Volunteer Update _ Final September Edition

Posted on By Amber Suttmiller

Volunteer Update – September Edition

Zoo Updates:

 Zoo Tales

On this episode of Cincinnati Zoo Tales, we talk to Louisa Rispoli, Ph.D about her conservation work with the rhinos AIRS project and her experience working with Bibi during her pregnancy with Fritz!
Click Here to Listen

 

Prepping for Faru’s Move

 

Spotted Lantern Fly

Please read the message below from Paul Koloszar

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) has a brief visit to the zoo.
As some you already know, a single Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) was recently found, and immediately killed, on the path between education and elephant. SLF is an invasive insect pest from Asia and it presents an enormous threat to agriculture in the US.
This is the first known presence of SLF in our area, and we took immediate action to determine if there were more and if so, where they might have taken up residence. Representatives of the US Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio State University Extension, and several members of the CZBG horticulture department went searching for signs of SLF. Although, after looking over all of the two preferred host species (Ailanthus altissima [tree-of-heaven] and Vitis sp. [grape vine]) we could find, we saw no other signs of SLF (no egg masses, no nymphs, no adults).
Even so, we are still on the lookout. You may see traps for the bug (along with some interpretive signage) on Ailanthus trees at any one of the following four locations: One on the row on gate three drive behind roo, one in vine lot on the far west side, one on the walk up to education, and one where staff enters the elephant building.
If you see any of these (images) here at the zoo, capture them (or kill them, but hang on to the remains, please!) and notify us immediately, and we’ll take it from there. If for any reason we are not available, please notify the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 1-614-728-6400.
For those who are interested, we can give you some SLF temporary tattoos or identification cards. We also have a small number of 3D printed models of the SLF that portrays the three distinct lifecycle stages. Stop on by our shop for any of that.

 

Say Cheers to Elephants with New “Oh Mai” Beer

The Zoo and MadTree Brewing have teamed up to create a special beer that tastes somewhat like a Mai Tai cocktail. The new brew is called “Oh Mai”, which describes the flavor and also honors Mai Thai!
The beer is now on tap at MadTree in Oakley and will be available at Hops in early October.

Proceeds from “Oh Mai” sales at MadTree on October 4th will benefit elephant conservation, so let’s all meet there after work to celebrate elephants and encourage other customers to do the same :).

Manatees

SwimShady, Alby, and Manhattan set to leave in early October.
After 18 months of rehabilitation in Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Manatee Springs, orphaned manatees SwimShady, Alby, and Manhattan are ready to return to their native Florida waters.  The Zoo has been participating in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) for the past two decades and has cared for 23 manatees, including the three that will depart in early October.
      “Our primary goal, as a second-stage care facility, is to provide plenty of food and get the manatees to a healthy weight,” said Cincinnati Zoo curator Kim Scott. “These three have consumed about 166,158 lbs of food, mostly lettuce, during their time here and have gained a combined total of about 1000 pounds.”
Manatee stories:
  • Alby (male) – Rescued as an orphan from the Halifax River in Volusia County, Florida on 8/27/2019. At the time of his rescue, he weighed 51 lbs. Alby weighed 378 lbs on 3/24/21 when he arrived at the CZBG. He now weighs 746 lbs.
  • Manhattan (male) – Rescued as an orphan from St. Augustine Beach in St. Johns County, Florida on 10/28/2019. At the time of his rescue, he weighed 62 lbs. Manhattan weighed 388 lbs on 3/24/21 when he arrived at the CZBG. He now weighs 609 lbs.
  • SwimShady (male) – Rescued as an orphan from Berkley Canal in Brevard County on 12/19/2020. At the time of his rescue, he weighed 198 lbs. He weighed 288lbs when he arrived at the CZBG on 3/24/21. He now weighs 624 lbs.
Nineteen manatees rehabilitated at the Cincinnati Zoo have returned to Florida waters, and Alby, Manhattan, and SwimShady will be released after they become reacclimated at one of the care facilities in Florida.
“The goal of the MRP is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release manatees, and we’re honored to play a role in this important conservation work,” said Scott.  “In addition to rehabbing manatees, we get to educate and inspire visitors when they see these amazing creatures!”
Unfortunately, there are many more manatees in need of rehabilitation, so more will be coming to Manatee Springs later this year. Information on the new manatees and when they will arrive will be announced soon.
            Cincinnati Zoo is one of a handful of facilities outside of Florida that provide non-critical care for manatees.   Providing second-stage care opens up valuable space at critical care facilities and gives Midwesterners the opportunity to learn about these remarkable animals.
            The Florida manatee, downgraded from endangered to threatened in 2017, continues to be at risk from both natural and man-made causes of injury and mortality. Exposure to red tide, cold stress, and disease are all problems that can affect manatees. Human-caused threats include boat strikes, crushing by flood gates or locks, and entanglement in or ingestion of fishing gear. For the last two years the Atlantic coast population has been experiencing alarmingly high mortalities. A record 1,100 manatees died last year and more than 600 so far this year. Manatees are starving because pollution from agriculture, septic tanks and urban runoff is killing the seagrass on which they rely. The population is believed to be at least 13,000, with more than 6,500 in the southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico, mostly in Florida. The significant decline of their food source on the Atlantic coast will most likely have long term effects on the overall population.
            Special thanks to Chick-fil-A for their continued support of the Cincinnati Zoo’s manatee rehabilitation program.

