutionize human understanding of the animals’ behavior.

(Courtesy Shedd Aquarium)

Antarctica to the Galapagos Islands: Shedd Reveals 2018 Travel Program

If scuba diving with whale sharks or kayaking past glaciers sounds like you’re kind of thing, Shedd Aquarium has a trip for you this year.

Noah Strycker birding in California in 2014. (Bkpix / Wikimedia Commons)

World Record-Holding ‘Bird Man’ Visits Chicago to Discuss Epic Journey

In 2015, Noah Strycker became a birding legend after a yearlong journey across seven continents to see more than half the world’s 10,000-plus bird species. He speaks this month in Chicago about the adventure and his new book “Birding Without Borders.”

(Pixabay)

Nearly 600 Tons of Dumped Tires Collected in Chicago Area

Public and abandoned properties in the Chicago area might appear a little less cluttered. The Illinois EPA collected 598.5 tons of used tires in December as part of a state program to mitigate hazards associated with them.

Chicago Recycling, Garbage Pickup Schedules Now Available Online

Confused about when the city makes blue cart pickups? You can now look up recycling and garbage pickup schedules online as Chicago looks to boost its dismal recycling rate. 

Noodle, an 18-year-old Hyacinth macaw, sits on the shoulder of Celeste Troon, director of living collections at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. (Alex Ruppenthal / Chicago Tonight)

Colorful Macaws Launch New Bird Exhibit at Notebaert Nature Museum

A trio of tropical birds has landed in Chicago this winter to show off their vibrantly colored feathers and occasional dance moves – but they won’t be here for long.

S.H. Bell's bulk storage facility along the Calumet River on Chicago’s Southeast Side. (Alex Ruppenthal / Chicago Tonight)

S.H. Bell’s Manganese Dust-Control Plan OK’d by City

Chicago public health officials have signed off on a Southeast Side company’s updated plan to cut emissions of brain-damaging manganese dust that regulators say pose a health risk to nearby residents.

An overhead view of Watco's storage terminal at 2926 E. 126th St. in Chicago. (Google)

Chicago Will Require Storage Company to Install Air Monitors

A Southeast Side company must install air monitors to detect levels of dust emissions from heavy metals processed on-site, according to a letter issued by the city this week.

(Chicago Tonight)

Illinois Sues Baxter Healthcare for Polluting North Suburban Lake

The lawsuit filed Wednesday by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim alleges that Baxter violated a federal permit several times over a five-month span by releasing contaminated water that exceeded pollution limits. 

A paternity test revealed that Miyagi, one of three male Japanese macaques at Lincoln Park Zoo, is the sire of all four Japanese macaques born at the zoo since 2014. (Todd Rosenberg / Lincoln Park Zoo)

Zoo's Snow Monkey Paternity Test Reveals Surprise Father

A paternity test to determine the sire of four Japanese macaques born since 2014 at Lincoln Park Zoo came back with a surprising result. 

High Manganese Levels Found in Children’s Toenails on Southeast Side

Children on Chicago’s Southeast Side have higher levels of manganese in their toenails than children in other parts of the city, according to preliminary results of a study aiming to measure the impact of toxic metals on children’s health. 

Cathy Stepp, left, former secretary of Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources, will take over in 2018 as head of the EPA’s regional office in Chicago. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)

EPA Union Blasts Pruitt’s Pick to Lead Regional Office in Chicago

Former Wisconsin politician Cathy Stepp “will bring a fresh perspective” to the EPA, agency chief Scott Pruitt said Tuesday. But the announcement drew blunt criticism from the group’s national employee union.

(Brenna Hernandez / © Shedd Aquarium)

4 Shedd Penguins Celebrate Landmark 30th Birthday

Meet Drake, Magdalena, Pebbles and Wellington. They are the first penguins to turn 30 at Shedd Aquarium, and among the oldest penguins in human care across the U.S.

MAP: Snowy Owl Sightings in Chicago Area

Bird enthusiasts are enjoying an “invasion” of snowy owls in Chicago and across northeastern Illinois this winter. Check out our map of recent snowy owl sightings.  

(Courtesy Chicago Zoological Society)

Why Do Animals (Including Humans) Play? A Chicago Researcher Explores

From siblings with snowballs to wrestling chimpanzees, playful behavior is usually easy to spot. But the question of why we play – and whether we all play for the same reasons – is less apparent.

Fracking Harms Health of Infants Born Nearby, UChicago Study Finds

Babies born within 2 miles of a fracking site are more likely to suffer negative health effects, according to a new study co-authored by a professor at the University of Chicago. 

(Brenna Hernandez / © Shedd Aquarium)

Shedd’s Rescued Animals: How Are They Doing?

Over the past year, staff from Shedd Aquarium’s Animal Response Team have come to the aid of animals across the globe. Here’s an update on how some of them are doing.

Cliff Haefke, director of the UIC Energy Resources Center, left, and policy analyst Graeme Miller analyze the 7-megawatt combined heat and power combustion turbine at the UIC West Campus Utilities Plant. (Courtesy University of Illinois at Chicago)

UIC Gets $4.2M Grant to Advance Efficient Energy Systems

Thanks to a new U.S. Department of Energy grant, UIC’s Energy Resources Center will promote and help install high-efficiency combined heat and power systems across the Midwest.

Dr. Andrew Casper, Shedd Aquarium's new director of freshwater research (Courtesy © Shedd Aquarium)

Asian Carp Expert to Lead New Shedd Research Team

A new team led by biologist Andrew Casper will expand Shedd Aquarium’s research of animals that live in local waterways—and how to protect them.

Rauner Silent on Committing Illinois to Paris Climate Goals

Gov. Bruce Rauner has thus far ignored calls to commit Illinois to meeting goals set in the Paris climate agreement, which aims to slow global warming through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

(Google Maps)

City Eyes Affordable Housing in East Garfield Park

Chicago is looking to transform two vacant lots into affordable housing, a proposal that’s part of an international sustainability contest the city hopes will help boost interest among potential developers.

Former President Barack Obama speaks Tuesday during a climate change summit in Chicago. (Chicago Tonight)

Obama, Mayors Resist Trump on Climate Change at Chicago Summit

A good chunk of the U.S. will stay in the Paris climate agreement, despite President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the accord. That was the message Tuesday from former President Barack Obama and several mayors from the U.S. and around the world. 

McCook Reservoir (Courtesy Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board of Commissioners)

Officials Dedicate First Stage of McCook Reservoir

Public officials gathered Monday to celebrate the completion of stage one of the McCook Reservoir, which will offer 10 billion gallons of storage capacity to prevent flooding once complete in 2029. 

(Courtesy Little Village Environmental Justice Organization)

South, West Side Residents to Emanuel: You’re No ‘Green’ Mayor

Organizers from several Chicago environmental groups are demanding more action from the city to combat air pollution in industrialized neighborhoods as Mayor Rahm Emanuel prepares to host a high-profile summit on climate change.