 

It’s Oktoberfest Time

What better way to celebrate Oktoberfest than with Zinzinnati’s favorite hippo, Fiona! This limited-edition, Fiona Stein from Rookwood is perfect for your Oktoberfest brews! 20% of sales from each stein is donated to the Zoo to support Fiona & her bloat!
Click Here to Check out the Pre Order Process

 Just For Fun:

 World Rhino Day

September 22nd is World Rhino Day!  We celebrate all 5 species of rhino: black, white, greater one-horned, Sumatran & Javan. Live near Cincinnati? You can help! Sign up for Bowling for Rhinos on October 29! Check out the Opportunities section below for additional information.
Saluting CREW’s Work to Save Rhinos

Cincinnati Zoo has a long history of working to save rhinos and even features one in its logo! Learn more about the work that scientists at Cincinnati Zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) are doing to promote healthy populations of rhinos in North American zoos and around the world. Click Here to Read More

 Nia

 Nia loves her soccer ball! Her care team says she is an all-weather girl. She will go outside if its raining, snowing or sunshine.

Fritz

Tamandua Time

 

Rockhopper Penguin

Lace Monitor

 

International Red Panda Day

September 17th is International Red Panda Day!  Red pandas spend up to 13 hours a day foraging for bamboo, eating only the youngest, most tender leaves.  The Zoo supports the efforts of the Red Panda Network to protect red pandas and their bamboo forests in the wild through the education and empowerment of local communities.

 

Zero

 

World Gorilla Day

Happy World Gorilla Day on September 24th! The Cincinnati Zoo has been acting over the last two decades to help make a difference in western lowland gorilla research and conservation by supporting the Mbeli Bai Study in the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, located in the Republic of Congo. Mbeli Bai is the longest running field study of western lowland gorillas that have observed and provided insight on gorilla behaviors and social dynamics.
Click Here to Read More

Plant & Animal Updates:

 Rozi

 

Hippo Updates

 

Ndume

Ndume’s new troop continues to do well! Our animal care team is supporting the group’s comfort level in different gorilla spaces while all together. You may notice limited guest access to our indoor habitat during some weekdays, while we give the trio time to acclimate to an additional environment. Thank you for your support while we foster their social development into a confident and cohesive troop!

Birthdays

 Joseph & Tecumseh

Happy 12th Birthday to brothers Joseph & Tecumseh on September 18th! In North America, the cougar still roams the western half of the continent & a small population survives in southern Florida. As a predator, the cougar plays an important role in controlling & maintaining healthy prey populations

 

Chewie

Happy 27th Birthday Chewie!
Click Here to get your Chew Crew shirt to celebrate 

Shakira & Mark

Happy 8th birthday to meerkats Shakira & Mark on September 14th!

 

Zoey

Happy 6th Birthday Zoey on September 13th!

 

Lucy

Happy 3rd birthday to Lucille the bearcat on September 12th!

Conservation News:

 Fishing Cat

Join veterinarian, Dr. Sam Young, as his team gives their male Fishing cat, Angler, a physical exam. Dr. Sam is also joined by vet staff from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden who visited the GSC in order to collect semen samples from Angler, which can then be preserved to help ensure a healthy population of Fishing cats in AZA institutions across the world.

 Spot a Monarch?  Record it!

Do you see a monarch flying?  YOU can record quick data points and help our University of Cincinnati Biology partner Dr. Patrick Guerra understand monarch butterflies’ movements in urban landscapes.
ANYONE who sees a monarch over the next few weeks until the end of Oct is invited to record 3 quick data points (location, time, and compass direction). Take a look at these simple instructions:

The other data asked for on the form are helpful, but not essential, so please take a moment to review the steps and get the free Compass app downloaded on your phones. It’s quick and easy!

 

Opportunities:

 Bowling for Rhinos

Don’t miss the opportunity to support the AAZK Cincinnati chapter at their 7th annual Bowling for Rhinos event.  This year the event will take place on October 29th.  Click the link below for more information!

Bowling for Rhinos

Native Plant Sale

 

The 2022 Native Plant Sale dates are here! Located at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm (2210 Mason Montgomery Road, Lebanon, OH), these sales offer a wide selection of reasonably priced, well-grown, hard to find, and ecologically important native plants.
Native plants, including ones found throughout the Bowyer Farm ecosystem, will be for sale. The preferred payment for all sales is credit card.
Dates: October 8

New Faces/Positions:

Amy Thompson

Congratulations to Amy Thompson as she joins the Animal Leadership Team as the new Zoological Manager (ZM) of Carnivores! Amy will be supporting and coordinating daily operations for the Night Hunters and North America teams and will report to Kim Scott, the Curator of Mammals. 
Amy started her career at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in 2001 as an intern in the Aviculture and Horticulture departments then moved to the Nocturnal House (predecessor to Night Hunters) where she worked as a temporary keeper and full-time animal keeper. Amy left the zoo in 2009 to manage operations at a preclinical research facility but returned to the zoo in 2019 to become the Research Associate and Cat Colony Manager at the Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW). 
Outside the zoo Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, Ken, and two children: Gavin and Katherine. Amy has 3 rescue dogs—Bindi, Lando, and Clover and a rescue rabbit named Judy Hopps! When she’s not busy shuffling her kids to their various high school and club sports activities, Amy enjoys traveling the country with her travel trailer in-tow, gardening, hiking, kayaking, experimenting with new recipes from Pinterest, and photographing wildlife, sporting events, and life events for friends and family.​​​​​​​

Americorps

We are so excited to welcome our 19 new AmeriCorps Members who began their service year on 9/1/2022. Members will in departments throughout the zoo including Education, Conservation, Animal Excellence, CREW, Facilities, Horticulture, and Wild Encounters. Some faces may look familiar- many members this year have worked at the zoo in some capacity prior to their service year! These 19 dedicated humans will be spending the next 11 months with us giving over 17,000 hours of their time to address critical community needs. In turn, they receive professional experience, a modest living stipend, and an education award at the end of service. When you see them, please say hello and ask about their goals for the year.

Contact Information:

Brittany Garera-Stapleton
Volunteer Relations Coordinator
(513)559-7768
[email protected]